3 But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 nor filthiness and foolish talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. Ephesians 5:3-4 (LSB)
3 But fornication and any immunity or greediness let it not be named among you as is proper for saints. 4 also indecency and foolish talking or coarse jesting which are not fitting but rather thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:3-4 (translated from the NA28 Greek text to English)
As we saw in the post Counterfeit Love, the sixth characteristic of counterfeit love is jesting or “coarse jesting” as stated in the LSB (above). What is this and is it that big a deal? I also placed Ephesians 5:3-44 from the NA28 Greek New Testament above with my translation below it….
The word I translated here as “coarse jesting” is εὐτραπελία (eutrapelia). Some Bible translations render εὐτραπελία as “jesting.” This is the only place in the New Testament where this word is used. Let us dig a bit deeper.
Eutrapelia is a fascinating word. The prefix εὖ or eu means “good” or “well.” It is the prefix to our English words such as eulogy which speaks of “good works” and “eugenics,” which are “good genes,” for example. However, when it is combined with the root τρέπω or trepõ, which mean “to turn,” eutrapelia, then means “that which easily turns.” As I stated in Counterfeit Love, I have always been amazed at the method of attack from the apologists for those apostate ministers and their ministries that I have tried to bring to light here in this ministry to warn the brethren.