WHEREWITH YE WERE CALLED (ης εκληθητε). Attraction of the relative ης to the genitive of the antecedent κλησεως (calling) from the cognate accusative ην with εκληθητε (first aorist passive indicative of καλεω, to call. For the list of virtues here see Colossians 3:12. To ανεχομενο αλληλων (Coloss... [ Continue Reading ]
THE UNITY (την ενοτητα). Late and rare word (from εις, one), in Aristotle and Plutarch, though in N.T. only here and verse Ephesians 4:13.IN THE BOND OF PEACE (εν τω συνδεσμω της ειρηνης). In Colossians 3:14 αγαπη (love) is the συνδεσμος (bond). But there is no peace without love (verse Ephesia... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE BODY (εν σωμα). One mystical body of Christ (the spiritual church or kingdom, cf. Ephesians 1:23; Ephesians 2:16).ONE SPIRIT (εν πνευμα). One Holy Spirit, grammatical neuter gender (not to be referred to by "it," but by "he").IN ONE HOPE (εν μια ελπιδ). The same hope as a result of their... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE LORD (εις Κυριος). The Lord Jesus Christ and he alone (no series of aeons).ONE FAITH (μια πιστις). One act of trust in Christ, the same for all (Jew or Gentile), one way of being saved.ONE BAPTISM (εν βαπτισμα). The result of baptizing (βαπτισμα), while βαπτισμος is the act. Only in the N... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL (εις θεος κα πατηρ παντων). Not a separate God for each nation or religion. One God for all men. See here the Trinity again (Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit).WHO IS OVER ALL (ο επ παντων),AND THROUGH ALL (κα δια παντων),AND IN ALL (κα εν πασιν). Thus by three prepositio... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE GIFTS OF CHRIST (κατα το μετρον της δωρεας του Χριστου). Each gets the gift that Christ has to bestow for his special case. See 1 Corinthians 12:4; Romans 12:4-6.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE HE SAITH (διο λεγε). As a confirmation of what Paul has said. No subject is expressed in the Greek and commentators argue whether it should be ο θεος (God) or η γραφη (Scripture). But it comes to God after all. See Acts 2:17. The quotation is from Psalms 68:18, a Messianic Psalm of vict... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THIS (το δε). Paul picks out the verb αναβας (second aorist active participle of αναβαινω, to go up), changes its form to ανεβη (second aorist indicative), and points the article (το) at it. Then he concludes that it implied a previous καταβας (coming down).INTO THE LOWER PARTS OF THE EARTH... [ Continue Reading ]
IS THE SAME ALSO (αυτος εστιν). Rather, "the one who came down (ο καταβας, the Incarnation) is himself also the one who ascended (ο αναβας, the Ascension)."FAR ABOVE (υπερανω). See Ephesians 1:21.ALL THE HEAVENS (παντων των ουρανων). Ablative case after υπερανω. For the plural used of Christ'... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE GAVE (κα αυτος εδωκεν). First aorist active indicative of διδωμ. In 1 Corinthians 12:28 Paul uses εθετο (more common verb, appointed), but here repeats εδωκεν from the quotation in verse Ephesians 4:8. There are four groups (τους μεν, τους δε three times, as the direct object of εδωκεν). Th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE PERFECTING (προς τον καταρτισμον). Late and rare word (in Galen in medical sense, in papyri for house-furnishing), only here in N.T., though καταρτισις in 2 Corinthians 13:9, both from καταρτιζω, to mend (Matthew 4:21; Galatians 6:1). "For the mending (repair) of the saints."UNTO THE BUIL... [ Continue Reading ]
TILL WE ALL ATTAIN (μεχρ καταντησωμεν ο παντες). Temporal clause with purpose idea with μεχρ and the first aorist active subjunctive of κατανταω, late verb, to come down to the goal (Philippians 3:11). "The whole" including every individual. Hence the need of so many gifts.UNTO THE UNITY OF THE F... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WE MAY BE NO LONGER CHILDREN (ινα μηκετ ωμεν νηπιο). Negative final clause with present subjunctive. Some Christians are quite content to remain "babes" in Christ and never cut their eye-teeth (Hebrews 5:11-14), the victims of every charlatan who comes along.TOSSED TO AND FRO (κλυδωνιζομεν... [ Continue Reading ]
IN LOVE (εν αγαπη). If truth were always spoken only in love!MAY GROW INTO HIM (αυξησωμεν εις αυτον). Supply ινα and then note the final use of the first aorist active subjunctive. It is the metaphor of verse Ephesians 4:13 (the full-grown man). We are the body and Christ is the Head. We are to... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM WHICH (εξ ου). Out of which as the source of energy and direction.FITLY FRAMED (συναρμολογουμενον). See Ephesians 2:21 for this verb.THROUGH THAT WHICH EVERY JOINT SUPPLIETH (δια πασης αφης της επιχορηγιας). Literally, "through every joint of the supply." See Colossians 2:19 for αφη and... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE NO LONGER WALK (μηκετ υμας περιπατειν). Infinitive (present active) in indirect command (not indirect assertion) with accusative υμας of general reference.IN VANITY OF THEIR MIND (εν ματαιοτητ του νοος αυτων). "In emptiness (from ματαιος, late and rare word. See Romans 8:20) of their in... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING DARKENED (εσκοτωμενο οντες). Periphrastic perfect passive participle of σκοτοω, old verb from σκοτος (darkness), in N.T. only here and Revelation 9:2; Revelation 16:10.IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING (τη διανοια). Locative case. Probably διανοια (δια, νους) includes the emotions as well as the int... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING PAST FEELING (απηλγηκοτες). Perfect active participle of απαλγεω, old word to cease to feel pain, only here in N.T.TO LASCIVIOUSNESS (τη ασελγεια). Unbridled lust as in 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19.TO WORK ALL UNCLEANNESS (εις εργασιαν ακαθαρσιας πασης). Perhaps prostitution, "fo... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE DID NOT SO LEARN CHRIST (Hυμεις δε ουχ ουτως εμαθετε τον Χριστον). In sharp contrast to pagan life (ουτως). Second aorist active indicative of μανθανω.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF SO BE THAT (ε γε). "If indeed." Condition of first class with aorist indicatives here, assumed to be true (ηκουσατε κα εδιδαχθητε).EVEN AS TRUTH IS IN JESUS (καθως εστιν αληθεια εν τω Ιησου). It is not clear what Paul's precise idea is here. The Cerinthian Gnostics did distinguish between th... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE PUT AWAY (αποθεσθα). Second aorist middle infinitive of αποτιθημ with the metaphor of putting off clothing or habits as αποθεσθε in Colossians 3:8 (which see) with the same addition of "the old man" (τον παλαιον ανθρωπον) as in Colossians 3:9. For αναστροφην (manner of life) see Galatians... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE BE RENEWED (ανανεουσθα). Present passive infinitive (epexegetical, like αποθεσθα, of αληθεια εν τω Ιησου) and to be compared with ανακαινουμενον in Colossians 3:10. It is an old verb, ανανεοω, to make new (young) again; though only here in N.T.THE SPIRIT (τω πνευματ). Not the Holy Spiri... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT ON (ενδυσασθα). First aorist middle infinitive of ενδυω (-νω), for which see Colossians 3:10.THE NEW MAN (τον καινον ανθρωπον). "The brand-new (see Ephesians 2:15) man," though τον νεον in Colossians 3:10.AFTER GOD (κατα θεον). After the pattern God, the new birth, the new life in Christ,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE (διο). Because of putting off the old man, and putting on the new man.PUTTING AWAY (αποθεμενο). Second aorist middle participle of αποτιθημ (verse Ephesians 4:22).LYING (ψευδος),TRUTH (αληθειαν) in direct contrast.EACH ONE (εκαστος). Partitive apposition with λαλειτε. See Coloss... [ Continue Reading ]
BE YE ANGRY AND SIN NOT (οργιζεσθε κα μη αμαρτανετε). Permissive imperative, not a command to be angry. Prohibition against sinning as the peril in anger. Quotation from Psalms 4:4.LET NOT THE SUN GO DOWN UPON YOUR WRATH (ο ηλιος μη επιδυετω επ παροργισμω). Danger in settled mood of anger. Παρο... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL (μηδε διδοτε τοπον τω διαβολω). Present active imperative in prohibition, either stop doing it or do not have the habit. See Romans 12:19 for this idiom.... [ Continue Reading ]
STEAL NO MORE (μηκετ κλεπτετω). Clearly here, cease stealing (present active imperative with μηκετ).THE THING THAT IS GOOD (το αγαθον). "The good thing" opposed to his stealing and "with his hands" (ταις χερσιν, instrumental case) that did the stealing. See 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Even unemployme... [ Continue Reading ]
CORRUPT (σαπρος). Rotten, putrid, like fruit (Matthew 7:17), fish (Matthew 13:48), here the opposite of αγαθος (good).FOR EDIFYING AS THE NEED MAY BE (προς οικοδομην της χρειας). "For the build-up of the need," "for supplying help when there is need." Let no other words come out.THAT IT MAY GIV... [ Continue Reading ]
GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD (μη λυπειτε το πνευμα το αγιον του θεου). "Cease grieving" or "do not have the habit of grieving." Who of us has not sometimes grieved the Holy Spirit?IN WHOM (εν ω). Not "in which."YE WERE SEALED (εσφραγισθητε). See Ephesians 1:13 for this verb, and Ephesian... [ Continue Reading ]
BITTERNESS (πικρια). Old word from πικρος (bitter), in N.T. only here and Acts 8:23; Romans 3:14; Hebrews 12:15.CLAMOUR (κραυγη). Old word for outcry (Matthew 25:6; Luke 1:42). See Colossians 3:8 for the other words.BE PUT AWAY (αρθητω). First aorist passive imperative of αιρω, old verb, to p... [ Continue Reading ]
BE YE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER (γινεσθε εις αλληλους χρηστο). Present middle imperative of γινομα, "keep on becoming kind (χρηστος, used of God in Romans 2:4) toward one another." See Colossians 3:12.TENDERHEARTED (ευσπλαγχνο). Late word (ευ, σπλαγχνα) once in Hippocrates, in LXX, here and 1 Peter 3... [ Continue Reading ]