Ephesians 6:1-4
Ephesians 6:1-4. PARENTS AND CHILDREN... [ Continue Reading ]
Ephesians 6:1-4. PARENTS AND CHILDREN... [ Continue Reading ]
Ephesians 5:22 to Ephesians 6:9. HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS IN CHRISTIAN LIGHT Cf. Colossians 3:18 to Colossians 4:1; 1 Peter 2:18 to 1 Peter 3:7... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤᾺ ΤΈΚΝΑ, ὙΠΑΚΟΎΕΤΕ. The Gospel from the first had a message for children: the different order in which the classes are treated causes the omission of any special mention of children in 1 Pet. In the case of children and servants ‘submission’ takes the form of ‘obedience’ because authority expresses... [ Continue Reading ]
2 F. ΤΊΜΑ ΤῸΝ ΠΑΤΈΡΑ. In the case of the children it was natural to clinch the instruction by a quotation from the Commandments which they must have been taught early. ἭΤΙΣ ἘΣΤῚΝ ἘΝΤΟΛῊ ΠΡΏΤΗ ἘΝ ἘΠΑΓΓΕΛΊΑΙ, ἽΝΑ ΕΥ̓͂ ΣΟΙ ΓΈΝΗΤΑΙ ΚΑῚ ἜΣΗΙ ΜΑΚΡΟΧΡΌΝΟΙΣ. The upshot of this sentence is perfectly clear, t... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΙᾺ ΟἹ ΠΑΤΈΡΕΣ, ΜῊ ΠΑΡΟΡΓΊΖΕΤΕ ΤᾺ ΤΈΚΝΑ ὙΜΩ͂Ν. In Colossians 3:21 μὴ ἐρεθίζετε. The danger to be avoided seems that of ‘nagging,’ irritating by the arbitrary exertion of authority for its own sake. ἈΛΛᾺ ἘΚΤΡΈΦΕΤΕ. The positive requirement is careful attention to a whole process of development. The... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤᾺ ΣΆΡΚΑ. In the visible order—in accordance with existing social conditions—as distinct from the spiritual sphere in which Christ is the One Lord. ΜΕΤᾺ ΦΌΒΟΥ ΚΑῚ ΤΡΌΜΟΥ. Philippians 2:12; ‘with reverence and awe.’ An element of ‘fear’ enters into all relationships when their essential sacredness... [ Continue Reading ]
SLAVES AND MASTERS Cf. Colossians 3:22 to Colossians 4:1; 1 Peter 2:18-25; _Didachè_ IV. On the attitude of Christianity to the institution of Slavery, see Lightfoot, _Col._ pp. 323 ff., Benson, _Christ and His Times_, and Robinson pp. 130 f. The treatment here and in Col. presents an interesting st... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜῊ ΚΑΤʼ ὈΦΘΑΛΜΟΔΟΥΛΊΑΝ. A word perhaps coined by St Paul. This surrender is to find expression first in thoroughness of work. ὩΣ�, found also in LXX., Psalms 52:6; cf. Galatians 1:10, where as here the antithesis is δοῦλος Χριστοῦ. ἈΛΛʼ ὩΣ ΔΟΥ͂ΛΟΙ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ͂ ΠΟΙΟΥ͂ΝΤΕΣ ΤῸ ΘΈΛΗΜΑ ΤΟΥ͂ ΘΕΟΥ͂. This is... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΚ ΨΥΧΗ͂Σ ΜΕΤʼ ΕΥ̓ΝΟΊΑΣ ΔΟΥΛΕΎΟΝΤΕΣ. It is better to connect ἘΚ ΨΥΧΗ͂Σ what follows. It marks the transition to the second characteristic of whole-hearted service. It is capable of standing the most searching inspection not only in itself but in its motive. ἘΚ ΨΥΧΗ͂Σ. Colossians 3:23 only. It is do... [ Continue Reading ]
8. The Lord rewards as well as judges. No good work is really thrown away. ΚΟΜΊΣΕΤΑΙ. Colossians 3:25; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 1:9. See Hort _in loc._ “Not simply to receive, but to receive back … to get what has come to be one’s own by earning.” The payment is ‘in kind.’... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤᾺ ΑΥ̓ΤᾺ ΠΟΙΕΙ͂ΤΕ. τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν is fairly frequent in St Paul Romans 12:16; Romans 15:5; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 2:2; Philippians 4:2; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:25. There seems no other instance of ΠΟΙΕΙ͂Ν, but the meaning is clear, ‘Act on the same principles in recognition of the same funda... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΟΥ͂ ΛΟΙΠΟΥ͂. ‘For the time to come,’ Galatians 6:17. ἘΝΔΥΝΑΜΟΥ͂ΣΘΕ ἘΝ ΚΥΡΊΩΙ. Cf. Philippians 4:13; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 2:1; 2 Timothy 4:17. ‘Be strengthened.’ Notice the passive ‘Lay yourself open to the invigorating forces that will fill your being as you realize your vital union with the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHRISTIAN ARMOUR The closing section of the Ep. St Paul has described in Ephesians 2:2 the condition of the world out of which Christians had been taken, and in which (Ephesians 5:6-13) they have still to let their light shine in ‘evil days’ (Ephesians 5:16). He has shown positively how the key... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝΔΎΣΑΣΘΕ ΤῊΝ ΠΑΝΟΠΛΊΑΝ ΤΟΥ͂ ΘΕΟΥ͂. Cf. Ephesians 4:24 for the figure of ‘clothing’ as describing the acquisition of moral and spiritual ‘habits.’ ΠΑΝΟΠΛΊΑΝ. Luke 11:22; Psalms 90(91):4 Aq.; Jdt 14:3; Wis 5:18. The armour of God is primarily that which God supplies. At the same time, as the Saints o... [ Continue Reading ]
ὍΤΙ ΟΥ̓Κ ἜΣΤΙΝ ἩΜΙ͂Ν Ἡ ΠΆΛΗ. The figure is changed to a wrestling match, which does justice to the ‘tricks,’ but does not fit with the armour. St Paul however would not be conscious of the incongruity because he would never visualize his symbols pictorially. ΠΡῸΣ ΑἿΜΑ ΚΑῚ ΣΆΡΚΑ. In this order Hebre... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙᾺ ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ�, Ephesians 6:16. Constantly used of taking up arms, Deuteronomy 1:41; Jeremiah 26:3; Jdt 6:12; 2Ma 10:27 etc. with τὰς πανοπλίας αὐτῶν Jdt 14:3. ΤῊΝ ΠΑΝΟΠΛΊΑΝ ΤΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ͂, Ephesians 6:11. The figure is now to be worked out in detail. The armour, as we have seen in the light of the O.T. par... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΤΗ͂ΤΕ ΟΥ̓͂Ν ΠΕΡΙΖΩΣΆΜΕΝΟΙ ΤῊΝ ὈΣΦῪΝ ὙΜΩ͂Ν ἘΝ�. The first part of the armour chosen out for special attention is ‘the girdle.’ To be well girt was the first condition of free and energetic action whether in peace or war (cf. Hort on 1 Peter 1:13). It is the mark of a servant expecting his master’s c... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ὙΠΟΔΗΣΆΜΕΝΟΙ ΤΟῪΣ ΠΌΔΑΣ ἘΝ ἙΤΟΙΜΑΣΊΑΙ ΤΟΥ͂ ΕΥ̓ΑΓΓΕΛΊΟΥ ΤΗ͂Σ ΕἸΡΉΝΗΣ. Cf. Isaiah 52:7; Isaiah 40:3 f. Shoes are not a distinctive part of the soldier’s armour (exc. in Isaiah 9:5). Their main purpose is to protect the feet, though they may also serve under certain circumstances to give surer foot... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΠΑ͂ΣΙΝ. ‘In all things,’ ‘in all circumstances.’ See 2 Corinthians 11:6; Philippians 4:12; 1 Timothy 3:11; 2 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 4:5; Titus 2:9. ἈΝΑΛΑΒΌΝΤΕΣ ΤῸΝ ΘΥΡΕῸΝ ΤΗ͂Σ ΠΊΣΤΕΩΣ. No shield is mentioned in either of the passages in Isaiah. In Wis 5:19 we read λήμψεται�, which is quite distin... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΤῊΝ ΠΕΡΙΚΕΦΑΛΑΊΑΝ ΤΟΥ͂ ΣΩΤΗΡΊΟΥ ΔΈΞΑΣΘΕ. So Isaiah 59:17; Wis 5:18 is again quite different καὶ περιθήσεται κόρυθα κρίσιν�. We pass now from defensive to offensive armour. The helmet belongs to both categories. It was adorned with plumes to increase the apparent size of the soldier and to strike... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙᾺ ΠΆΣΗΣ ΠΡΟΣΕΥΧΗ͂Σ ΚΑῚ ΔΕΉΣΕΩΣ. These words are best taken with δέξασθε as describing the special condition under which we can receive these last two elements in our equipment. For ΔΙᾺ ‘in a state of,’ ‘to the accompaniment of,’ cf. Romans 2:27; Romans 4:11; 2 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Corinthians 9:12 e... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ὙΠῈΡ ἘΜΟΥ͂. From 1 Thessalonians 5:25 onwards St Paul shows how he values the intercessions of his friends. See esp. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 f. Romans 15:30 f.; Colossians 4:3 f. ἼΝΑ ΜΟΙ ΔΟΘΗ͂Ι ΛΌΓΟΣ. Here St Paul is seeking the help of their prayers to enable him to grasp the sword of the Spirit a... [ Continue Reading ]
B. Ephesians 4:1 to Ephesians 6:20. THE FRUITS OF SONSHIP TO BE LOOKED FOR FROM THE NATIONS The foundation for the exhortations that follow is now securely laid in the vision of truth unfolded both by direct exposition and by prayer, the prayer being no digression but an integral part of the exposi... [ Continue Reading ]
ἼΝΑ ΔῈ ΕἸΔΗ͂ΤΕ ΚΑῚ ὙΜΕΙ͂Σ ΤᾺ ΚΑΤʼ ἘΜΈ. These two verses recur _verbatim_ in Colossians 4:7-8 with the omission of ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε καὶ ὑμεῖς and τί πράσσω; and the addition of καὶ σύνδουλος between διάκονος and ἐν κυρίῳ. ΕἸΔΗ͂ΤΕ. The change to γνῶτε in Ephesians 6:22 is curious. Is it due to the quest... [ Continue Reading ]
21, 22. COMMENDATION OF TYCHICUS... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΠΕΜΨΑ. Epistolary aorist. ΠΑΡΑΚΑΛΈΣΗΙ ΤᾺΣ ΚΑΡΔΊΑΣ ὙΜΩ͂Ν. 2 Thessalonians 2:17; Colossians 2:2. Either by news of them, or by spiritual exhortation. In writing to strangers the second alternative is more likely.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΡΉΝΗ. Universal in opening salutations (see Ephesians 1:2) occurs in the closing paragraph in 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Galatians 6:16; cf. 2 Corinthians 13:11; Romans 16:20; 1 Peter 5:14; 3 John 1:14. It is specially appropriate here after Ephesians 2:14 ff.,... [ Continue Reading ]
23, 24. THE CLOSING BENEDICTION... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΆΝΤΩΝ ΤΩ͂Ν�. This phrase is unique in St Paul, 1 Corinthians 16:22 εἴ τις οὐ φιλεῖ τὸν κύριον is a solitary and partial parallel. Our love for God and His claim on our love are referred to from time to time and so is Christ’s love for us, but our love for our Lord is only mentioned in the Epistles... [ Continue Reading ]