IF THEN YE WERE RAISED TOGETHER WITH CHRIST (ε ουν συνηγερθητε τω Χριστω). Condition of the first class, assumed as true, like that in Colossians 2:20 and the other half of the picture of baptism in Colossians 2:12 and using the same form συνηγερθητε as then which see for the verb συνεγειρω. Asso... [ Continue Reading ]
SET YOUR MIND ON (φρονειτε). "Keep on thinking about." It does matter what we think and we are responsible for our thoughts.NOT ON THE THINGS THAT ARE UPON THE EARTH (μη τα επ της γης). Paul does not mean that we should never think the things upon the earth, but that these should not be our aim... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE DIED (απεθανετε γαρ). Definite event, aorist active indicative, died to sin (Romans 6:2).IS HID (κεκρυπτα). Perfect passive indicative of κρυπτω, old verb, to hide, remains concealed, locked "together with" (συν) Christ, "in" (εν) God. No hellish burglar can break that combination.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN CHRIST SHALL BE MANIFESTED (οταν ο Χριστος φανερωθη). Indefinite temporal clause with οταν and the first aorist passive subjunctive of φανεροω, "whenever Christ is manifested," a reference to the second coming of Christ as looked for and longed for, but wholly uncertain as to time. See this... [ Continue Reading ]
MORTIFY (νεκρωσατε). First aorist active imperative of νεκροω, late verb, to put to death, to treat as dead. Latin Vulgate _mortifico_, but "mortify" is coming with us to mean putrify. Paul boldly applies the metaphor of death (Colossians 2:20; Colossians 3:3) pictured in baptism (Colossians 2:12)... [ Continue Reading ]
COMETH THE WRATH OF GOD (ερχετα η οργη του θεου). Paul does not regard these sins of the flesh as matters of indifference, far otherwise. Many old MSS. do not have "upon the sons of disobedience," genuine words in Ephesians 5:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
WALKED AFORETIME (περιεπατησατε ποτε). First aorist (constative) indicative referring to their previous pagan state.WHEN YE LIVED (οτε εζητε). Imperfect active indicative of ζαω, to live, "ye used to live" (customary action). Sharp distinction in the tenses.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT NOW (νυν δε). Emphatic form of νυν in decided contrast (to ποτε in verse Colossians 3:7) in the resurrection life of Colossians 2:12; Colossians 3:1.PUT YE ALSO AWAY (αποθεσθε κα υμεις). Second aorist middle imperative of old verb αποτιθημ, to put away, lay aside like old clothes. This metap... [ Continue Reading ]
LIE NOT TO ANOTHER (μη ψευδεσθε εις αλληλους). Lying (ψευδος) could have been included in the preceding list where it belongs in reality. But it is put more pointedly thus in the prohibition (μη and the present middle imperative). It means either "stop lying" or "do not have the habit of lying."S... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAVE PUT ON (κα ενδυσαμενο). First aorist middle participle (in causal sense as before) of ενδυνω, old and common verb (Latin _induo_, English endue) for putting on a garment. Used of putting on Christ (Galatians 3:27; Romans 13:14).THE NEW MAN (τον νεον). "The new (young as opposed to old... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE (οπου). In this "new man" in Christ. Cf. Galatians 3:28.THERE CANNOT BE (ουκ εν). Εν is the long (original) form of εν and εστιν is to be understood. "There does not exist." This is the ideal which is still a long way ahead of modern Christians as the Great War proved. Race distinctions (G... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT ON THEREFORE (ενδυσασθε ουν). First aorist middle imperative of ενδυνω (verse Colossians 3:10). He explains and applies (ουν therefore) the figure of "the new man" as "the new garment."AS GOD'S ELECT (ως εκλεκτο του θεου). Same phrase in Romans 8:33; Titus 1:1. In the Gospels a distinction e... [ Continue Reading ]
FORBEARING ONE ANOTHER (ανεχομενο αλληλων). Present middle (direct) participle of ανεχω with the ablative case (αλληλων), "holding yourselves back from one another."FORGIVING EACH OTHER (χαριζομενο εαυτοις). Present middle participle also of χαριζομα with the dative case of the reflexive pronou... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ABOVE ALL THESE THINGS (επ πασιν δε τουτοις). "And upon all these things."PUT ON LOVE (την αγαπην). See Luke 3:20. The verb has to be supplied (ενδυσασθε) from verse Colossians 3:12 as the accusative case αγαπην shows.WHICH IS (ο εστιν). Neuter singular of the relative and not feminine lik... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEACE OF CHRIST (η ειρηνη του Χριστου). The peace that Christ gives (John 14:27).RULE (βραβευετω). Imperative active third singular of βραβευω, to act as umpire (βραβευς), old verb, here alone in N.T. See 1 Corinthians 7:15 for called in peace.IN ONE BODY (εν εν σωματ). With one Head (Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD OF CHRIST (ο λογος του Χριστου). This precise phrase only here, though "the word of the Lord" in 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:1. Elsewhere "the word of God." Paul is exalting Christ in this Epistle. Χριστου can be either the subjective genitive (the word d... [ Continue Reading ]
WHATSOEVER YE DO (παν οτ εαν ποιητε). Indefinite relative (everything whatever) with εαν and the present active subjunctive, a common idiom in such clauses.DO ALL (παντα). The imperative ποιειτε has to be supplied from ποιητε in the relative clause. Παντα is repeated from παν (singular), but in... [ Continue Reading ]
WIVES (κα γυναικες). The article here distinguishes class from class and with the vocative case can be best rendered "Ye wives." So with each group.BE IN SUBJECTION TO YOUR HUSBANDS (υποτασσεσθε τοις ανδρασιν). "Own" (ιδιοις) is genuine in Ephesians 5:22, but not here. The verb υποτασσομα has a... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE YOUR WIVES (αγαπατε τας γυναικας). Present active imperative, "keep on loving." That is precisely the point.BE NOT BITTER (μη πικραινεσθε). Present middle imperative in prohibition: "Stop being bitter" or "do not have the habit of being bitter." This is the sin of husbands. Πικραινω is an... [ Continue Reading ]
OBEY YOUR PARENTS (υπακουετε τοις γονευσιν). Old verb to listen under (as looking up), to hearken, to heed, to obey.IN ALL THINGS (κατα παντα). This is the hard part for the child, not occasional obedience, but continual. Surely a Christian father or mother will not make unreasonable or unjust... [ Continue Reading ]
PROVOKE NOT (μη ερεθιζετε). Present imperative of old verb from ερεθω, to excite. Only twice in N.T., here in bad sense, in good sense in 2 Corinthians 9:2 (to stimulate). Here it means to nag and as a habit (present tense).THAT THEY BE NOT DISCOURAGED (ινα μη αθυμωσιν). Negative purpose (ινα μ... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR MASTERS ACCORDING TO THE FLESH (τοις κατα σαρκα κυριοις). "Lords" really, but these Christian slaves (δουλο) had Christ as lord, but even so they were to obey their lords in the flesh.NOT WITH EYE-SERVICE (μη εν οφθαλμοδουλιαις). Another Pauline word (here only and Ephesians 6:6), elsewher... [ Continue Reading ]
WHATSOEVER YE DO (ο εαν ποιητε). See same idiom in Colossians 3:17 except ο instead of παν οτ.HEARTILY (εκ ψυχης). From the soul and not with mere eye service. In Ephesians 6:7 Paul adds μετ' ευνοιας (with good will) in explanation of εκ ψυχης.AS UNTO THE LORD (ως τω Κυριω). Even when unto me... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL RECEIVE (απολημψεσθε). Future middle indicative of απολαμβανω, old verb, to get back (απο), to recover.THE RECOMPENSE (ανταποδοσιν). "The full recompense," old word, in LXX, but only here in N.T., but ανταποδομα twice (Luke 14:12; Romans 11:9). Given back (απο) in return (αντ).YE SERVE... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL RECEIVE AGAIN FOR THE WRONG THAT HE HATH DONE (κομισετα ο ηδικησεν). It is not clear whether ο αδικων (he that doeth wrong) is the master or the slave. It is true of either and Lightfoot interprets it of both, "shall receive back the wrong which he did." This is a general law of life and of... [ Continue Reading ]