New Testament Study of the word "lasciviousness" by Stella Paterson

New Testament study of the word “lasciviousness” is a good companion study, along with the article “Disciple or Rebel – The Choice.”

The prevalence of the word “flesh” throughout the Bible, and prevalence of its effect in the “church” of today, can be seen in the passages in this study. As the definition shows, the word translated “lasciviousness” is of uncertain derivation and a lot of assumption can be seen because of it.

Throughout the Bible, as I showed in Calling Forth The Remnant, God spoke strong words regarding our relationship with Him. He used words like “whoring”, “harlot”, “fornication” and “adultery” when chiding Israel about their unfaithfulness to Him. In the New Testament, these same words are used most often with regards to our relationship with our coming Bridegroom, Jesus. God is not “hung up” on the sins of the flesh as modern man assumes.

In this study, keep those thoughts in mind as you read the context surrounding all the verses quoted herein.

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Greek #766

aselgeia (as-elg'-i-a)

There seems to be some question as to the true definition of the first word here (spelled and pronounced as above): ἀσέλγεια

It is also translated in some of the following verses from this word in the Majority Text New Testament: ἀσέλγειαις

I am still studying my Greek lessons so can only suspect there is a mistranslation happening in the Revised KJV.

Definition: “From a compound of G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed selgēs (of uncertain derivation, but apparently meaning continent); licentiousness (sometimes including other vices)”

Webster’s definition of “continent” is “a thing that retains or contains something” (or someone).

Translated: “filthy, lasciviousness, wantonness”

- The word “filthy” was used in the revised KJV, changed from “lascivious” in the older 1611 version.

2 Peter 2:7: “And delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked:”

- The word “lasciviousness” was used in both the Revised KJV and 1611 versions.

Mark 7: (21-)22(-23): “For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetings, wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness: all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man.”

2 Corinthians 12:21: “Lest, when I come again, my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they committed.”

Ephesians 4: (17-)19 (2): “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart: who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” (Here again, take into consideration the context.)

1 Peter 4:3: “For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, and winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries:”

Jude 1:4: “For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old set forth unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

- The word “wantonness” was used in the Revised KJV. See bold words for its use in these verses.

Romans 13:13: “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy.”

2 Peter 2:18: “For uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;”


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