Topical Encyclopedia
The term "inordinate" refers to something that exceeds reasonable limits or is excessive in nature. In a biblical context, it often pertains to desires, affections, or behaviors that go beyond what is considered appropriate or godly. The Bible addresses the concept of inordinate desires and actions, warning against their potential to lead individuals away from a righteous path.
Biblical References:1.
Inordinate Affections: The Apostle Paul addresses the issue of inordinate affections in his epistle to the Colossians. He exhorts believers to put to death earthly desires that are contrary to God's will.
Colossians 3:5 states, "Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry." Here, "evil desires" can be understood as inordinate affections that lead to sin.
2.
Inordinate Desires: Inordinate desires are often linked to covetousness and greed, which are condemned throughout Scripture. In
1 Timothy 6:9-10 , Paul warns, "Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." The pursuit of wealth, when it becomes inordinate, can lead to spiritual downfall.
3.
Inordinate Behavior: The Bible also speaks against inordinate behavior, which can manifest in various forms of excess.
Proverbs 23:20-21 advises, "Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat. For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags." Here, the excessive consumption of food and drink is highlighted as inordinate behavior that leads to negative consequences.
Theological Implications:Inordinate desires and behaviors are often seen as manifestations of the sinful nature that believers are called to overcome. The Bible encourages self-control and moderation as virtues that counteract inordinate tendencies.
Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit, which includes self-control, as evidence of a life led by the Spirit rather than by inordinate desires.
Practical Application:Believers are encouraged to examine their lives for any inordinate desires or behaviors that may hinder their relationship with God. Through prayer, study of Scripture, and reliance on the Holy Spirit, Christians are called to cultivate a life of moderation and godliness.
Romans 12:2 urges, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God."
In summary, the concept of inordinate desires and behaviors is addressed in the Bible as a caution against excess and a call to live a life that aligns with God's will.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a.) Not limited to rules prescribed, or to usual bounds; irregular; excessive; immoderate; as, an inordinate love of the world.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
INORDINATEin-or'-di-nat ("ill-regulated," hence, "immoderate," "excessive"; Latin in, "not," ordinatus, "set in order"): Only twice in the King James Version. In each case there is no corresponding adjective in the original, but the word was inserted by the translators as being implied in the noun. It disappears in Revised Version:Ezekiel 23:11, "in her inordinate love" (the Revised Version (British and American) "in her doting"); aghabhah, "lust";Colossians 3:5 "inordinate affection" (the Revised Version (British and American) "passion"); pathos, a word which in classical Greek may have either a good or a bad sense (any affection or emotion of the mind), but in the New Testament is used only in a bad sense (passion).
D. Miall Edwards
Greek
1939. epithumia -- desire, passionate longing, lust... of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: epithumia Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah) Short Definition: desire, eagerness for,
inordinate desire,
...3806. pathos -- that which befalls one, a passion, a suffering
... Word Origin from pascho Definition that which befalls one, a passion, a suffering
NASB Word Usage passion (2), passions (1).inordinate affection, lust....
Strong's Hebrew
5689. agab -- to haveinordinate affection, lust... 5688, 5689. agab. 5690 . to have
inordinate affection, lust. Transliteration:
agab Phonetic Spelling: (aw-gab') Short Definition: lusted. Word Origin a prim
...5691. agabah -- lustfulness
... Word Origin from agab Definition lustfulness NASB Word Usage lust (1).inordinate
love. From agab; love (abstractly), ie Amorousness --inordinate love....
Library
OfInordinate Affections
... THE FIRST BOOK. ADMONITIONS PROFITABLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE CHAPTER VI
Ofinordinate affections. Whensoever a man desireth aught...
Ordinate andInordinate.
... Book VIII. Chapter XLIV."Ordinate andInordinate. Then the old man: "I
should like to hear from you why those useless things are...
Reproving all those who Live on Spiritual Goods in anInordinate...
... THE SECOND BOOK CHAPTER XLVI. REPROVING ALL THOSE WHO LIVE ON SPIRITUAL
GOODS IN ANINORDINATE MANNER. Now Christ left His treasure...
Whether Original Sin is a Habit?
... For it is aninordinate disposition, arising from the destruction of the harmony
which was essential to original justice, even as bodily sickness is an...
Whether Concupiscence of the Flesh, Concupiscence of the Eyes, and...
... Objection 4: Further, just as man is induced to sin, throughinordinate desire of
good things, so is he also, throughinordinate avoidance of evil things, as...
Whether the Sin of Fear is Contrary to Fortitude?
... kind of virtue or vice: but ordinate love is included in every virtue, since every
virtuous man loves the good proper to his virtue; whileinordinate love is...
Whether Self-Love is the Source of Every Sin?
... Objection 4: Further, as man sins at times throughinordinate love of self,
so does he sometimes throughinordinate love of his neighbor....
Whether Presumption is Opposed to Fear Rather than to Hope
... Forinordinate fear is opposed to fear, and presumption seems to pertain toinordinate
fear, since it is said in Wisdom 17:11: "a troubled conscience always...
Whether Presumption is More Opposed to Fear than to Hope?
... Objection 1: It would seem that presumption is more opposed to fear than
to hope. Becauseinordinate fear is opposed to right fear....
Whether There Can be Sin in the Sensuality?
... But man cannot prevent the movement of the sensuality from beinginordinate, since
"the sensuality ever remains corrupt, so long as we abide in this mortal life...
Thesaurus
Inordinate (2 Occurrences)... (a.) Not limited to rules prescribed, or to usual bounds; irregular; excessive;
immoderate; as, an
inordinate love of the world. Int.
...INORDINATE.
...Affection (30 Occurrences)
... Mention is made of "vile affections" (Romans 1:26) and "inordinate affection"
(Colossians 3:5). Christians are exhorted to set their affections on things above...
Passion (82 Occurrences)
... excited; any emotion or sentiment (specifically, love or anger) in a state of abnormal
or controlling activity; an extreme orinordinate desire; also, the...
Covetousness (22 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A strong orinordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed
good; excessive desire for riches or money; -- in a bad sense. Int....
Lust (42 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) To have an eager, passionate, and especially aninordinate or sinful desire,
as for the gratification of the sexual appetite or of covetousness...
Kol
... Where the gift of prophecy was clearly lacking-perhaps even because of this
lack-there grew up aninordinate desire for special Divine manifestations....
Undue (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (a.) Not agreeable to a rule or standard, or to duty; disproportioned; excessive;
immoderate;inordinate; as, an undue attachment to forms; an undue rigor...
Wild (147 Occurrences)
... 5. (superl.) Not submitted to restraint, training, or regulation; turbulent;
tempestuous; violent; ungoverned; licentious;inordinate; disorderly; irregular...
Inoffensive (1 Occurrence)
Whoredoms (34 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:11 And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her
inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her...
Resources
What does the Bible say about self-hatred? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is mortification of sin / the flesh? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Assemblies of God Church, and what do they believe? | GotQuestions.orgInordinate: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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