The Greek word epithymía, represented by G1939, describes a longing, with a particular emphasis on desires for that which is forbidden. It appears 38 times across 37 unique verses in the Bible. While it can occasionally denote a neutral or even righteous desire, its primary usage points toward concupiscence and lust, a craving that originates from a fallen nature.
The etymological roots of G1939 further illuminate its semantic depth. Composed of epí (ἐπί), a preposition often denoting "upon" or "towards" and implying an intensified focus, and thymós (θυμός), which signifies passion, spirit, or strong feeling, epithymía inherently describes a strong, directed impulse. This compound structure highlights not merely a passive wish, but an active, often intense, setting of one's heart or mind upon an object or course of action. This inherent intensity explains why the term is so frequently used in a negative sense, as a deeply rooted, powerful drive that, when misdirected by the fallen nature, leads to corruption and sin.
In scripture, G1939 is frequently contrasted with a life led by the Spirit. It is identified as the "lust of the flesh," which believers are instructed not to fulfill Galatians 5:16. These longings are categorized as worldly, distinct from the Father, and part of a corrupting influence that must be denied (1 John 2:16, Titus 2:12). The word is central to the process of temptation, where a person is "drawn away of his own lust, and enticed" James 1:14. However, in a few contexts, it carries a positive meaning, such as Paul expressing his "desire to depart, and to be with Christ" Philippians 1:23 or Jesus's desire to eat the Passover with his disciples Luke 22:15.
Beyond its role in individual temptation, G1939 is frequently depicted as a defining characteristic of the unregenerate life and the broader world system opposed to God. Believers are called to shed "the former lusts in your ignorance" 1 Peter 1:14, indicating that such desires are typical of a life lived apart from divine knowledge. The apostle Peter explicitly links these "lusts of men" to the will of the Gentiles, detailing a past characterized by "lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries" 1 Peter 4:2-3. Similarly, Paul reminds the Ephesians that they once "had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind," being "by nature the children of wrath" Ephesians 2:3. This collective usage underscores G1939 as a pervasive marker of human depravity and separation from God.
Several related words help clarify the nature and context of G1939:
- G4561 sárx (flesh): This term often refers to human nature with its frailties and passions. It is frequently the source of forbidden desires, as seen in the phrase "fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" 1 Peter 2:11.
- G266 hamartía (a sin): This is the direct result of unchecked desire. Scripture shows a clear progression where lust, when it has conceived, brings forth sin James 1:15.
- G1937 epithyméō (to set the heart upon): As the verb form from which G1939 is derived, it describes the action of longing or coveting. Paul notes that he would not have known what lust was if the law had not said, "Thou shalt not covet" Romans 7:7.
- G539 apátē (delusion): This word highlights the deceptive nature of sinful desires. The "old man" is described as corrupt according to "deceitful lusts" Ephesians 4:22.
- G1938 epithymētḗs (one who desires): This term directly identifies the individual who harbors such desires, thereby emphasizing the personal responsibility and internal origin of G1939. While not appearing in the NT, its linguistic proximity underscores the active agent behind the longing.
The theological weight of G1939 is significant in understanding the human condition and the path of sanctification.
- The Root of Sin: G1939 is presented as an internal source of temptation that gives birth to sin, which in turn leads to death. This process begins with one's own lust James 1:14-15.
- Conflict with God's Will: Worldly lusts are part of what believers are taught to deny in order to live righteously Titus 2:12. These desires are aligned with the world, which "passeth away," in contrast to the one who does the will G2307 of God 1 John 2:17.
- The Flesh vs. The Spirit: Scripture establishes a fundamental conflict between walking in the Spirit and fulfilling the lust of the flesh G4561. Those who belong to Christ have "crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" Galatians 5:24.
- Source of Corruption: G1939 is the mechanism through which the corruption G5356 of the world exerts its influence. By partaking in the divine nature, believers escape this corruption 2 Peter 1:4.
- The Deceptive and Enslaving Nature: G1939 is portrayed not merely as a temptation but as a force that actively deceives and ensnares. It is linked to "deceitful lusts" Ephesians 4:22 and described as that which "drown men in destruction and perdition" 1 Timothy 6:9. Believers are exhorted to "flee youthful lusts" 2 Timothy 2:22 and not to "obey it in the lusts thereof" Romans 6:12, highlighting the imperative to resist its controlling power. Furthermore, false teachers "allure through the lusts of the flesh" 2 Peter 2:18, demonstrating its use as a tool for spiritual deception.
The Greek term G1939 (epithymía) denotes a powerful longing or desire, whose ethical valence is determined by its object and source. While capable of describing legitimate and even spiritual aspirations, such as Paul's "desire to depart" and be with Christ Philippians 1:23 or Jesus's longing to eat the Passover Luke 22:15, its overwhelming usage in the New Testament is negative. It frequently points to concupiscence, carnal cravings, and forbidden desires originating from a fallen nature, often intensified by the "epi-" prefix denoting a strong, directed focus.
This pervasive negative sense is evident in its characterization of the unregenerate life, being a hallmark of those who "walk after their own lusts" 2 Peter 3:3 and the "lusts of their father the devil" John 8:44. It is identified as the internal mechanism by which temptation leads to sin and ultimately to death James 1:14-15. G1939 represents a fundamental conflict with God's will, aligning with "the world, which passeth away" 1 John 2:17, and is contrasted sharply with a life lived by the Spirit Galatians 5:16.
The theological weight of G1939 is profound, highlighting its role as the root of sin, a source of worldly corruption, and a defining characteristic of the flesh. It is not merely a weakness but a deceptive and enslaving force, capable of luring individuals into destruction and perdition 1 Timothy 6:9. Consequently, believers are called to active resistance: to "deny ungodliness and worldly lusts" Titus 2:12, to "mortify. evil concupiscence" Colossians 3:5, and to "flee youthful lusts" 2 Timothy 2:22, thereby crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires through the empowering work of the Spirit.
TRV