ἀσωτία

From the study of Ephesians 5:18

Range of meaning

Wastefulness, dissipation, reckless and dissolute living. It is the character of the ἄσωτος (asōtos), the 'prodigal' who throws away money, health and self-control, often on drink, feasting and pleasure. The word is built from a- ('not') plus the root of σῴζω (sōzō, 'save, keep safe'). Ancient writers took it either as 'one who does not save', meaning a spendthrift, or as 'one who cannot be saved', meaning a lost cause. The root sense is a life heading for ruin.

Against the English

KJV 'excess' now sounds like a matter of quantity, 'too much'. The Greek describes a ruinous character and way of life. 'Debauchery' (NIV, ESV) leans toward sexual orgy for many modern readers, which is narrower than the Greek. 'Dissipation' (WEB, NASB) and 'dissoluteness' (YLT) are closest. BSB's 'reckless indiscretion' catches the lack of control. NLT's 'ruin your life' catches the ruinous sense.

How it drifted

English 'excess' has narrowed to mean 'too much of something', and 'debauchery' has narrowed toward sexual license. The Latin tradition's 'luxuria' (behind Douay-Rheims 'luxury') shifted further: in medieval moral theology luxuria became the name for the sin of lust, and English 'luxury' now means comfort and expense.

Used elsewhere in the period

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 4.1, uses ἀσωτία for prodigality, the vice of wasting one's resources. He says the asōtos is 'one ruined by his own doing', and that many such people are also self-indulgent, spending on pleasure. 2 Maccabees 6:4 says the Jerusalem temple under Antiochus IV was 'filled with asōtia and revelling' by the gentiles. In the NT, Luke 15:13 uses the adverb ἀσώτως: the younger son 'squandered his property living prodigally'. Titus 1:6 has elders' children 'not accused of asōtia'. 1 Peter 4:3–4 places it with 'drunkenness, revels, drinking parties' and speaks of a 'flood of asōtia'.

From the study of 1 Peter 4:4

Range of meaning

Formed from a- ("not") and the root of σῴζω ("save, preserve"). It describes someone who saves nothing: wasteful, prodigal, reckless, dissolute. The word covers both squandering money and an uncontrolled life of drinking, feasting and sex (BDAG s.v.; LSJ s.v.). Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics 4.1) uses ἄσωτος of the spendthrift who ruins himself. He adds that such people often slide into self-indulgence.

Against the English

"Riot" (KJV, WEB) meant exactly this in 1611, but no longer does. "Debauchery" (ESV) and "dissipation" (NASB) are close. NIV's "reckless, wild living" catches the recklessness. BSB's "reckless indiscretion" is too mild: "indiscretion" suggests a slip, while asōtia means a life thrown away.

How it drifted

The KJV-era equivalent "riot" has narrowed in modern English to violent public disorder (see drift).

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 15:13 uses the adverb ἀσώτως: the prodigal son "squandered his property in reckless living". Eph 5:18 says of drunkenness "in which is asōtia". Titus 1:6 has it of children "accused of asōtia". 2 Maccabees 6:4 describes the Jerusalem temple under Antiochus IV as "filled with asōtia and revelling (κώμων) by the Gentiles", the same pairing with the κῶμοι ("revels") of 1 Peter 4:3. LXX Proverbs 28:7 also has the word.

From the study of Titus 1:6

Range of meaning

From a- ('not') + the root of sōzō ('save, keep safe'). Originally it described a person who does not 'save': a wastrel or spendthrift who squanders resources. From there it came to mean dissolute, reckless, indulgent living (feasting, drinking, sexual license).

Against the English

KJV 'riot', in the old sense of riotous revelry, which modern readers hear as street violence. BSB 'indiscretion' sounds mild, like a social slip or a discreet affair. ESV 'debauchery', NASB 'dissipation' and NLT 'wild' are closer.

How it drifted

KJV 'riot' (1611) meant wanton, extravagant living ('riotous living', Luke 15:13 KJV). The noun's modern sense of violent public disorder took over later. 'Indiscretion' has weakened into a euphemism.

Used elsewhere in the period

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics 4.1) uses ὁ ἄσωτος for the prodigal who wastes his substance, the opposite of the stingy man. LXX Proverbs 28:7: the one who 'shepherds asōtia dishonors his father', which is the same father-son shame situation as Titus 1:6. 2 Maccabees 6:4: the temple 'filled with asōtia and reveling'. In the NT: Eph 5:18 (drunkenness leads to asōtia); 1 Pet 4:4 ('flood of asōtia'); Luke 15:13 adverb, the prodigal son.