Ephesians 6:10

Finally Lit., "for the rest;" "for what remains." This may possibly mean "for the future," "from henceforth" (R. V. marg.). But the more probable reference is to "what remains of thought and precept." Had the Epistle dwelt on spiritual weaknessas a previous characteristic of Ephesian Christian life, the other alternative might have been preferable; but it has not. For the Gr. phrase (identically, or nearly so), cp. Matthew 26:45 (A. V. "now"); 1Co 7:29; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 3:1; Philippians 4:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; 2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 10:13. "Wisely does the Apostle, after the special injunctions to husbands and wives, &c., now in general enjoin it on all together to be strong in the Lord" (St Jerome). And observe that the deep secrets of spiritual victory now to be spoken of are necessary to the spiritual performance of the common dutiesjust enjoined.

my brethren These words are probably to be omitted; a possible insertion by transcribers from Philippians 3:1; Philippians 4:8. The documentary evidence is scarcely decisive, but the absence elsewhere in the Epistle of the address "Brethren" is in favour of omission.

be strong The Lat. versions have confortamini;a reminder of the true idea of "comfort," "comforter," in older English usage. See on Ephesians 6:22 below. For the same Gr. verb, in the (same) middle voice, cp. Acts 9:22; Rom 4:20; 2 Timothy 2:1; and in the active voice, Philippians 4:13; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:17. The tense here is present, not aorist, and suggests rather the maintenance than the attainment of strength. Their "Strength" (see e.g.Psalms 59:17) was already and permanently theirs; let it be continuously used. Cp. 1 Corinthians 16:13 (where, however, "be strong" represents another Gr. word), and 1 Peter 5:8-11, for close parallels to the thought and precept here.

in the Lord This phrase, or its strict equivalents, occurs about 35 times in the Epistle. The whole secret of spiritual strength resides in union with "the Lord." "In Him," and there alone, is there "no condemnation" (Romans 8:1); "in Him" is the fountain of spiritual vitality, to be made our own, in practical efficacy, only as we "abide in Him" (John 15:4-7). And these two aspects of benefit "in Christ" constitute together the believer's cause of strength; a strength the only alternative to which is spiritual impotence (John 15:5).

and in the power&c. See Ephesians 1:19 (and note there) for the same Gr. The Gr. rendered "might" tends to denote strength rather as substratum or resource; the Gr. rendered "power", rather as outcome or exercise. We may paraphrase, "in the energy of Him the Strong." The phrase defines, so to speak, that aspect of the Lord in Whom they were which was to be specially used in the great conflict. Elsewhere (1 John 5:20) the prominent thought is, "We are in Him that is True," Veritable, Real. Here it is, "Ye are in Him that is Able."