Ephesians 4:31

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: BITTERNESS - both of spirit and of speech: opposed to "kind." WRATH, [ thumos (G2372)] - passion for a time: opposed to "tender-hearted." Bengel translates harshness. ANGER, [ orgee (G3709)] - lasting resentment: opposed to "forgiving one another." CLAMOUR - Chrysostom, A horse carrying anger for its rider: 'bridle the horse, and you dismount its rider.' "Bitterness" begets "wrath;" "wrath,": "anger;" "anger," "clamour;" "clamour," the more chronic "evil-speaking" [ blaspheemia (G988)], reviling. "Malice" is the root of all...

31._Let all bitterness. _He again condemns anger; but, on the present occasion, views in connection with it those offenses by which it is usually accompanied, such as noisy disputes and reproaches. Between _wrath and anger _( Θυμὸν καὶ ὀργὴν) there is little difference, except that the former denotes the power, and the latter the act; but here, the only difference is, that _anger _is a more sudden attack. The correction of all the rest will be greatly aided by the removal of _malice. _By this term he expresses that depravity of mind which is opposed to humanity and justice, and which is usually called _malignity. _...

29-32 Filthy words proceed from corruption in the speaker, and they corrupt the minds and manners of those who hear them: Christians should beware of all such discourse. It is the duty of Christians to seek, by the blessing of God, to bring persons to think seriously, and to encourage and warn believers by their conversation. Be ye kind one to another. This sets forth the principle of love in the heart, and the outward expression of it, in a humble, courteous behaviour. Mark how God's forgiveness causes us to forgive. God forgives us, though we had no cause to sin against him. We must forgive, as he has forgiven us. All lying, and corrupt communications, that stir up evil desires and lusts, grieve the Spirit of God. Corrupt passions of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil-speaking, and malice, grieve the Holy Spirit. Provoke not the holy, blessed Spirit of God to withdraw his presenc...

Verse 31. _LET ALL BITTERNESS_] πασα πικρια. It is astonishing that any who profess the Christian name should indulge _bitterness_ of spirit. Those who are _censorious_, who are _unmerciful_ to the _failings_ of others, who have fixed a _certain standard_ by which they measure all persons in all circumstances, and unchristian every one that does not come up to this standard, these have the _bitterness_ against which the apostle speaks. In the last century there was a compound medicine, made up from a variety of drastic acrid drugs and ardent spirits, which was called _Hiera Picra_, ιερα πικρα, the _holy bitter_; this medicine was administered in a multitude of cases, where it did immense evil, and perhaps in scarcely any case did it do good. It has ever appeared to me to furnish a proper epithet for the disposition mentioned above, the _holy bitter_; for the religiously censorious act u...

LET ALL BITTERNESS - see the notes on Ephesians 4:2. AND WRATH - The word here does not differ essentially from anger. ANGER - see the note on Ephesians 4:26. All cherished, unreasonable anger. AND CLAMOUR - Noise, disorder, high words; such as men use in a brawl, or when they are excited. Christians are to be calm and serious. Harsh contentions and strifes; hoarse brawls and tumults, are to be unknown among them. AND EVIL-SPEAKING - Slander, backbiting, angry expressions, tale-bearing, reproaches, etc. WITH ALL MALICE - Rather, “with all evil” -...

EXPOSITION PRACTICAL PORTION OF THE EPISTLE. EPHESIANS 4:1 CHURCH PRINCIPLE OF GROWTH AND PROGRESS; THE CHURCH A BODY. EPHESIANS 4:1 I THEREFORE. Inference not only from last chapter, but the whole Epistle. Paul's interest in the Ephesians led him to a double application of the great subject which he had expounded: (1) to ask God on their behalf that he would bestow on them the full measure of the blessing to which of his grace they were entitled ...

LET ALL BITTERNESS,.... These words are a dehortation from several vices good men are liable to, by which the Spirit of God is grieved: "bitterness" sometimes designs the corruption of nature, which is the gall of bitterness, and bond of iniquity; and sometimes actual sins and transgressions, even those of God's own people, which are evil and bitter things; and sometimes heretical doctrines, which are roots of bitterness; and sometimes sinful words spoken by the saints, one against another; and here perhaps it signifies, the first offence taken in the mind, against any person, upon any account, which should at once be put away, and not encouraged: AND WRATH: heat of spirit, which follows upon bitterness, or upon the spirit being embittered and offended; see Ezekiel 3:14. AND ANGER; a sinful one, cautioned against before,...

Ephesians 4:1. _I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you-_ Paul puts force into the argument by his manner of speaking; you can hear in his words the rattle of his chains. Here is a man who, for Christ's sake, has lost his liberty, and who for that reason pleads with his fellow Christians: «I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you» Ephesians 4:1. _That ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,_ «Do not dishonour the good cause, let not your lives bring disgrace upon Christ; if you are called Christians, be Christians.» Ephesians 4:2. _With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;_...

3. THE WALK IN HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS Chapter S 4:17-5:21 _ 1. Not as the Gentiles walk (Ephesians 4:17)_ 2. The putting off and putting on (Ephesians 4:20) 3. Followers of God (Ephesians 5:1) 4. Exhortations (Ephesians 5:3) At this point the exhortations to walk in separation begin. The “therefore” of Ephesians 4:17 refers us to the “wherefore” of Ephesians 2:11. What Gentiles are in their natural c

EPHESIANS 4:25 TO EPHESIANS 5:2. PRECEPTS OF THE NEW LIFE. Away then with lying, resentment, stealing, foul talk, bad temper, lust. Remember the common membership (Ephesians 4:25). Give the devil no scope (Ephesians 4:27). Do not grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). Be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving remembering the Divine forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32). Be imitators of your heavenly Father and walk in love, remembering the love of Christ and His oblation of