_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Ephesians 4:1. WALK WORTHY OF THE VOCATION.—They had been called to life in the Spirit, and they must also “walk in the Spirit.” Ephesians 4:2. WITH ALL LOWLINESS.—The Christian—“born from above”—is to exhibit a trait of character which the “high-born” Greek despise... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Ephesians 4:4. ONE BODY … AND IN YOU ALL.—“Seven elements of unity St. Paul enumerates.… They form a chain stretching from the Church on earth to the throne and being of the universal Father in heaven” (_Findlay_). _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Ephesians 4:4_... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Ephesians 4:7. BUT UNTO EVERY ONE OF US IS GIVEN GRACE.—The distributing Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11) leaves no humblest member of the body of Christ without his endowment. Ephesians 4:8. WHEREFORE HE SAITH.—What follows is a quotation of Psalms 68:18 “with free alt... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Ephesians 4:13. TILL WE ALL COME.—Suggestive of standing opposite to something towards which we have been toiling. Can one think without a tremor of joy, of the moment when he will find himself in perfect correspondence with the divine Archetype? IN THE UNITY OF THE... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Ephesians 4:17. THAT YE HENCEFORTH WALK NOT AS OTHER GENTILES WALK.—In this and the two following verses we have again the lurid picture of Ephesians 2:2: “in the vanity of their mind.” “The creature is their sole delight, Their happiness the things of earth.” Eph... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Ephesians 4:25. PUTTING AWAY LYING.—Findlay holds to it that “_the lie, the falsehood_, is objective and concrete; not _lying_, or _falsehood_, as a subjective act, habit, or quality.” MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER.—Let there be “no schism in the body.” Ephesians 4:26. LE... [ Continue Reading ]