that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in the matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.
Truth to Learn
Don’t deceive, either in business or in marriage.
Behind the Words
The word translated “take advantage” is huperbainō, which is made up of huper, meaning “over” or “beyond” and bainō, meaning “to go.” Thus it means “to go beyond (what is right)” or “to go too far.”
“Defraud” is translated from pleonekteō. This word is made up of pleiōn, which means “more in quantity or quality” and a form of echō, meaning “to have.” As used in the New Testament, pleonekteō properly means “to have more than someone else.” Through usage it has come to mean “to have an advantage over someone else,” then, to mean “to take advantage of someone else” or “to take something by means of fraud.”
The word “matter” is from pragma, which means “a business matter” or “a deed.”
Ekdikos is the Greek word translated “avenger.” It is made up of ek, meaning “out” or “out of” and dikē, meaning “justice.” Ekdikos refers to “one who executes justice,” that is, “one who gets revenge” or “one who punishes.”
Meaning Explained
There are two main interpretations of this verse. Some claim that Paul is now talking about business matters in general. Others say that it is a continuation of Paul’s teaching about fornication (sex with someone other than one’s marriage partner.)
Those who hold to the former interpretation explain that Paul is teaching the wrong of transgressing the bounds of justice and cheating, or taking unfair advantage, of someone in a business transaction. This could be in the form of tricking someone into purchasing something for more than it is really worth or intentionally violating a contract in order to gain at the expense of the other party in the contract. Clearly, this is not the behavior that God expects from His children, and Paul warns that God will execute revenge against any Christian who conducts business in this manner.
Others point out, however, that Paul refers to such action in “the matter,” not in “a matter.” Therefore, they say that it is clear that he is referring to the matter currently being spoken of (fornication). He says that no one should “go beyond what is right” regarding sexual relations. It is right that a married man and woman should enjoy the sexual act which God approves of, and it is wrong to go beyond the bounds of marriage and engage in sexual relations with anyone else. He also says that it is wrong to take advantage of someone else, that is, taking advantage of someone else’s wife.
If this second interpretation is the correct explanation of what Paul is teaching here, why does he talk about taking advantage of his “brother” and not of his “sister?” The only way this could be interpreted is if the sexual immorality is committed between a man and his (spiritual) brother’s wife. But the fornication that Paul is talking about refers to sexual activity between a married person and another person to whom he or she is not married (whether the other person is married or not).
Whichever interpretation you accept (I believe the first interpretation is correct), Paul makes it clear that the one committing the fraud should expect that God will stand on the side of the one being wronged and will take vengeance on the one committing the wrong.
Application
Whether in the sanctity of the marriage bed or business transactions, God will take vengeance against the evil doer. I don’t know about you, but I would rather have God as my defense attorney, not as the prosecuting attorney, because He always wins his case and He is the ultimate avenger.
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved