Ephesians 4:1-16. Practical results: spiritual Unity in Diversity of Gifts 1. _I therefore_ Here begins what may be called the Second Part of the Epistle. Hitherto the Apostle has dealt with the eternal and spiritual aspects of Redemption. He now comes to their sequel and manifestation in conduct a... [ Continue Reading ]
_with all lowliness_ So, exactly, Acts 20:19, in St Paul's review of his own "walk" _at Ephesus_; "serving the Lord _with all lowliness_." "_With_" _:_the idea is strictly of accompaniment, attendance. But in view of actual N. T. usage of the preposition this must not be pressed. Lowliness was to _c... [ Continue Reading ]
_endeavouring_ R. V., better, GIVING DILIGENCE. The A. V., to a modern reader, suggests (as the Gr. does not) a certain imperfection and precariousness of result. _the unity of the Spirit_ The sacred Oneness effected and maintained by the One Holy Spirit who had, by uniting them to Christ, united t... [ Continue Reading ]
_one body_ See on Ephesians 1:23; Ephesians 2:15-16; and below, Ephesians 4:15-16. Here as always the imagery of the Body suggests not only union but united energy and operation. Its frequent recurrence emphasizes its importance and significance. Vital union with Christ, by the Spirit, is the one tr... [ Continue Reading ]
_one Lord_ Jesus Christ; Possessor and Prince of all His people equally. _one faith_ Is "faith" here the "Christian creed," or "trustful acceptance" of Christ, "saving faith"? Probably the latter, in view of the great rarity of the former meaning of the word in St Paul (Galatians 1:23; Philippians... [ Continue Reading ]
_one God and Father of all_ The ultimate Source of spiritual unity. Baptism seals faith, faith unites to the Lord Christ, Christ reveals the Father as "the only true God" (John 17:3), with Whom He, one with His Church, is eternally one. "_Of all_" _:_here, obviously, all believers. Other aspects of... [ Continue Reading ]
_But unto every one_ A motive to holy union from the opposite side; that of "diversity of gifts." See Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4, &c.; 1 Peter 4:10-11. Harmony of spiritual life and work should be promoted by equal remembrance of the oneness of the source of life and the inevitable diversity... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whereforehe saith_ Or IT, i.e. the Scripture, SAITH. St Paul's usage in quotation leaves the subject of the verb undetermined here and in similar cases (see _e.g._ch. Ephesians 5:14). For him, the word of the Scripture and the word of its Author are convertible terms. "_Wherefore_" _:_as if to say,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now that he ascended_ More lit., NOW THE [WORD, or THOUGHT,] HE ASCENDED. _what is it_ As if to say, "What does it imply? It implies a previous descent, from the seat of royalty. And, in the light of the Fulfilment, this implied descent was -to the lower parts of the earth." " The Apostle does not... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that descended_, &c. As if to say, "Yes, He once descended, as a step in the process, a means to the great end; but now we have to dwell on the result; this Descender has now become by consequence the Ascended One, giving gifts from the Throne." Both parts of the statement are emphatic, the fact... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he gave_ The "_He_" is emphatic; IT WAS HE WHO GAVE. See above on Ephesians 4:7. Immediately, the Holy Spirit is the Giver (1 Corinthians 12:8, &c.; cp. Acts 2:4; Acts 13:2). But His action is in Divine union _with_that of the Son, and vicariously _for_Him. _some apostles_ I.e., SOME MEN AS APO... [ Continue Reading ]
_for the perfecting of the saints_, &c. More lit., WITH A VIEW TO THE EQUIPMENT OF THE SAINTS FOR [THEIR] WORK OF SERVICE. Latin versions, _ad consummationem sanctorum in opus ministerii_. The noun rendered _equipment_occurs only here in N.T. The kindred verb occurs _e.g._Matthew 4:21 (A.V., "_mendi... [ Continue Reading ]
_till we all come in_ Render, COME UNTO. The thought is of the holy Community converging into the spiritual harmony of a developed, equal, identical faith in and knowledge of the Son of God, under the mutual influence of individual believers stimulated and guided by the spiritual ministry. This woul... [ Continue Reading ]
_that we_henceforth, &c. This verse takes up the thought of Ephesians 4:12. The mutual activity and influence of Christians, guided aright, is to result in, at once, fixity of principle and richness of power; both characteristic of spiritual maturity. _children_ The same Gr. word as _e.g._1 Corinthi... [ Continue Reading ]
_speaking the truth_ The Gr. (one word) is wider and deeper, including the thought of _living_and _loving truth_. Alford renders "_being followers of truth_." And the context is in favour of this. Not speaking truth, but avoiding false teaching, is in question. The Christian is to cultivate an insti... [ Continue Reading ]
_from whom_ He is the vital Source to which the whole complex organism now to be described wholly owes alike its _existence_and its _action_. _fitly joined together_ The Gr. participle is present, and indicates a process going on. The Body, vitalized from and by the Head, is _evermore acquiring_a d... [ Continue Reading ]
Practical Results: a spiritual revolution of principle and practice. The Old Man and the New 17. _testify_ A word of solemn appeal occurring elsewhere in N. T. only Acts 22:26 (St Paul speaking) and Galatians 5:3. _in the Lord_ As myself being "in Him," and as to those who are in the same union. C... [ Continue Reading ]
_having the understanding darkened_ Lit., HAYING BEEN DARKENED IN THE UNDERSTANDING. On "the understanding" see note above on Ephesians 2:3 (where A.V., "mind"). The Gr. word may fairly be said to mean the reason (_nous_) in action. Here accordingly the phrase defines, so to speak, the phrase just p... [ Continue Reading ]
_who being past feeling_ The Gr. relative pronoun indicates a certain conditionality; almost as if it were, "_as being those_who." But the shade is too slight for translation. "_Past feeling_" _:_lit., "having got over the pain," as when mortification sets in; a deeply suggestive metaphor. _have gi... [ Continue Reading ]
_ye_ Emphatic by position. _have not … learned_ Better, DID NOT LEARN; at their conversion. "_Learn_" implies the _instruction_then received in the Lord's precepts, and in the holy bearings of His work. For a similar reference to the first apprehension by new converts of Gospel purity of principle,... [ Continue Reading ]
_if so be_ The Gr. interrogative (used also above, Ephesians 3:2) does not imply any doubt, necessarily, but calls the reader to verify the statement. _have heard him_, &c. Better, as "Him" is emphatic by position, IF IT WAS HE WHOM YE HEARD. The Gr. construction leads us to explain this not of lis... [ Continue Reading ]
_that ye put off_ The Gr. verb is the infinitive aorist. The tense tends to denote singleness of crisis and action. Some would render "that you have" (or "did) put off." But the better explanation, or paraphrase, is, "with regard to your (definite) putting-off." The "instruction in Christ" had infor... [ Continue Reading ]
_be renewed_ A present infinitive in the Gr. The idea is thus of progress and growth, the antithesis to the "corrupting" just above. The decisive fact of new position in and connexion with Christ was to result, and was resulting, in an ever developed spiritual experience, with its ever new disclosur... [ Continue Reading ]
_that ye put on_ See note on "put off," Ephesians 4:22. Here again is an aorist infinitive in the Gr.; and we may correspondingly paraphrase, "(you were taught) with regard to the fact that the new man was put on." On the meaning of the phrase here, see notes on Ephesians 4:22, where it is explaine... [ Continue Reading ]
The subject pursued: the revolution coming out in truthfulness, kindness, honesty, purity, patience, forgivingness 25. _Wherefore_ From these deep principles come now the more detailed inferences of holy practice, and these fill most of the rest of the Epistle. Here and there (as in this verse, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be ye angry, and sin not_ Another inference from co-membership in the Lord. Anger, as the mere expression of wounded personality, is sinful; for it means that self is in command. Anger, as the pure expression of repugnance to wrong in loyalty to God, is sinless, where there is true occasion for it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_give place to the devil_ The rendering suggested by some, "to _the calumniator_," the heathen or Jewish slanderer, is quite untenable, in view of St Paul's use elsewhere of the word _diabolos_(lit., "Accuser") for the great Enemy. " _Give place_" _:_as to one who would fain intrude at a half-open... [ Continue Reading ]
_him that stole_ Another moral inference from Christian incorporation. Here again, as above (see on Ephesians 4:25), and more obviously than ever, the _Christian_aspect of the duty has also a _universal_reference. The Gr. is a present participle, and may equally well be rendered HIM THAT STEALETH. I... [ Continue Reading ]
_no corrupt communication_ Or, better, SPEECH, as R.V. Another moral inference from membership in Christ. " _Corrupt_" _:_lit., "_rotten, putrid_." The Latin versions render simply _sermo malus_, and the Gr. adjective _may_(by usage) bear this merely general reference to "evil" of any sort; worthle... [ Continue Reading ]
_grieve not_ A distinct indication of the Personality of the Blessed Spirit. "Grief is certainly a personal affection, of which a Quality is not capable" (Pearson, _On the Creed_, Art. VIII). Putting aside passages where "spirit" obviously denotes "breath" or "wind," the usage of the word in Scriptu... [ Continue Reading ]
_all … all_ Observe the uncompromising scope of the precept. Revolution in principle was to result in nothing short of _revolution_in temper and practice. _wrath … anger_ The two original words occur together also Romans 2:8; Colossians 3:8; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 19:15 (" _the wrath of the an... [ Continue Reading ]
_be_ Lit., BECOME; shew yourselves, in the actions and developments of life. _kind_ The Gr. word (noun or adj.) occurs in similar contexts, Luke 6:35; Romans 2:4; Romans 11:22 (" _goodness_"); 2 Corinthians 6:6; Galatians 5:22; Colossians 3:12. Its primitive meaning is "_useful_"; hence "helpful," a... [ Continue Reading ]