Defraud (4122) (pleonekteo from pleÃon = more + écho = have <> pleonektes degrees one who wants more, person covetous of something that others have, a defrauder for gain) literally means to have more than another and then to take advantage of any one. To claim more. To covet. To have more than one's due. To selfishly attempt to gain more at all costs and by all means disregarding others and their rights. Defraud means to selfishly and greedily take something at someone else's expense. Hiebert adds that pleonekteo... does not indicate the nature of the wrong being done, but the idea of selfish and self-seeking fraud is involved in the term. The present tense prohibits the continuation of such a practice. (Hiebert, D. Edmond: 1 & 2 Thessalonians: BMH Book. 1996) Don't go beyond the line that God has drawn and take advantage of another person in the matter of sexual sin. See discussion of the related word pleonexia which describes a strong desire to acquire more and more material possessions, especially that which is forbidden. This desire to have more is irrespective of one's need and thus describes an insatiable selfishness. Greed is what you desire and what you desire more of becomes your ''god'' and you end up serving that ''god.'' The individual whose life is dominated by the desire to get things has set up things in the place of God and that is the essence of idolatry. William Barclay writes that the Greeks defined pleonexia as “arrogant greediness,” as “the accursed love of possessing,” as “the unlawful desire for the things which belong to others.” It has been defined as the spirit in which a man is always ready to sacrifice his neighbour to his own desires. Pleonexia is the irresistible desire to have what we have no right to possess. It might issue in the theft of material things; it might issue in the spirit which tramples on other people to get its own way; it might issue in sexual sin....(pleonexia) is, therefore, a sin with a very wide range. If it is the desire for money, it leads to theft. If it is the desire for prestige, it leads to evil ambition. If it is the desire for power, it leads to sadistic tyranny. If it is the desire for a person, it leads to sexual sin " Greeks defined pleonekteo as “the spirit which is always reaching after more and grabbing that to which it has no right.” It is aggressive getting. It is not the miser’s spirit, for it aimed to get in order to spend, so that it could live in more luxury and greater pleasure; and it cared not over whom it took advantage so long as it could get. ) means to take advantage of someone, usually as the result of a motivation of greed, to exploit, exploitation. What does that word defraud mean? It stresses depriving one of his or her rights and usually connotes deliberate perversion of the truth. Defraud means to selfishly, greedily take something for personal gain and pleasure at someone else’s expense. It means to take advantage of someone for personal gain, personal pleasure. When someone desires their sexual pleasure, they take advantage of someone else to get it. There are only 5 uses of pleonekteo in the NT... 2 Corinthians 2:11 in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes. (Vincent writes that literally pleonekteo is "in order that we be not made gain of, or overreached, by Satan. Rev., that no advantage may be gained over us.) 2 Corinthians 7:2 Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one. 2 Corinthians 12:17 Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? 18 I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps? 1Thessalonians 4:6 and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. John Piper comments that... When we sin sexually we are not seeking the highest good of others, neither the woman or the man we sin with, nor the person we fantasize about nor the person in the pornography, nor the spouse or parent of any of these. It is not Christian love that moves us in any of this. It is simply selfish desire. But Christians are people deeply moved by love for others. Christians love people; they don’t use them. (1Thessalonians 4:1-8) Morris writes that... Adultery is an obvious violation of the rights of another. But promiscuity before marriage represents the robbing of the other that virginity which ought to be brought to a marriage. The future partner of such a one has been defrauded. Guzik observes that... Repeatedly in Leviticus 18 - a chapter where God instructed Israel on the matter of sexual morality - the idea is given that one may not uncover the nakedness of another not their spouse. The idea is that the nakedness of an individual belongs to their spouse and no one else, and it is a violation of God’s law to give that nakedness to anyone else, or for anyone else to take it. (David Guzik. The Enduring Word Commentary Series) Keener writes that... Adultery, or “wife stealing,” as it was often considered, was punishable by banishment under Roman law; in some circumstances, a couple caught in the act could be killed on the spot. Adultery seems to have been common and usually unpunished, however; but a husband who learned that his wife was committing adultery was required by law to divorce her or himself be prosecuted on the charge of lenocinium—“pimping.” Palestinian Judaism could no longer execute the Old Testament death penalty for adultery, but Jewish people believed that what they could not execute, God would (especially on the day of judgment). (Keener, Craig: The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. 1994. IVP) Brethren (80) (adelphos from collative a = denoting unity + delphús = womb) is literally one born from same womb and so a male having the same father and mother as reference person. Figuratively, adelphos is usually used by Paul to refer to fellow believers in Christ who are united by lineage of being in Christ and in the family of God Who is now their Father. It is possible however that in this present usage Paul is broadening the term to include non-believers, an interpretation favored by Vine who writes that... though there is no other instance in Paul’s epistles of the use of this word of mankind in general, it is difficult to suppose that the apostle here limited its meaning to the Christian relationship; cp. Matthew 7:3 (see note). (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos) Lightfoot supports this broader interpretation of brothers writing that this is a duty which extends to the universal brotherhood of mankind, and has no reference to the special privileges of the close brotherhood of the Gospel. Keathley comments that ... the brother in this verse as most likely another person, not necessarily another Christian male. “This seems clear from the fact that this person is a victim of illicit sex. Sexual immorality wrongs the partner in the forbidden act by involving him or her in behavior contrary to God’s will and therefore under His judgment.” Ryrie agrees though he acknowledges this is not the Apostle’s normal use of “brother.” He writes, “Paul uses “brother” here not in the restricted sense of a brother in Christ but in the general sense of a brother man. There is no other instance in Paul’s writings of this use of brother.” Paul’s point is that just as stealing is a sin against one’s neighbor, so sexual immorality is a transgression against others. (1Thessalonians 4:1-12) F F Bruce interprets brother as... meaning probably a fellow Christian (although the action would be equally reprobated if the victim of the “trespass” were a pagan). (Bruce, F F: 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Incorporated. 1982 or Logos) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/1thessalonians_46-8.htm#defraud