Hi Trekker,
Inordinate Affection:
Our Greek word there for 'inordinate affection' is pathos. Renn has the word pathos [πάθος, Strong's 3806] in simple definition as follows:
πάθος pathos is a participial form of πάσχω paschō (SUFFER) occurring in only three places and meaning “impure passions,” or “lust,” with reference to sexual desire (cf. Rom. 1:26; Col. 3:5; 1 Thess. 4:5).
From what I can ascertain from various resources, the word denotes irrational passion. Passions that are contrary to nature and reason. It is to have an excessive impulse carried beyound bounds and unpersuaded by reason. Implied in this is that the person's emotions or passions are out-of-control. The term seems to be all inclusive and not just of lustful passions; but rather any violent over-emotion or agitation of the mind that robs a person of their self-control.
Covetousness:
I believe material possessions are primarily in view here, but certainly the notion could carry over into lust for others. John Gill has this comment on covetousness: Contentment is opposite to avarice, and avarice to that; and therefore the one must be quitted in order to possess the other. “Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have” (Heb. 13:5), a covetous man cannot be a truly contented man; he cannot be content with what he has, he always wants more.35 The Greek word for “covetousness” is πλεονεξια, “a having” or a desire to “have more;” not but that there may be a lawful desire of having more in some cases and for some good ends and purposes, and in submission to the will of God; but it is an anxious, immoderate, and unbounded desire of more which is criminal; and especially to have it in an unlawful way, and when a person has much already; it is often usual with men to fix upon the pitch of wealth and riches they are desirous of attaining to, and think if they could attain to that they should be content; now such persons, until they arrive at such a pitch, must be all the while in a state of discontent; and should they arrive to it they are not sure of content; nay they seldom have it, but then enlarge their desires and extend their limits; in short they never have enough, but are like the horseleech, crying, “Give, give,” more and more; and in other things persons of this complexion are like that creature, of which naturalists36 observe it has no passage through, it takes in all it can but lets out nothing; as a covetous man grasps at all he can, but will part with nothing; and like the said creature, which breaks and bursts with its own fulness.
Summary:
Contextually Paul is calling us away from desires and affections that challenge our desire and affection for God. Whoredom is when we take the love and affection that belonges to the one and give it to another. This is what is in view. We must not take affections and desires that should be aimed at God and point them at other things. Everyone we encounter in this life (save the devil, etc) deserves some of our love. Scripture is clear on this; however, to take the love that belongs to God with the affections and desire that is contained in that love and give it to the world or other forbidden things, or to bestow an inordinate measure of love or affection on things beyond what is prescribed in scripture is sin. This is where we struggle in life as a host of unworthy things vie for our affection.
