Ephesians 5:9

ὁ γὰρ καρπὸς τοῦ πνεύματος [φωτός]: for the fruit of the Spirit [the light]. The reading of the TR, τοῦ πνεύματος, which is that of such uncials as [540] 3 [541] [542], most cursives, Syr.-P., Chrys., etc., must give place to τοῦ φωτός, which is supported by [543] [544] [545] [546] * [547] [548], 67 2, Vulg., Goth., Boh., Arm., Orig., etc. The πνεύματος is probably a correction from Galatians 5:22. The whole verse is in effect a parenthesis, and is printed as such by the RV. But it is a parenthesis with a purpose, the γάρ being at once explanatory and confirmatory. It gives a reason for the previous injunction and an enforcement of it; the point being this “Walk as I charge you; for anything else would be out of keeping with what is proper to the light and is produced by it”. καρπός, fruit, a figurative term for the moral results of the light, its products as a whole; cf. Matthew 3:8; Philippians 1:11, etc. In the corresponding statement in Galatians 5:22, where the καρπὸς τοῦ πνεύματος is contrasted with τὰ ἔργα τῆς σαρκός, the singular term may also suggest the idea of the unity of the life and character resulting from the Spirit. ἐν πάσῃ ἀγαθωσύνῃ : is in all goodness. ἐστι, is, consists, is left unexpressed after καρπός. The πάσῃ here again has the force of “every form of,” in goodness in all its forms. The noun ἀγαθωσύνη appears again in Romans 16:14; Galatians 5:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:11. Thus it occurs only four times in the Pauline writings. It is used in the LXX, but appears not to belong to classical Greek. It varies somewhat in sense. In the OT it means sometimes good as opposed to evil (Psalms 38:20; Psalms 52:3), sometimes enjoyment (Ecclesiastes 4:8), sometimes benevolence, the bountiful goodness of God (Nehemiah 9:25). Here and in the other Pauline passages it is taken by some in the sense of uprightness, but appears rather to mean active goodness, beneficence; cf. Trench, Syn., p. 218. καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ : and righteousness. δικαιοσύνη here has the sense of rectitude, probity, freedom from the morally wrong or imperfect, as in Matthew 3:15; Matthew 5:6; Matthew 5:10; Matthew 5:20, etc., and as also in such Pauline passages as Romans 6:13; Romans 6:16; Romans 6:18-20; Romans 8:10; 2 Corinthians 6:7; 2 Corinthians 6:14, etc. καὶ ἀληθείᾳ : and truth. ἀλήθεια here in the subjective sense of moral truth, sincerity and integrity as opposed to falsehood, hypocrisy and the like; cf. John 3:21; 1 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:18, etc. Here, then, Christian morality is given in its three great forms of the good, the just, the true. Abbott compares the “justice, mercy, and truth” of the Gospels and Butler's “justice, truth, and regard to the common good”.

[540] Codex Claromontanus (sæc. vi.), a Græco-Latin MS. at Paris, edited by Tischendorf in 1852.

[541] Codex Mosquensis (sæc. ix.), edited by Matthæi in 1782.

[542] Codex Angelicus (sæc. ix.), at Rome, collated by Tischendorf and others.

[543] Codex Vaticanus (sæc. iv.), published in photographic facsimile in 1889 under the care of the Abbate Cozza-Luzi.

[544] Codex Sinaiticus (sæc. iv.), now at St. Petersburg, published in facsimile type by its discoverer, Tischendorf, in 1862.

[545] Codex Alexandrinus (sæc. v.), at the British Museum, published in photographic facsimile by Sir E. M. Thompson (1879).

[546] Codex Claromontanus (sæc. vi.), a Græco-Latin MS. at Paris, edited by Tischendorf in 1852.

[547] Codex Boernerianus (sæc. ix.), a Græco-Latin MS., at Dresden, edited by Matthæi in 1791. Written by an Irish scribe, it once formed part of the same volume as Codex Sangallensis (δ) of the Gospels. The Latin text, g, is based on the O.L. translation.

[548] Codex Porphyrianus (sæc. ix.), at St. Petersburg, collated by Tischendorf. Its text is deficient for chap. Ephesians 2:13-16.