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.(a.) Not limited to rules prescribed, or to usual bounds; irregular; excessive; immoderate; as, an inordinate love of the world.INORDINATE

in-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

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, ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1939.htm - 7k

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. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3806.htm - 7k

5689. agab -- to have inordinate affection, lust
... 5688, 5689. agab. 5690 . to have inordinate affection, lust. Transliteration:
agab Phonetic Spelling: (aw-gab') Short Definition: lusted. Word Origin a prim ...
/hebrew/5689.htm - 6k

5691. agabah -- lustfulness
... Word Origin from agab Definition lustfulness NASB Word Usage lust (1). inordinate
love. From agab; love (abstractly), ie Amorousness -- inordinate love. ...
/hebrew/5691.htm - 6k

Of Inordinate Affections
... THE FIRST BOOK. ADMONITIONS PROFITABLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE CHAPTER VI
Of inordinate affections. Whensoever a man desireth aught ...
/.../kempis/imitation of christ/chapter vi of inordinate affections.htm

Ordinate and Inordinate.
... Book VIII. Chapter XLIV."Ordinate and Inordinate. Then the old man: "I
should like to hear from you why those useless things are ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xliv ordinate and inordinate.htm

Reproving all those who Live on Spiritual Goods in an Inordinate ...
... THE SECOND BOOK CHAPTER XLVI. REPROVING ALL THOSE WHO LIVE ON SPIRITUAL
GOODS IN AN INORDINATE MANNER. Now Christ left His treasure ...
/.../the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xlvi reproving all those.htm

Whether Original Sin is a Habit?
... For it is an inordinate disposition, arising from the destruction of the harmony
which was essential to original justice, even as bodily sickness is an ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether original sin is a.htm

Whether Concupiscence of the Flesh, Concupiscence of the Eyes, and ...
... Objection 4: Further, just as man is induced to sin, through inordinate desire of
good things, so is he also, through inordinate avoidance of evil things, as ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether concupiscence of the flesh.htm

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; while inordinate love is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the sin of fear.htm

Whether Self-Love is the Source of Every Sin?
... Objection 4: Further, as man sins at times through inordinate love of self,
so does he sometimes through inordinate love of his neighbor. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether self-love is the source.htm

Whether Presumption is Opposed to Fear Rather than to Hope
... For inordinate fear is opposed to fear, and presumption seems to pertain to inordinate
fear, since it is said in Wisdom 17:11: "a troubled conscience always ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article three whether presumption is.htm

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. Because inordinate fear is opposed to right fear. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether presumption is more opposed.htm

Whether There Can be Sin in the Sensuality?
... But man cannot prevent the movement of the sensuality from being inordinate, since
"the sensuality ever remains corrupt, so long as we abide in this mortal life ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there can be sin.htm

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. ...
/i/inordinate.htm - 8k

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 ...
/a/affection.htm - 20k

Passion (82 Occurrences)
... excited; any emotion or sentiment (specifically, love or anger) in a state of abnormal
or controlling activity; an extreme or inordinate desire; also, the ...
/p/passion.htm - 37k

Covetousness (22 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed
good; excessive desire for riches or money; -- in a bad sense. Int. ...
/c/covetousness.htm - 18k

Lust (42 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) To have an eager, passionate, and especially an inordinate or sinful desire,
as for the gratification of the sexual appetite or of covetousness ...
/l/lust.htm - 24k

Kol
... Where the gift of prophecy was clearly lacking-perhaps even because of this
lack-there grew up an inordinate desire for special Divine manifestations. ...
/k/kol.htm - 10k

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 ...
/u/undue.htm - 7k

Wild (147 Occurrences)
... 5. (superl.) Not submitted to restraint, training, or regulation; turbulent;
tempestuous; violent; ungoverned; licentious; inordinate; disorderly; irregular ...
/w/wild.htm - 50k

Inoffensive (1 Occurrence)

/i/inoffensive.htm - 7k

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 ...
/w/whoredoms.htm - 17k

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