1._Be ye therefore followers. _The same principle is followed out and enforced by the consideration that children ought to be like their father. He reminds us that we are the children of God, and that therefore we ought, as far as possible, to resemble Him in acts of kindness. It is impossible not t... [ Continue Reading ]
2._And walk in love as Christ also hath loved us. _Having called on us to imitate God, he now calls on us to imitate Christ, who is our true model. We ought to embrace each other with that love with which Christ has embraced us, for what we perceive in Christ is our true guide. _And gave himself fo... [ Continue Reading ]
3._But fornication. _This chapter, and the Colossians 3:0, contain many parallel passages, which an intelligent reader will be at no loss to compare without my assistance. Three things are here enumerated, which the apostle desires Christians to hold in such abhorrence, that they shall not even be n... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Neither filthiness. _To those three — other three are now added. By _filthiness _I understand all that is indecent or inconsistent with the modesty of the godly. By _foolish talking _I understand conversations that are either unprofitably or wickedly foolish; and as it frequently happens that idl... [ Continue Reading ]
5._For this ye know. _If his readers were at all captivated by the allurements of those vices which have been enumerated, the consequence would be that they would lend a hesitating or careless ear to his admonitions. He determines, therefore, to alarm them by this weighty and dreadful threatening, t... [ Continue Reading ]
6._Let no man deceive you. _There have always been ungodly dogs, (156) by whom the threatenings of the prophets were made the subject of merriment and ridicule. We find such characters in our own day. In all ages, indeed, Satan raises up sorcerers of this description, who endeavor by unholy scoffs t... [ Continue Reading ]
8._For ye were once darkness. _The precepts which immediately follow derive greater weight from the motives with which they are mingled. Having spoken of unbelievers, and warned the Ephesians not to become partakers of their crimes and their destruction, he argues still further, that they ought to d... [ Continue Reading ]
9._For the fruit of the light. _(157) This parenthesis is introduced, to point out the road in which the _children of light _ought to walk. A complete description is not given, but a few parts of a holy and pious life are introduced by way of example. To give them a general view of duty, their atten... [ Continue Reading ]
11._And have no fellowship. _As “the children of light” dwell amidst the darkness, or, in other words, in the midst of “a perverse and crooked generation,” (Deuteronomy 32:5,) — there is good reason for warning them to keep themselves apart from wicked actions. It is not enough that we do not, of ou... [ Continue Reading ]
12._Which are done by them in secret. _This shews the advantage of reproving the ungodly. If they do but escape the eyes of men, there is no crime, however shocking to be mentioned, which they will not perpetrate. To use a common proverb, “Night has no shame.” What is the reason of this? Sunk in the... [ Continue Reading ]
13._But when all things are reproved. _As the participle, ( φανερούμενον,) which is translated,_that which doth make manifest, _is in the middle voice, it admits either of a passive or active signification. It may be either rendered, _that which is made manifest, _or _that which doth make manifest.... [ Continue Reading ]
14._Wherefore he saith. _Interpreters are at great pains to discover the passage of Scripture which Paul appears to quote, and which is nowhere to be found. I shall state my opinion. He first exhibits Christ as speaking by his ministers; for this is the ordinary message which is every day delivered... [ Continue Reading ]
15._See then. _If believers must not neglect to drive away the darkness of others by their own brightness, how much less ought they to be blind as to their own conduct in life? What darkness shall conceal those on whom Christ, the Sun of righteousness, has arisen? Placed, as it were, in a crowded th... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Redeeming the time. _By a consideration of the time he enforces his exhortation._The days are evil. _Everything around us tends to corrupt and mislead; so that it is difficult for godly persons, who walk among so many thorns, to escape unhurt. Such corruption having infected the age, the devil a... [ Continue Reading ]
17._Wherefore be ye not unwise. _He whose “delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates in it day and night,” (Psalms 1:2,) will triumph over every obstacle which Satan can oppose to his progress. Whence comes it that some wander, others fall, others strike against a rock, others go away,... [ Continue Reading ]
18._And be not drunk with wine. _When he enjoins them _not to be drunk, _he forbids excessive and immoderate drinking of every description. “Be not intemperate in drinking.” _In which _(161) _is lasciviousness. _The Greek word ἀσωτία, which is translated “lasciviousness,” points out the evils which... [ Continue Reading ]
19._To psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs. _These are truly pleasant and delightful fruits. The _Spirit _means “joy in the Holy Ghost,” (Romans 14:17;) and the exhortation, _be ye filled_, (ver. 18,) alludes to deep drinking, with which it is indirectly contrasted_. Speaking to themselves, _is _... [ Continue Reading ]
20._Giving thanks always. _He means that this is a pleasure which ought never to lose its relish; that this is an exercise of which we ought never to weary. Innumerable benefits which we receive from God yield fresh cause of joy and thanksgiving. At the same time, he reminds believers that it will a... [ Continue Reading ]
21._Submit yourselves. _God has bound us so strongly to each other, that no man ought to endeavor to avoid subjection; and where love reigns, mutual services will be rendered. I do not except even kings and governors, whose very authority is held for the _service _of the community. It is highly prop... [ Continue Reading ]
22._Wives, submit yourselves. _He comes now to the various conditions of life; for, besides the universal bond of subjection, some are more closely bound to each other, according to their respective callings. The community at large is divided, as it were, into so many yokes, out of which arises mutu... [ Continue Reading ]
23._For the husband is the head of the wife. _This is the reason assigned why wives should be obedient. Christ has appointed the same relation to exist between a husband and a wife, as between himself and his church. This comparison ought to produce a stronger impression on their minds, than the mer... [ Continue Reading ]
24._But, as the church is subject to Christ_. The particle _but, _may lead some to believe that the words, _he is the savior of the body, _are intended to anticipate an objection. Christ has, no doubt, this peculiar claim, that he is the Savior of the Church: nevertheless, let wives know, that their... [ Continue Reading ]
25._Husbands, love your wives. _From husbands, on the other hand, the apostle requires that they cherish toward their wives no ordinary love; for to them, also, he holds out the example of Christ, — _even as Christ also loved the church. _If they are honored to bear his image, and to be, in some mea... [ Continue Reading ]
26._That he might sanctify, _— or, that he might separate it to himself; for such I consider to be the meaning of the word _sanctify _This is accomplished by the forgiveness of sins, and the regeneration of the Spirit. _Washing it with the washing of water. _Having mentioned the inward and hidden sa... [ Continue Reading ]
27._That he might present it to himself. _He declares what is the design of baptism and of our being washed. It is, that we may live in a holy and unblamable manner before God. We are washed by Christ, not that we may return to our pollution, but that we may retain through our life the purity which... [ Continue Reading ]
28._He that loveth his wife. _An argument is now drawn from nature itself, to prove that men ought to love their wives. Every man, by his very nature, loves himself. But no man can love himself without loving his wife. Therefore, the man who does not love his wife is a monster. The minor proposition... [ Continue Reading ]
29._Even as Christ the church. _He proceeds to enforce the obligations of marriage by representing to us Christ and his Church; for a more powerful example could not have been adduced. The strong affection which a husband ought to cherish towards his wife is exemplified by Christ, and an instance of... [ Continue Reading ]
30._For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. _First, this is no exaggeration, but the simple truth. Secondly, he does not simply mean that Christ is a partaker of our nature, but expresses something higher ( καὶ ἐμφατικώτερον) _and more emphatic. _... [ Continue Reading ]
31._For this cause. _This is an exact quotation from the writings of Moses. (Genesis 2:24.) And what does it mean? As Eve was formed out of the substance of her husband, and thus was a part of himself; so, if we are the true members of Christ, we share his substance, and by this intercourse unite in... [ Continue Reading ]
32._This is a great mystery. _He concludes by expressing his astonishment at the spiritual union between Christ and the church. _This is a great mystery; _by which he means, that no language can explain fully what it implies. It is to no purpose that men fret themselves to comprehend, by the judgmen... [ Continue Reading ]
33._Nevertheless, let every one. _Having digressed a little from this subject, though the very digression aided his design, he adopts the method usually followed in short precepts, by giving a brief summary of duties. Husbands are required to love their wives, and wives to _fear _( φοβὢται) their hu... [ Continue Reading ]