“Not thieves,
Not the greedy,
Not drunkards,
Not revilers,
Not robbers,
None of them
Will inherit
The kingdom of God.”
οὔτε κλέπται οὔτε πλεονέκται, οὐ μέθυσοι, οὐ λοίδοροι, οὐχ ἅρπαγες βασιλείαν Θεοῦ κληρονομήσουσιν.
Paul said that not thieves (οὔτε κλέπται), not the greedy (οὔτε πλεονέκται), not the drunkards (οὐ μέθυσοι), not the revilers (οὐ λοίδοροι), and not the robbers (οὐχ ἅρπαγες), none of them will inherit (κληρονομήσουσιν) the kingdom of God (βασιλείαν Θεοῦ). Only the Pauline letters used these words πλεονέκται, that means one desirous of having more or a covetous person, and the word μέθυσοι, that means drunkard, and the word λοίδοροι, that means abusive, railer, or reviler. Paul further elaborated on bad behaviors that were not to be tolerated within the Christian communities. These unrighteous people would not inherit the kingdom of God. In case there was any doubt, he listed these unacceptable behaviors within the Christian community, as people who were thieves, greedy, drunkards, revilers, and robbers. Paul was clear about what was acceptable and unacceptable behavior among the newly forming Christian communities. Do you have unacceptable behavior in your Christian community?
