Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Ephesians 5:1

γίνεσθε οὖν μιμηταὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ : become ye therefore imitators of God. γίνεσθε, as in Ephesians 4:32, = “become ye,” rather than “be ye”. This γίνεσθε also resumes the former γίνεσθε (Ephesians 4:32), and continues the general injunction expressed by it. The οὖν points to the same connection of ideas, while it introduces new exhortations based on the supreme fact of God's forgiving love in Christ. Of the duties inculcated on that basis the first and the one most immediately in view is that of the forgiveness of those who wrong us a forgiveness which should be free, loving, ungrudging, complete as God's forgiveness is. The term μιμητής is used of the imitation of men (1 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; Hebrews 6:12), Churches (1 Thessalonians 2:14), things (1 Peter 3:13 with ζηλωταί as var. reading). Only here is it used of the imitation of God the loftiest and most exalting endeavour that can possibly be set before man, proposed to us also by Christ Himself (Matthew 5:45; Matthew 5:48). ὡς τέκνα ἀγαπητά : as children beloved. Not merely “dear children” (AV). The compar. part. ὡς points to the manner or character in which the imitation is to be made good, and indicates at the same time a reason for it (Blass, Gram. of N. T. Greek, p. 270). They are children of God, experiencing His love. Children should be like the father, and love should meet love; cf. Matthew 5:45.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Ephesians 5:1

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