EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:1 New Life in Love. Paul gives general instructions for holy living. Purity of life comes from avoiding evil deeds and relationships and adopting holy practices. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:3 The term SEXUAL IMMORALITY covers all sexual sins, including adultery, sex outside of marriage, and homosexuality. COVETOUSNESS is a jealous desire for what others possess (Exodus 20:17). It amounts to idolatry (Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5). SAINTS. See note on Eph.... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:4 THANKSGIVING, in contrast to CRUDE JOKING and FOOLISH TALK, is the positive way to speak. Thanksgiving can also be a cure for covetousness (see v. Ephesians 5:3). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:5 IDOLATER. See Colossians 3:5. INHERITANCE. See Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30. KINGDOM. Paul speaks of Christ ruling now from the right hand of God (see Ephesians 1:20; compare Romans 8:34;... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:6 DECEIVE YOU... BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS. Only a false teacher would claim that Christians can lead unrepentant, sinful lives (see 2 Timothy 3:1; 2 Peter 2:1; Revelation 2:14, Revelation 2:20) and not suffer any consequences. These practices lead to THE WRATH OF GOD in... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:7 BECOME PARTNERS. Christians must not join unbelievers in their sin. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:8 WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT. See 1 John 1:5. See also Isaiah 9:2; Isaiah 42:6; John 9:5. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElem [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:9 FRUIT OF LIGHT is similar to fruit of the Spirit (compare Galatians 5:22). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:10 The Bible gives general principles for life. Christians must also seek the wisdom to DISCERN how to apply those principles to their daily lives. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:11 EXPOSE means either to correct or to convince through argument and discussion (also v. Ephesians 5:13). Those who expose sin must not gossip or slander others in the process. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, i... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:14 IT SAYS. The quotation combines the thought of several verses, including Isaiah 60:1 (see also Isaiah 9:2; Isaiah 26:19). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:17 THE WILL OF THE LORD means God’s general guidelines for life as found in the Bible (his “revealed will”; see Deuteronomy 29:29). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:18 BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. Compare Galatians 5:22. The command describes a regular pattern of life, rather than a onetime event. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:19 Being filled with the Spirit results in joyful praise through SINGING and MAKING MELODY. PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS. Paul probably has in mind the OT Psalms along with other songs of praise (compare Colossians 3:16). “Spiritual” points to the influence of t... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:20 To pray IN THE NAME OF Jesus means to pray in faith, trusting in him as the one who represents his people before God the Father (John 14:6; Hebrews 4:16; see also note on John 14:13). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName(... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:21 Submission to One Another. Ephesians 5:21 connects the previous section to what follows. Submission is illustrated in various family relationships in Ephesians 5:22 (wives/husbands), Ephesians 6:1 (children/parents), and Ephesians 6:5 (bondservants/masters). See also... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:22 SUBMIT. Paul begins with the right ordering of the marriage relationship (see also Colossians 3:18; 1 Peter 3:1). The submission of wives is not like the obedience of children, nor does this text command all women to submit to all men (TO YOUR OWN HUSBANDS). Both gen... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:23 THE HUSBAND IS THE HEAD OF THE WIFE. The wife’s submission to her husband is modeled on Christ’s position as HEAD OF THE CHURCH and ITS SAVIOR. “Head” here clearly refers to a husband’s authority over his wife. See note on 1 Cor. 11:3. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.ge... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:25 LOVE. Paul now turns to the duty of husbands. Paul tells the husband to give HIMSELF UP FOR HER. Husbands are to love their wives in a self-sacrificial manner, following the example of Christ with the church. This model is directly opposed to any kind of male tyranny... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:26 The focus in these verses is on Christ, for husbands do not “sanctify” their wives or “wash” them of their sins. SANCTIFY. Set aside for the Lord’s service through cleansing. WASHING OF WATER. Perhaps baptism (see Romans 6:3). There may also be a link here to Ezekiel... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:28 The BODY for which Christ sacrificed himself was the church. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:31 God joins husbands and wives together to become ONE FLESH (Genesis 2:24; see also Matthew 19:5; 1 Corinthians 6:16). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 5:32 By MYSTERY Paul means the hidden plan of God that has come to fulfillment in Christ Jesus (see Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:3, Ephesians 3:9; Ephesians 6:19). Paul interprets the original creation of the husband-and-wife union as being modeled on Christ’s forthcoming u... [ Continue Reading ]