Ephesians 4:1
In the Lord. See on Philippians 1:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the Lord. See on Philippians 1:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
Lowiness - meekness. See on Matthew 11:29; Matthew 5:5. Long - suffering. See on James 5:7. Forbearing [α ν ε χ ο μ ε ν ο ι]. See on Luke 9:41.... [ Continue Reading ]
Endeavoring [σ π ο υ δ α ζ ο ν τ ε ς]. Not strong enough. Originally the verb means to make haste. So the kindred noun spoudh haste, Mark 6:25; Luke 1:39. Hence diligence. Rev., here, giving diligence. To keep [τ η ρ ε ι ν]. See on reserved, 1 Peter 1:4. Unity of the Spirit. Wrought by the Holy Sp... [ Continue Reading ]
The connection with the preceding verses is as follows : I exhort you to unity, for you stand related to the Church, which is one body in Christ; to the one Spirit who informs it; to the one hope which your calling inspires; to the one Lord, Christ, in whom you believe with one common faith, and rec... [ Continue Reading ]
Faith. The principle of faith; not that which is believed - the body of Christian doctrine, which does not promote unity. See on Acts 6:7. Baptism. The external sign of faith, but of no significance without the Lord and the faith. Baptism is emphasized instead of the Eucharist, because the latter as... [ Continue Reading ]
One God and Father. The fundamental ground of unity. Note the climax : One Church, one Christ, one God. Above all [ε π ι π α ν τ ω ν]. Rev, over : as ruler. Through - in [δ ι α - ε ν]. Through, pervading : in, indwelling. Compare ch. Ephesians 2:22; Ephesians 3:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
Every one [ε ν ι ε κ α σ τ ω]. Rev., each. From the Church as a whole, he passes to its individual members. In the general unity the individual is not overlooked, and unity is consistent with variety of gifts and offices. Grace [η χ α ρ ι ς]. The article, omitted by A. V., is important : the one gra... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore. Confirming by Scripture what has just been said. When He ascended, etc. Quoted from Psalms 68:19 (LXX Psalms 67:18). The Hebrew reads : "Ascending to the height thou didst lead captive captivity, and received gifts in man." So Sept. Paul changes thou didst lead, didst receive, into he le... [ Continue Reading ]
Now that He ascended. vers. 9 and 10 are parenthetical, showing what the ascension of Christ presupposes. By descending into the depths and ascending above all, He entered upon His function of filling the whole universe, in virtue of which function He distributes gifts to men. See ch. Ephesians 1:23... [ Continue Reading ]
Fill all things. Compare ch. 1 23.... [ Continue Reading ]
The gifts specified. He gave. He is emphatic. It is He that gave. Compare given in ver. 7. Apostles. Properly, as apostles, or to be apostles. Christ's ministers are gifts to His people. Compare 1 Corinthians 3:5, "ministers as the Lord gave;" also 1 Corinthians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 3:22. The distin... [ Continue Reading ]
For the perfecting [π ρ ο ς τ ο ν κ α τ α ρ τ ι σ μ ο ν]. Only here in the New Testament. In classical Greek of refitting a ship or setting a bone. The preposition for denotes the ultimate purpose. Ministering and building are means to this end. Hence its emphatic position in the sentence. For perfe... [ Continue Reading ]
Till [μ ε χ ρ ι]. Specifying the time up to which this ministry and impartation of gifts are to last. Come [κ α τ α ν τ η σ ω μ ε ν]. Arrive at, as a goal. See Acts 16:1; Acts 18:19; Acts 25:13. Rev., attain. In the unity [ε ι ς]. Rev., correctly, unto. Compare one faith, ver. 5. Knowledge [τ η ς ε... [ Continue Reading ]
Children [ν η π ι ο ι]. See on 1 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 3:1. As to the connection, ver. 13 states the ultimate goal of christian training; ver. 14 that which is pursued with a view to the attainment of that goal. Ver. 14 is subordinate to ver. 13, as is shown by the retention of the same fig... [ Continue Reading ]
Speaking the truth [α λ η θ ε υ ο ν τ ε ς]. Only here and Galatians 4:16. In classical Greek it means to be true, to arrive at truth, and to speak truth. Here the idea is rather that of being or walking in truth. Rev., in margin, dealing truly. In love. Some connect with grow up. The parallel const... [ Continue Reading ]
Fitly joined - compacted [σ υ ν α ρ μ ο λ ο γ ο υ μ ε ν ο ν - σ υ μ β ι β α ζ ο μ ε ν ο ν]. The present participles denote present, continuous progress. The two participles represent respectively the ideas of harmony or adaptation and compactness or solidity. See on Acts 9:22, and Colossians 2:2. By... [ Continue Reading ]
This - therefore. Referring to what follows. Therefore, resuming the exhortation of vers. 1 - 3. Testify. Solemnly declare. Compare Acts 20:26; Galatians 5:3. Other Gentiles. Omit other. Vanity of their mind [μ α τ α ι ο τ η τ ι τ ο υ ν ο ο ς α υ τ ω ν]. For vanity see on Romans 1:21; Romans 8:20... [ Continue Reading ]
Understanding [δ ι α ν ο ι α]. See on Luke 1:51. The moral understanding. Life of God [ζ ω η ς]. See on John 1:4. The life which God bestows; life in Christ. See 1 John 5:11. Through the ignorance. The cause of the alienation. Not to be construed with darkened, since ignorance is the effect, and n... [ Continue Reading ]
Who [ο ι τ ι ν ε ς]. Explanatory and classifying : men of the class which. Being past feeling [α π η λ γ η κ ο τ ε ς]. Only here in the New Testament. Lit, the verb means to cease from feeling pain. Hence to be apathetic. Have given themselves over [π α ρ ε δ ω κ α ν]. See on Matthew 4:12; Matthew 1... [ Continue Reading ]
Have not learned [ο υ χ ε μ α θ ε τ ε]. Rev., giving the force of the aorist tense, did not learn; at the time of your conversion, when you were instructed in Christ's precepts. The phrase learn Christ occurs nowhere else. Christ does not stand for the doctrine of Christ; but Christ is the subject o... [ Continue Reading ]
If so be that ye heard Him [ε ι γ ε α υ τ ο ν η κ ο υ σ α τ ε]. The indicative mood implies the truth of the supposition : if ye heard as ye did. Him is emphatic. If it was Him that ye heard. Compare John 10:27. By Him [ε ν α υ τ ω]. Rev., correctly, in Him. In fellowship with. As the truth is in Je... [ Continue Reading ]
That ye put away. Dependent upon ye were taught, and specifying the purport of the teaching. The old man. See on Romans 6:6. Compare Colossians 3:9. Which is corrupt [τ ο ν φ θ ε ι ρ ο μ ε ν ο ν]. The A. V. misses the force of the participle. The verb is passive, which is being corrupted, 170 and... [ Continue Reading ]
In the spirit of your mind [τ ω π ν ε υ μ α τ ι τ ο υ ν ο ο ς υ μ ω ν]. The spirit is the human spirit, having its seat in and directing the mind. In the New Testament the Holy Spirit is never designated so as that man appears as the subject of the Spirit. We have Spirit of adoption, of holiness, of... [ Continue Reading ]
New man [κ α ι ν ο ν]. See on Matthew 26:29. Created [κ τ ι σ θ ε ν τ α]. See on ch. Ephesians 2:10. In righteousness and true holiness [ε ν δ ι κ ι α ι ο σ υ ν η κ α ι ο σ ι ο τ η τ ι τ η ς α λ η θ ε ι α ς]. Rev., correctly, in righteousness and holiness of truth. See on Luke 1:75. Truth. Opposed... [ Continue Reading ]
Falsehood [τ ο ψ ε υ δ ο ς]. Lit., the lie; used abstractly. See on John 8:44. Members one of another. Compare Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. Chrysostom says : "Let not the eye lie to the foot, nor the foot to the eye. If there be a deep pit, and its mouth covered with reeds shall present to... [ Continue Reading ]
Be ye angry and sin not [ο ρ γ ι ζ ε σ θ ε κ α ι μ η α μ α ρ τ α ν ε τ ε]. Cited from Psalms 4:5, after the Septuagint. Hebrew, stand in awe and sin not. Righteous anger is commanded, not merely permitted. Wrath [π α ρ ο ρ γ ι σ μ ω] Irritation, exasperation; something not so enduring as ojrgh ange... [ Continue Reading ]
Place. Room.... [ Continue Reading ]
Corrupt [σ α π ρ ο ς]. See on Luke 6:43, and Colossians 4:6. That which is good [ε ι τ ι ς α γ α θ ο ς]. Lit., if any is good. Discourse that is good, whatever it be. To the use of edifying [π ρ ο ς ο ι κ ο δ ο μ η ν τ η ς χ ρ ε ι α ς]. Lit., for the building up of the need. Rev., edifying as the... [ Continue Reading ]
Bitterness [π ι κ ρ ι α] Bitter frame of mind Wrath. What is commanded in ver. 26 is here forbidden, because viewed simply on the side of human passion. Anger [θ υ μ ο ς] Violent outbreak. See on John 3:36; James 5:7. Clamor [κ ρ α υ γ η] Outward manifestation of anger in vociferation or brawling.... [ Continue Reading ]
Be ye [γ ι ν ε σ θ ε]. Lit., become, as following the putting away of anger, etc. Kind [χ ρ η σ τ ο ι]. See on easy, Matthew 11:30; gracious, 1 Peter 2:3. Each other [ε α υ τ ο ι ς] Lit., yourselves. See on Colossians 3:13. "Doing as a body for yourselves that which God did once for you all" (Alfor... [ Continue Reading ]