With the fourth chapter begins the second main division of the Epistle. As in others of Paul's Epistles the doctrinal statement is followed by the practical enforcement of duty. Doctrinal considerations are at the same time introduced again from point to point in support of the duties enjoined. The... [ Continue Reading ]
παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ ὁ δέσμιος ἐν Κυρίῳ : _I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech_ (or, exhort) _you_. In more exact accordance with the _order_ of the words “I beseech you, therefore, I the prisoner in the Lord”. The οὖν connects the practical charge with the preceding statement of doctrin... [ Continue Reading ]
μετὰ πάσης ταπεινοφροσύνης καὶ πρᾳότητος : _with all lowliness and meekness_. Statement of moral dispositions which should _attend_ their walk; μετά conveying the idea of _accompaniment, relation, association_, while σύν suggests closer _conjunction, fellowship_, especially a fellowship which _helps... [ Continue Reading ]
σπουδάζοντες τηρεῖν τὴν ἑνότητα τοῦ πνεύματος : _giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit_. Further description of the mutual forbearance in respect of the _inward effort_ required, but introducing also the larger, fundamental idea of _unity_. σπουδάζω, which conveys the idea of _exertion_,... [ Continue Reading ]
ἓν σῶμα καὶ ἓν πνεῦμα : _There is one body and one Spirit_. This is not to be taken as part of the exhortation, ἐστέ or γίνεσθε being understood (Calv., Est., Hofm., etc.); for that would not be consistent with the following εἷς Κύριος, εἷς Θεός. It is a positive statement, made all the more impress... [ Continue Reading ]
εἷς Κύριος, μία πίστις, ἓν βάπτισμα : _one Lord, one faith, one baptism_. “One Lord,” that is Christ, He alone and He for all equally whether Gentile or Jew. “One faith,” _i.e._, one belief having Him as its object; πίστις having here its usual subjective sense of _saving trust_, not = that which is... [ Continue Reading ]
εἶς Θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ πάντων : _one God and Father of all_. This supreme name, Θεὸς or ὁ Θεὸς καὶ πατήρ, is used both absolutely (1 Corinthians 15:24; Ephesians 5:20; James 1:27), and with defining terms, _e.g._, τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν, Ephesians 1:10 (Romans 15:6; Ephesians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:3;... [ Continue Reading ]
ἑνὶ δὲ ἑκάστῳ ἡμῶν ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις : _but unto each one of us was given the grace_. For ἡμῶν some few authorities (including, however, B) read ὑμῶν. After ἡ χάρις some few insert αὕτη ([367] 2, 31, etc.). The article before χάρις is omitted in [368] [369] 1 [370] [371], etc., but inserted in [372] [37... [ Continue Reading ]
διὸ λέγει : _wherefore He saith, when He ascended on high_. The διό introduces the words which follow as a _confirmation_ of what has just been said; and these words are not a parenthesis, but part of a direct and continuous statement; = “the fact that it is thus with Christ and His gift, and that t... [ Continue Reading ]
Τὸ δέ, ἀνέβη, τί ἐστιν εἰ μὴ ὅτι καὶ κατέβη πρῶτον : _Now this, “He ascended,” what is it but that He also descended_ [_first_] _?_ The TR inserts πρῶτον, with [389] [390] 3 [391] 3 [392] [393] [394], most cursives, Syr., Vulg., Goth., Arm., etc. The omission of πρῶτον is supported by [395] [396] [3... [ Continue Reading ]
ὁ καταβάς, αὐτός ἐστι καὶ ὁ ἀναβάς : _he that descended, he it is that also ascended_ (or, _he himself also ascended_). It was the first thought of every Christian mind that Christ had come down from heaven to live and work among men on earth for their salvation. Founding on this Paul declares that... [ Continue Reading ]
καὶ αὐτὸς ἔδωκε τοὺς μὲν ἀποστόλους : _and He gave some Apostles_. That is, “He gave some _as_ Apostles,” or (with RV) “some _to be_ Apostles”. At this point Paul reverts to the statement in Ephesians 4:7, and having shown that the declaration in Psalms 68. applies to Christ, he proceeds to set fort... [ Continue Reading ]
πρὸς τὸν καταρτισμὸν τῶν ἁγίων : _with a view to the full equipment of the saints_. The object with which Christ gave some men as Apostles, and some as prophets, etc., is now stated in a sentence consisting of three clauses. The precise construction and meaning of these clauses are by no means easy... [ Continue Reading ]
μέχρι καταντήσωμεν οἱ πάντες εἰς τὴν ἑνότητα : _until we all attain unto the unity_. The AV wrongly makes it “come in”; Tynd., “grow up unto”; Cran., better, “come to”. But best, “arrive at,” or (with RV) “attain unto”. The statement of the great object of Christ's gifts and the provision made by Hi... [ Continue Reading ]
ἵνα μηκέτι ὦμεν νήπιοι : _that we may be no longer children_. Statement of _aim_ following on the previous statement of _goal_ or _limit_. The verse is regarded by some (Harl., etc.) as connected immediately with Ephesians 4:11-12, and _coordinate_ with Ephesians 4:13. Others understand it as an exp... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀληθεύοντες δέ : _but truthing it_. A participial clause qualifying the following αὐξήσωμεν and introducing the positive side of the change in view as contrasted with the negative aspect of the same in the μηκέτι clause. The δέ has the force of “but rather” or “but on the other hand”. _Opposition_ o... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐξ οὗ πᾶν τὸ σῶμα : _from whom the whole body_. Statement of the relation of the _whole_, following that already made regarding the several members. πᾶν τὸ σῶμα looks back on the οἱ πάντες. The ἐξ has its proper force of _origin_ (_cf._ 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 13:4, and e... [ Continue Reading ]
τοῦτο οὖν λέγω καὶ μαρτύρομαι ἐν Κυρίῳ : _this I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord_. The οὖν has here its simple, resumptive force (_cf._ Donald., _Greek Gram._, § 548, 31; Win.-Moult., p. 555). It takes up the train of thought which had been broken off at Ephesians 4:4. The τοῦτο refers to th... [ Continue Reading ]
A paragraph which takes up again the practical address begun with the first verse of the chapter, but interrupted at Ephesians 4:4, and contains solemn exhortations to withdraw from all conformity with the old vain pagan life.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐσκοτισμένοι τῇ διανοίᾳ ὄντες : _being darkened in their understanding_. For ἐσκοτισμένοι of the TR, with [435] [436] [437] [438] [439], etc., the more classical form ἐσκοτωμένοι is given in [440] [441] [442], etc., and is preferred by LTTrWH. The ὄντες is more appropriately attached (with LTTrWHRV,... [ Continue Reading ]
οἵτινες ἀπηλγηκότες : _who having become past feeling_. οἵτινες has its usual qualitative or _explanatory_ force, = “who _as_ men past feeling”. The ἀπηλγηκότες is naturally suggested by the πώρωσιν. It expresses the condition, not of _despair_ merely (Syr., Vulg., Arm., etc.), but of moral insensib... [ Continue Reading ]
ὑμεῖς δὲ οὐχ οὕτως ἐμάθετε τὸν Χριστόν : _but ye did not thus learn the Christ_. ὑμεῖς, in emphatic contrast with the ἔθνη yet unconverted. The οὐχ οὕτως is an obvious _litotes_, suggesting more than is expressed. Meyer compares Deuteronomy 18:14. The phrase ἐμάθετε τὸν Χριστόν has no precise parall... [ Continue Reading ]
εἴγε αὐτὸν ἠκούσατε : _if indeed ye heard Him_. On εἴγε, = “if so be that,” “if as I assume it to be the case,” see in Ephesians 3:2 above. In the form of a delicate supposition it takes it as certain that they did hear. The αὐτὸν ἠκούσατε is to be understood as the ἐμάθετε τὸν Χριστόν. The pronoun... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀποθέσθαι ὑμᾶς κατὰ τὴν προτέραν ἀναστροφὴν τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον : _that ye put off, as regards your former manner of life, the old man_. This is best connected with the ἐδιδάχθητε. It gives the _purport_ or _contents_ of the instruction. The inf., therefore, is the _objective_ inf. (_cf._ in μηκέτι... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀνανεοῦσθαι δέ : _and that ye be renewed_. For ἀνανεοῦσθαι a few MSS. ([446] 2 17, 47, etc.) and some Versions (Syr., Copt., Vulg.) read ἀνανεοῦσθε, while δέ is omitted by [447]. In such connections δέ expresses both _addition_ and _contrast_. It introduces a statement connected with the foregoing b... [ Continue Reading ]
καὶ ἐνδύσασθαι τὸν καινον ἄνθρωπον : _and put on the new man_. For ἐνδύσασθαι the imper. ἐνδύσασθε is read by some authorities of consequence ([448] [449] [450] 1 [451] 2, etc.). The aor. is appropriately used again, as before in Ephesians 4:22; “putting off” and “putting on” being acts, while _rene... [ Continue Reading ]
Διὸ ἀποθέμενοι τὸ ψεῦδος, λαλεῖτε ἀλήθειαν ἕκαστος μετὰ τοῦ πλησίον αὐτοῦ : _Wherefore, putting off falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbour_. διό, with the enlarged forms διότι, διόπερ, is rare in the NT except in Luke and Paul, but frequent with these, especially with the latter. It i... [ Continue Reading ]
A paragraph containing a series of detached, practical exhortations, dealing with certain evils to be forsworn and duties to be fulfilled. These injunctions are all based on the preceding statement, or are delivered as applications of the foregoing charge to put off the old man and put on the new.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὀργίζεσθε καὶ μὴ ἁμαρτάνετε : _be ye angry, and sin not_. The words are taken from Psalms 4:4, and follow the LXX rendering. The original Hebrew, רִגְזוּ וְאַל־תֶּחֱטָאוּ, is rendered by some “Tremble and sin not” (Ewald; AV, “Stand in awe and sin not”), _i.e._, = “let wholesome fear keep you from t... [ Continue Reading ]
μήτε δίδοτε τόπον τῷ διαβόλῳ : _neither give place to the devil_. The μήτε of the TR is supported by cursives and certain Fathers, but must be displaced by μηδέ, for which the evidence is overwhelming ([462] [463] [464] [465] [466] [467], etc.). μήτε properly used would have required μήτε, not μή, i... [ Continue Reading ]
ὁ κλέπτων μηκέτι κλεπτέτω : _let the stealer no longer steal_. Not ὁ κλέψας, = “he who stole,” but pres. part. with a subst. force (_cf._ Win.-Moult., p. 444). Stealing was not wholly condemned by ancient heathen opinion. It was even allowed by the Lacedæmonians (Müller, _Dor._, ii., p. 310). It was... [ Continue Reading ]
πᾶς λόγος σαπρὸς ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν μὴ ἐκπορευέσθω : _let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth_. πᾶς … μή, the well-known Hebraistic form, the negative attaching itself to the verb, = “ _non-utterance_ let that be for every corrupt word”. λόγος = _word_, in the sense of a _saying, speech_ o... [ Continue Reading ]
καὶ μὴ λυπεῖτε τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον τοῦ Θεοῦ : _and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God_. This is not a general exhortation, but one bearing, as the καί indicates, particularly on the preceding injunction. The utterance of evil or worthless words is repugnant to the holiness of the Spirit, and is to be... [ Continue Reading ]
πᾶσα πικρία : _let all bitterness_. The noun πικρία occurs thrice again in the NT, and with different shades of meaning (Acts 8:23; Romans 3:14; Hebrews 12:15). Meyer makes it = _fretting spitefulness_ here. But it seems to be more than that (_cf._ χολὴ πικρίας as a description of exceptional wicked... [ Continue Reading ]
γίνεσθε δὲ εἰς ἀλλήλους χρηστοί : _but become ye kind one to another_. The δέ is omitted by [478], _k_, 177, Clem., etc., while οὖν is substituted for it in [479] 1 [480], 114. It is bracketed by WH and by Tr marg., and is omitted by [481]. But it is quite in place, having its combined _connecting_... [ Continue Reading ]