I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, The practical portion begins here. Greek order, 'I exhort [ parakaloo (G3870)] you, therefore (seeing that such is your calling of grace, Ephesians 1:1; Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 3:1; E... [ Continue Reading ]
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; LOWLINESS, [in classic Greek, tapeinophrosunee (G5012) is meanness of spirit: the Gospel elevated the word to express a Christian grace] - namely, esteeming ourselves small, as we are so; the thinking truly, and... [ Continue Reading ]
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; In the apostles' creed the article as to THE CHURCH follows that as to THE HOLY SPIRIT. To the Trinity naturally is annexed the Church, as the house to its tenant, to God His temple, the state to its founder (Au... [ Continue Reading ]
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, Similarly "faith" and "baptism" (the sacramental seal of faith) are connected (; ). "Faith" is not here that which we believe, but the act of believing, the one mean by which all believers in common apprehend the "one Lord." "Baptism" is the one and only visible... [ Continue Reading ]
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. ABOVE, [ epi (G1909)] - 'over all' (Romans 9:5). The 'one God over all' (in His sovereignty and His grace) is the crowning apex of unity (Ephesians 2:19, end). 'Over, through, in' express God's threefold relation to hi... [ Continue Reading ]
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. BUT - though "one" in our common connection with "one Lord," etc., yet 'each' has assigned to him his particular gift () for the good of the whole: none is overlooked; none can be dispensed with for the edify... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. WHEREFORE - `for which reason,' namely, to intimate that Christ, the Head, is the author of these different gifts, as an act of His "grace" (Estius). HE SAITH - God, whose word the Scripture is... [ Continue Reading ]
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? THAT HE ASCENDED. The psalm's assertion of His ascent (assuming Him to be God) implies a previous descent, which only holds good of Christ, who first descended, then ascended; for the Father does n... [ Continue Reading ]
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) THE SAME - rather [ autos (G846)], HE. ALL HEAVENS - Greek, 'all the heavens' (Hebrews 4:4; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 7:26; Greek, 'passed through the heavens' to the throne of God itself).... [ Continue Reading ]
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; [ Autos (G846)] 'Himself,' by His supreme power. 'It is HE that gave,' etc. (the same One as HE in Ephesians 4:10.) GAVE SOME, APOSTLES. Their marks were a call from Christ Himself (Galatians 1... [ Continue Reading ]
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: FOR - with a view to [ pros (G4314)]; the ultimate aim. PERFECTING - the [ katartismon (G2677)] correcting all that is deficient: instructing and completing in all parts. Compare Ephesians 4... [ Continue Reading ]
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: COME IN, [ kantanteesoomen (G2658) eis (G1519)] - rather, 'until we arrive the whole [ hoi (G3588) pantes (G3956)] of us at the unity,... [ Continue Reading ]
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 'To the end that:' the aim of the bestowal of gifts stated negatively, as in Ephesians 4:13 positively. T... [ Continue Reading ]
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: SPEAKING THE TRUTH, [ aleetheuontes (G226)] - 'holding' or 'following the truth:' opposed to 'error' or 'deceit' (Ephesians 4:14). IN LOVE - in contrast to "in craftiness;" spurious professions... [ Continue Reading ]
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. FROM WHOM - as the Fountain-head of 'making increase.' The energy of... [ Continue Reading ]
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, THEREFORE - resuming the exhortation (Ephesians 4:1), 'I therefore beseech you that ye walk worthy,' etc. TESTIFY IN THE LORD - IN whom (as our element) we discharge... [ Continue Reading ]
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 'Being darkened in their understanding' [ tee (G3588) dianoia (G1271)]; i:e., intelligence (cf. Ephesians 5:8; Acts 26:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:4: c... [ Continue Reading ]
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. WHO BEING, [ hoitines (G3748)] - as being persons who: inasmuch as they. PAST FEELING - senseless, shameless, hopeless, with conscience, seared: the ultimate result of a long process... [ Continue Reading ]
But ye have not so learned Christ; LEARNED CHRIST (). To appropriate Christ Himself is the great lesson of the Christian life: this the Ephesians began at their conversion. "Christ," in His office, is here the object learned; "Jesus," in His person, in the following verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: IF SO BE THAT, [ ei-ge (G1489), with indicative] - Assuming what I have no reason to doubt, that, etc. HEARD HIM. The Him is emphatic: heard Himself, not merely about Him (John 10:27). TAUGHT BY HIM - Gre... [ Continue Reading ]
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; THAT YE - following ye "have been taught" (Ephesians 4:21). PUT OFF - as an old garment (cf. Ephesians 4:24; Zechariah 3:4; Romans 13:12). CONCERNING THE FORMER CONVERSATION - `... [ Continue Reading ]
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; BE RENEWED, [ ananeousthai (G365) implies 'the continued renewal in the youth of the new man;' but anakainousthai, 'renewal from the old state'] IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND. As there is no Greek for 'in,' as at Ephesians 4:17, translate, 'by the spirit... [ Continue Reading ]
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. PUT ON THE NEW MAN - opposed to "the old man," which is to be "put off" (Ephesians 4:22) [ kainon (G2537) is different from "re-newed," Ephesians 4:23 ]. Put on not merely a renovated nature, but the n... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. WHEREFORE. From the general character of "the new man," there necessarily result the particular features which he details. PUTTING AWAY, [ apothemenoi (G659)] - 'having put away' once for... [ Continue Reading ]
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: BE YE ANGRY, AND SIN NOT. So the Septuagint (Psalms 4:4; see note on rigzuw (H7264) there, and Paul's application of it under the Spirit). Should circumstances call for anger on your part, let it be as Christ's (Mark 3:5), without... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither give place to the devil. NEITHER GIVE PLACE (I:E., ROOM) TO THE DEVIL (whose name implies he seeks in us scope to accuse) - by continuing "wrath." Keeping anger through the dark night is giving place to the prince of darkness (Ephesians 6:11).... [ Continue Reading ]
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Greek, 'Let the stealing person (whether a bandit, a thief, or one more covert in dishonesty) steal no more.' Bandits frequented the mountains... [ Continue Reading ]
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. CORRUPT, [ sapros (G4550)] - 'insipid;' without 'the salt of grace' (Colossians 4:6); so worthless, then becoming corrupt: included in "foolish talk... [ Continue Reading ]
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. GRIEVE NOT - a touching condescension to human conceptions. Compare "vexed" (Isaiah 63:10; Psalms 78:40); "fretted me" (Ezekiel 16:43: implying His tender love); and of hardened unbelievers, "resist the Holy... [ Continue Reading ]
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, [ org... [ Continue Reading ]
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. AND - `But.' BE YE - `become' [ ginesthe (G1096)] (Luke 7:42; Colossians 3:12). TENDER-HEARTED, [ eusplangchnoi (G2155)] - with 'bowels of compassion,' Greek (1 Peter 3:8).... [ Continue Reading ]