Gr. euschēmonōs, literally, “in good fashion,” hence, “gracefully,”“becomingly,”“honorably.” The English word “honest” originally meant “honorable.” Compare Wyclif’s translation of 1 Cor. 12:23, “and vpon those members of the body which we thinke moste vnhonest, put we more honestie on.” Compare Rom. 12:17, where “things honest” means “things honorable and good.” The word occurs also in 1 Cor. 14:40 and 1 Thess. 4:12, where it is translated, respectively, “decently,”“honestly.”
As in the day.
Evil men seek to hide their deeds of violence and lust under cover of night (1 Thess. 5:7; Eph. 5:11, 12). But the Christian should conduct himself as if the world could see what he does. He is a child of the day, not of the night (1 Thess. 5:5), and he should live as a child of light (Eph. 5:8).
Gr. aselgeiai, “sensuality,”“licentiousness,”“indecency” (cf. 2 Cor. 12:21; Gal. 5:19). The sins in this list were especially prevalent among the heathen in Paul’s day (Rom. 1:24-31), but were by no means limited to them (see ch. 2:3, 21-24).