Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; BE YE, [ ginesthe (G1096)] - 'become.' THEREFORE - since 'God in Christ forgave you' (Ephesians 4:32). FOLLOWERS - Greek, 'imitators' of God in "love" (Ephesians 5:2): God's essential character (1 John 4:16). AS DEAR CHILDREN - Greek, 'as... [ Continue Reading ]
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. AND - in proof that you are so. WALK - resuming Ephesians 4:1, "walk worthy of the vocation," etc. In this consists the imitation. AS CHRIST ALSO HATH... [ Continue Reading ]
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; ONCE NAMED - `let it not be even [ meede (G3366)] named' (Ephesians 5:4; Ephesians 5:12). Words of evil lead to deeds. "Fornication," so deadly a sin in Christian ethics, was not deemed... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. FILTHINESS - in act or gesture. FOOLISH TALKING - the talk of fools: folly and sin together. It [ moorologia (G3473)] and "filthiness" [ aischrotees (G151)] occur nowhere else in the Ne... [ Continue Reading ]
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. THIS YE KNOW. 'Aleph (') A B Delta G f g. Vulgate, read [ iste (G1510) ginooskontes (G1097) for este (G1510) ginooskontes (G1097)] 'this ye s... [ Continue Reading ]
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. VAIN - unreal words; namely, palliations of "uncleanness" (Ephesians 5:3; ) (that it is natural to indulge in love), "covetousness" (that it is useful to society to purs... [ Continue Reading ]
Be not ye therefore partakers with them. BE NOT - `Become not' [ ginesthe (G1096)]: fall not into association with them. Here fellowship with wicked workers is forbidden: in Ephesians 5:11, with their wicked works.... [ Continue Reading ]
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: SOMETIMES - `once.' Ye ought to have no fellowship with sin, which is darkness, for your state as darkness is now PAST. Stronger than "in darkness" (; ). LIGHT - not merely 'enlightened,' but enlighten... [ Continue Reading ]
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - taken from . 'Aleph (') A B Delta G f g, Vulgate, read 'the fruit of THE LIGHT:' in contrast with "the unfruitful works of darkness" (). 'Walk as children of light, FOR the fruit of the light (has... [ Continue Reading ]
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. PROVING - construed with "walk" (; Romans 12:1). As we prove a coin by the eye and ear, and by using it; so, by accurate study and experimental trial, we may test 'what is acceptable unto the Lord;' which last is the Christian's one criterion in estimati... [ Continue Reading ]
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS. Sins, being terminated in themselves, are called "works," not 'fruits' (; ). Their only fruit, (if the term is to be used) () is "death" (; ). Plants cannot bear "fruit" in the abs... [ Continue Reading ]
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. The Greek order is, 'For the things done in secret by them it is a shame even to speak of.' The "for" gives his reason for 'not naming' (cf. ) in detail the works of darkness, whereas he describes definitely () 'the... [ Continue Reading ]
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. BUT - though 'done in secret.' THAT ARE REPROVED - rather [as there is no article before elengchomena (G1651)], 'when they are reprove;' namely, by you (Ephesians 5:11). WHATSOEVER DOT... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. WHEREFORE - referring to the whole foregoing argument (Ephesians 5:8; Ephesians 5:11; Ephesians 5:13). Since light (spiritual) dispels the pre-existing darkness, He (God) saith, etc. (cf. Eph... [ Continue Reading ]
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, THAT, [ poos (G4459)] - 'see how ye walk,' etc.; comprising the double idea. 'see how ye walk,' and 'that ye walk circumspectly.' The manner, as well as the act, is included. See how ye are walking, with view to your being circumspe... [ Continue Reading ]
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. REDEEMING THE TIME (Colossians 4:5) [ exagorazomenoi (G1805) ton (G3588) kairon (G2540)] - 'Buying up for yourselves the seasonable time' (whenever it occurs) of good to yourselves and to others. Buying off from the vanities of "them that are without... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. WHEREFORE - since ye need to walk circumspectly, choosing the right opportunity of good. UNWISE, [ afrones (G878)] - different Greek from Ephesians 5:15; 'foolish,' 'senseless.' UNDERSTANDING - not merely knowing as... [ Continue Reading ]
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; WHEREIN - not in the wine (1 Timothy 5:23), but in 'becoming drunk' with it. EXCESS, [ asootia (G810)] - 'dissoluteness;' literally, unsavingness; unrestrained recklessness. BUT BE FILLED WITH (LITERALLY, IN) THE SP... [ Continue Reading ]
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; TO YOURSELVES. (Colossians 3:16) Hence, arose the antiphonal or responsive chanting of which Pliny writes to Trains: 'They are wont on a fixed day to meet before daylight (to avoid p... [ Continue Reading ]
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; THANKS ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS - even for adversities; also for blessings, unknown as well as known (Colossians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Service and praise are the angelical life. UNTO [ too (G3... [ Continue Reading ]
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (; .) He passes from relations to God to those which concern our fellow-men. (; .) He passes from relations to God to those which concern our fellow-men. SUBMITTING YOURSELVES. A thankful spirit toward God () will be humble toward men. I... [ Continue Reading ]
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (Ephesians 6:9.) The Church's relation to Christ, in His everlasting purpose, is the archetype of the three greatest earthly relations-husband and wife (Ephesians 5:22), parent and child (Ephesians 6:1), master and servant (Ephesi... [ Continue Reading ]
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. EVEN AS - Greek, 'as also.' See 1 Corinthians 11:3. AND HE IS. 'Aleph (') A B Delta G f g, Vulgate, read 'Himself, (being) Saviour' etc., omitting "and," and "is," which C has.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. THEREFORE, [ alla (G235)] - "But;" i:e., though the husband be not, as Christ, Saviour of the body (Ephesians 5:23), nevertheless, thus far they are one, that the 'subjection' or 'submission... [ Continue Reading ]
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 'Thou hast seen the measure of obedience; now hear the measure of love. Do you wish your wife to obey you, as the Church is to obey Christ? Then have a solicitude for her, as Christ had for the Church (Ephes... [ Continue Reading ]
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, SANCTIFY - i:e., consecrate her to God. Compare John 17:19, 'I devote myself as a holy sacrifice, that my disciples also may be devoted as holy in the truth' (Hebrews 2:11; Hebrews 10:10, note; 13:12). AND CLEANSE, ... [ Continue Reading ]
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. HE, ['Aleph (') A B Delta G f g, Vulgate, read autos (G846) for auteen (G846)] - 'that He might Himself present unto Himself the Church glorious'... [ Continue Reading ]
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 'So (in the same manner as Christ loves the Church) ought husbands also (thus A B Delta G f g, Vulgate, read) to love their own (cf; note, ) wives as (being) their own bodies.' 'He that, loveth his own ... [ Continue Reading ]
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: FOR. Grant that a man's wife is himself (Ephesians 5:28), he is sure to love her, "For no man," etc. HIS OWN FLESH (Ephesians 5:31, end) - for "body:" in allusion to Genesis 2:23. NOURISHE... [ Continue Reading ]
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For [ hoti (G3754)] 'Because' (1 Corinthians 6:15) Christ nourisheth and cherisheth the Church 'Because we are For [ hoti (G3754)] - 'Because' (1 Corinthians 6:15). Christ nourisheth and cherisheth the Church, 'Because we are members... [ Continue Reading ]
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. FOR THIS CAUSE. The propagation of the Church from Christ, as that of Eye from Adam, is the foundation of the spiritual marriage. The natural marriage, wherein 'a man leaves... [ Continue Reading ]
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. [ To (G3588) musteerion (G3466) mega (G3173) estin (G1510)] 'This mystery is great.' This truth, hidden once, but now revealed-namely, Christ's spiritual union with the Church, mystically represented by marriage-is of deep imp... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. NEVERTHELESS. Not to pursue further the mystical meaning of marriage; 'ye also (as Christ does) severally let each one so love,' etc. The words, 'severally each one,... [ Continue Reading ]