Systematic Bible Study
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Actually, the reason arguments get too heated is because immature Christians disobey Paul's command not to quarrel,
and it may be worsened by believing the other side is evil rather than merely nuts, but even then we should not lose our cool.
A literal translation of the Greek text -
Eph 4:25
Wherefore ( Διὸ ) after putting away ( ἀποθέμενοι , second aorist middle participle nom. pl. m. ) the lie ( τὸ ψεῦδος ), be speaking ( λαλεῖτε , present active imperative ) truth ( ἀλήθειαν ) each man ( ἕκαστος ) with the one nearby ( μετὰ τοῦ πλησίον ) of him ( αὐτοῦ ): because (ὅτι) we are ( ἐσμὲν ) of one of another ( ἀλλήλων ) members ( μέλη )
Eph 4:26 Keep on being angry (ὀργίζεσθε , present passive imperative), and/but do not keep on sinning (καὶ μὴ ἁμαρτάνετε , present active imperative) : the sun (ὁ ἥλιος ) do not let keep on going down ( μὴ ἐπιδυέτω , present active imperative ) upon the wrath ( ἐπὶ τῷ παροργισμῷ ) of you ( ὑμῶν ):
Eph 4:27 Neither ( μήτε ) keep on giving ( δίδοτε , present active imperative) a place ( τόπον ) to the devil ( τῷ διαβόλῳ ).
Eph 4:28 The one stealing ( ὁ κλέπτων , present active participle) not still ( μηκέτι ) let him be stealing ( κλεπτέτω , present active imperative ): but rather ( μᾶλλον δὲ ) let him be labouring ( κοπιάτω , present active imperative ) working ( ἐργαζόμενος , present deponent participle ) the good (τὸ ἀγαθόν ) with the hands ( ταῖς χερσὶν ), in order that ( ἵνα ) he may be having ( ἔχῃ , present active subjunctive) to keep on giving ( μεταδιδόναι , present active infinitive ) to him ( τῷ ) a need ( χρείαν ) having ( ἔχοντι , present active participle ).
My own paraphrase of the sense of the Greek text -
25 Because of this, after rejecting the lie he was about to tell, let each one keep speaking truth with his neighbour, because as members of one body , we belong to one another - the eye is the hand's eye, and the hand is the eye's hand. 26 Keep on being angry, but do not keep on sinning. Do not keep on letting the sun set on your fleshly wrath. 27 Neither keep on giving a place to the devil. 28 Let the one stealing no longer be stealing, but instead let him be labouring, doing what is good with his hands , so that he may have enough to keep on giving to the one who has a need.
1. 25 "Because of this, after rejecting the lie you are about to tell ... " -
Paul uses the definite article indicating he has a specific lie in mind. I think he is recognising that our knee-jerk instinctive (flrsh) reaction to being challenged on our behaviour is to make up an untrue excuse to cover our error. When we find ourselves about to make up a false excuse for an action we must reject that lie ("the lie") and speak something true instead.
2. "... let each one keep speaking truth with his neighbour... " -
I was speaking truthfully with my companion. Something was said for which an honest response would show me in a bad light, so in pride I am about to fabricate a lie to avoid embarrassment. I am being tempted away from the truthful path I am walking. Paul says,
"Reject that temptation and stay on the truthful path."
3. "... because as members of one body, we belong to one another - the eye is the hand's eye, and the hand is the eye's hand. "
A body cannot operate efficiently if one organ or member is communicating false information to another organ or member. If the eye tells the hand that the red chilli powder is red chalk dust, the fingers will touch it and an itch in the eye will bring up the fingers with chilli powder to the rub the eyes, and the eyes will burn. If the fingers tell the eyes that the adders tail it is pulling from undergrowth is a piece of rope, the eyes will disregard the danger and the hand will be bitten and the body poisoned. Our effectiveness and health as Christ's body relies on us communicating as truthfully as possible with one another.
4. "26 Keep on being angry, but do not keep on sinning. " -
Jesus gave severe warnings about being angry without cause. But it is right to be angry with just cause. Seeing someone devaluing what God Himself treasures is a just cause for anger. But that anger must be expressed in a way that aims to reconcile the defiler to God. It is not okay to strike out in destructive retribution in a way that unnecessarily devalues the transgressor.
5. "Do not keep on letting the sun set on your fleshly wrath. " -
The word parorgismos is made up of para and orgizomai. Para means "beside" and when used as a prefix indicates either that it "comes from the side of" its owner, and therefore "originating from" the owner, or that the it "goes to the side of" its target, and therefore "misses arriving at" the correct target. So parorgismos may be either anger that comes from my side, from my flesh, or anger that is amiss, wrongly directed, because from my flesh not God's Spirit. Hence, I interpret it as anger that is generate from my flesh and goes amiss. This kind of anger should be suppressed and forsaken before I go to bed. The other anger mentioned (orgizomai) is righteous godly anger against evil, and I should keep this burning, but I should express it in a loving way that aims to deliver the transgressor.
6. "27 Neither keep on giving a place to the devil. " -
Dishonesty and harbouring an anger without just cause gives a place for the devil, who has been a liar and a murderer from the beginning, to ride shotgun with me through my day, whispering insurrection into our ears all day.
7. "28 Let the one stealing no longer keep on stealing, but instead let him be labouring, doing what is good with his hands so that he may have enough to keep on giving to the one who has a need." -
Stealing is taking what is under someone else's legitimate authority without that person's consent. Doing this, I as a Christian arouse anger with just cause in my victim, and being challenged about it arouses the temptation for me to invent a dishonest excuse for my thievery. Paul does not just prescribe a state of idle resistance toward and abstinence from sin, leaving us in stasis The devil makes work for idle hands. Paul advocates an active engagement of our energies into positive behaviours that are contrary to theft and lies, where we are working honestly to increase our own resources, so that we do not need to lie about how we gained them, and giving to bless others rather than stealing to profit ourselves. This is a good strategy for any besetting sin: actively working to perform the righteous contrary behaviour to the sin to which we are in the habit of yielding.
It is certainly easy to see why it is hard to make a smooth paraphrase from the translated text.
Your comments regarding the hand and eye were especially interesting.
We are discussing moral teachings that build on the foundation laid in Ephesians 2 and 3,
which I call didache and is the topic of the thread I began today. I hope you have time to participate,
because it needs some serious Bible students rather than snide snipers.
Mine too. That is what makes truth learning interesting.
I guess you saw my invitation to PT, which goes for you, too.
TTYL
EPH 4:29-32, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
This pericope seems to be centered on the command not to grieve God’s Holy Spirit, with the sentences before and following it explaining how this may be obeyed.
Being sealed with the Holy Spirit until redemption was mentioned in Eph. 1:13.
“Unwholesome talk” would include what Paul cites in Eph. 5:4: obscenity and coarse jokes.
A word for “building others up” is edification, as in Romans 14:19 and 1 Corinthians 14:4-5&17.
Just as the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) may be viewed as forms of love, so also the list in verse 31 are forms of malice or hatred, the opposite of which is described in verse 32a, culminating with being forgiving, like God.
“In Christ” is the theme of Eph. 1:3-15, which is having faith in Jesus as Lord.
Being like God is synonymous with being “imitators of God” and loving "just as Christ loved" in the next verse.
This pericope seems to be centered on the command not to grieve God’s Holy Spirit, with the sentences before and following it explaining how this may be obeyed.
Being sealed with the Holy Spirit until redemption was mentioned in Eph. 1:13.
“Unwholesome talk” would include what Paul cites in Eph. 5:4: obscenity and coarse jokes.
A word for “building others up” is edification, as in Romans 14:19 and 1 Corinthians 14:4-5&17.
Just as the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) may be viewed as forms of love, so also the list in verse 31 are forms of malice or hatred, the opposite of which is described in verse 32a, culminating with being forgiving, like God.
“In Christ” is the theme of Eph. 1:3-15, which is having faith in Jesus as Lord.
Being like God is synonymous with being “imitators of God” and loving "just as Christ loved" in the next verse.
EPH 5:1-3, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us
and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Among you there must not be even a hint
of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people."
Paul indicates that God practices what He commands, which was demonstrated by Christ’s atonement,
and those who claim God/Christ is Lord will likewise be loving, ideally living without committing sins
such as fornication and avarice. (Cf. Matt. 7:21, 22:37-40.)
and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Among you there must not be even a hint
of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people."
Paul indicates that God practices what He commands, which was demonstrated by Christ’s atonement,
and those who claim God/Christ is Lord will likewise be loving, ideally living without committing sins
such as fornication and avarice. (Cf. Matt. 7:21, 22:37-40.)
EPH 5:4-7, “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore, do not be partners with them.” Paul encouraged thanksgiving throughout the year, as in 1Thes. 5:18.
“Nor” indicates that Paul continues to describe didachaic doctrines which build on kerygmatic faith in Christ (cf. Eph. 2:8-10). As someone whose life through high school was centered on Christ and my church’s youth group (including Boy Scouts), my first extensive encounter with obscenity was when I got a construction job, and it was interesting how my boss said “f--- you” to convey liking me! My next extensive experience with cursing was when I served as an army chaplain, when my guys would always apologize when they did so in my presence, which prompted me to share a sermon on three types of expletives: f, s and gd. I admit that ever since junior high school I have sometimes let the s or d words drop instead using a euphemism—almost always when some inanimate object attacks me.
Anyway, I share all of this to explain why I think Paul does not mean occasional slips of the tongue will condemn a soul to hell, but rather that we should cooperate with the HS in eliminating such bad habits (Phil. 3:12-15). “Immoral” typically means fornication, as in Eph. 5:3, and “greed” refers to lust for money (Matt. 6:24, 1Tim. 6:10). Souls who continue to commit such serious sins after supposedly repenting need to examine whether their faith is genuine (1Cor. 11:28, 2Cor. 13:5). Avoiding associating with such people will help an immature Christian not to succumb to temptation (1Cor. 5:11). “Empty” words that deceive in this context would seem to refer to Gal. 5:13, “Do not use your freedom [forgiveness because of saving faith in Christ] to indulge the sinful nature.”
“Nor” indicates that Paul continues to describe didachaic doctrines which build on kerygmatic faith in Christ (cf. Eph. 2:8-10). As someone whose life through high school was centered on Christ and my church’s youth group (including Boy Scouts), my first extensive encounter with obscenity was when I got a construction job, and it was interesting how my boss said “f--- you” to convey liking me! My next extensive experience with cursing was when I served as an army chaplain, when my guys would always apologize when they did so in my presence, which prompted me to share a sermon on three types of expletives: f, s and gd. I admit that ever since junior high school I have sometimes let the s or d words drop instead using a euphemism—almost always when some inanimate object attacks me.
Anyway, I share all of this to explain why I think Paul does not mean occasional slips of the tongue will condemn a soul to hell, but rather that we should cooperate with the HS in eliminating such bad habits (Phil. 3:12-15). “Immoral” typically means fornication, as in Eph. 5:3, and “greed” refers to lust for money (Matt. 6:24, 1Tim. 6:10). Souls who continue to commit such serious sins after supposedly repenting need to examine whether their faith is genuine (1Cor. 11:28, 2Cor. 13:5). Avoiding associating with such people will help an immature Christian not to succumb to temptation (1Cor. 5:11). “Empty” words that deceive in this context would seem to refer to Gal. 5:13, “Do not use your freedom [forgiveness because of saving faith in Christ] to indulge the sinful nature.”
EPH 5:8-12, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret."
“Darkness” signifies atheism (as in John 1:5), which produces evil fruit including murder and lies (per Jesus in John 8:42-44). Believers in Christ are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14) to the degree they reflect the Light of God’s Word (John 1:1-9) by means of good/right behavior and sharing the Truth that teaches what pleases the Lord (Rom. 12:2). This refers to doctrines that build on the Gospel foundation (Matt. 28:20, John 16:13, Col. 2:6-7, 2Tim. 3:15-17, Eph. 2:10).
Darkness is reproved and the world enlightened when the Light is not hidden (Matt. 5:14-16). Paul leaves it to the readers imagination what sort of shameful sins unbelievers commit behind closed doors.
“Darkness” signifies atheism (as in John 1:5), which produces evil fruit including murder and lies (per Jesus in John 8:42-44). Believers in Christ are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14) to the degree they reflect the Light of God’s Word (John 1:1-9) by means of good/right behavior and sharing the Truth that teaches what pleases the Lord (Rom. 12:2). This refers to doctrines that build on the Gospel foundation (Matt. 28:20, John 16:13, Col. 2:6-7, 2Tim. 3:15-17, Eph. 2:10).
Darkness is reproved and the world enlightened when the Light is not hidden (Matt. 5:14-16). Paul leaves it to the readers imagination what sort of shameful sins unbelievers commit behind closed doors.
Eph 4:29
Any/all/every (πᾶς) word (λόγος ) corrupt (σαπρὸς) out of the mouth (ἐκ τοῦ στόματος) of you (ὑμῶν) let it not keep on proceeding (μὴ ἐκπορευέσθω , present passive or middle deponent 3rd person singular) but if (ἀλλ᾽ εἴ) that which (τις) is good (ἀγαθὸς) toward/for edification (πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν) of use/useful (τῆς χρείας) let that proceed in order that ( ἵνα) it might give ( δῷ, aorist active subjunctive) grace ( χάριν) to the ones hearing/listening (τοῖς ἀκούουσιν)
Eph 4:30
And (καὶ ) do not keep on grieving (μὴ λυπεῖτε, present active imperative) the Spirit (τὸ πνεῦμα) the Holy (τὸ ἅγιον) of the God (τοῦ θεοῦ) , in/by which (ἐν ᾧ) ye were sealed (ἐσφραγίσθητε, aorist active indicative) into/for (εἰς) a day of redemption (ἡμέραν ἀπολυτρώσεως).
Eph 4:31
All/every (πᾶσα) bitterness (πικρία), and fit of rage (καὶ θυμὸς), and vengeance, (καὶ ὀργὴ) and clamour, (καὶ κραυγὴ) and slander (καὶ βλασφημία), let it be taken up (ἀρθήτω , aorist passive imperative 3rd person singular) from you (ἀφ᾽ ὑμῶν), with all evil (σὺν πάσῃ κακίᾳ):
Eph 4:32
And become (γίνεσθε δὲ , present middle deponent imperative) into/for one another (εἰς ἀλλήλους ) useful (χρηστοί), tenderhearted (εὔσπλαγχνοι), grace-showing (χαριζόμενοι , present middle deponent participle) to yourselves (ἑαυτοῖς) , just as (καθὼς) also the God (καὶ ὁ θεὸς) in/by means of Christ (ἐν Χριστῷ ) showed grace (ἐχαρίσατο, aorist middle deponent indicative) to you (ὑμῖν).
My own paraphrase of the sense of the Greek text.
29 No longer allow any corrupt word to leave your mouth, but if there is something good for useful edification let that come forth, in order that it might give grace to those listening. 30 And stop grieving God's Holy Spirit, by which you were sealed for a day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, rage, retaliation, hysteria and slander be weeded out from your heart, with everything evil. 32 And become helpful toward one another, tender hearted, showing grace to yourselves, just as God by means of Christ showed grace to you.
1. "29 No longer allow any corrupt word to leave your mouth..."
The present imperative indicates an on-going action and the negative command is commanding an ongoing action to stop. The aorist imperative would indicate an action beginning to happen and the negative command would be commanding the action not to even start. So, Paul has in mind here that corrupt thoughts arise in the heart and out of the heart the mouth speaks. As the heart is generating the words and sending them to the tongue and lips, this procedure must be arrested before the words leave the mouth. As the psalmist said, "Lord, set a guard on my lips..." Psa 141:3
2. "but if there is something good for useful edification let that come forth, in order that it might give grace to those listening. "
In the phrase "edification of use (noun + genitive)" the genitive noun is being adjectivally, and this structure is a hebraic way of saying "useful edification (noun + adjective)". We see this in phrases like "the God of glory" , meaning "the glorious God." The saint's spirit acts as gatekeeper for the words about to leave the mouth. If the word tastes good to the spirit, it is allowed to pass. If it tastes corrupt/impure to the spirit, the word is held in and the sentence is interrupted.
3. "30 And stop grieving God's Holy Spirit, by which you were sealed for a day of redemption. "
Again, the present imperative commands a present ongoing action to cease. Paul is addressing those who are still saying things that are impure and destructive, instructing them to be more discerning and disciplines in their choice of words.
4. "31 Let all bitterness, rage, retaliation, rioting and slander be weeded out , with everything evil."
The aorist passive imperative ἀρθήτω commands something to start being done. There are people in Paul's audience who, he assumes, are leaving bitterness, rage, retaliation, rioting and slander to keep on growing in their hearts. He is commanding them to start to pull up those weeds. This list is not exhaustive, so Paul adds "with everything evil" to comprehensively cover whatever he did not include in his list.
5. "32 And become helpful toward one another,"
The word for kindness (chrEstos) derives from a root meaning "to furnish what is needed". It is not merely a feeling, but helpfulness. Paul is enjoining the saints to meet one another's real needs. ἀλλήλους is a word describing mutual exchange between two or more persons.
6. "tender-hearted..."
εὔσπλαγχνοι Literally, good-spleened. The bowels being considered are the seat of the emotions. It means compassionate, sympathetic.
7. "showing grace to yourselves, just as God by means of Christ showed grace to you. "
Paul does not use ἀλλήλοiς (one another) here, but ἑαυτοῖς (themselves). He is not enjoining grace-giving to others but to oneself. A lot of Christians' negative and offensive behaviours come from self-hatred and shame over not being and performing well enough. Giving myself grace, including forgiving myself, speaking encouragingly to my soul, treating my body well will allow me to be more gracious, patient and kind with others.
You make a good point about self-hatred possibly causing unkindness toward others.
(I wonder whether that would explain some persecution I have been experiencing.)
Anyway, I know you are busy, so I will wait awhile before continuing in Ephesians to give you more time to catch up.
Yes. Sharon and I have been very busy since returning from India in June and moving into our newly acquired orchard. We have been cutting back the overgrown shelter belts to let the trees have some sunlight, pruning the fruit trees, and chipping the prunings to use as mulch, once we have applied lime to increase the soil pH to enable the trees to actually absorb the fertiliser, which will go after a bit of rain washes in the lime, followed by compost... then the mulch. I have also been extending the height of the grape vine wires to 1.8m, so we can eventually prune to have the vines hanging down, rather than having to bend down all the time to work on the vines at 600-1200mm and to get them a bit further away from the damp ground to reduce mildew formation. I also added some 6m long purlins above our porch gazebo at the front door yesterday to make ready for a clear roof to provide a bit of shelter from the weather in the summer. So, I've had a lot less time to interact on ChristianChat. I will get on to Eph. Ch. 5 anon.
It's very encouraging and inspiring to go out each morning and see new buds and leaves sprouting according to God's wise design on the heavily pruned trees.
Kinda makes my landscaping efforts most mornings when it is cooler seem puny.
I hope you are not as continually achy.
May you have bountiful crops.
EPH 5:13-16, “Everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is the light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
Paul cited physical light as a metaphor in order to teach a spiritual truth, which is stated after interjecting a saying that must have been current at that time, apparently urging unbelievers to wake up or repent and allow Christ to shine through them (cf. Matt. 5:14-16), because Paul's conclusion was to live carefully and wisely, because evil can occur at any time. In the words of 1 Peter 5:8, “Be self-controlled and alert; your enemy the devil prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour.”
Paul cited physical light as a metaphor in order to teach a spiritual truth, which is stated after interjecting a saying that must have been current at that time, apparently urging unbelievers to wake up or repent and allow Christ to shine through them (cf. Matt. 5:14-16), because Paul's conclusion was to live carefully and wisely, because evil can occur at any time. In the words of 1 Peter 5:8, “Be self-controlled and alert; your enemy the devil prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour.”
EPH 5:17-18, “Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."
The contrast between foolishness and wisdom echoes what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth (in 1Cor. 1:18-25 & 2:6-16),
and it is clear in both passages that the Lord’s will first and foremost is for sinners to repent of debauchery or sin and receive
the Holy Spirit or mind of Christ by believing the Gospel. Paul indicated (in Eph. 3:16-19) that being filled with the Spirit
is manifested by the fullness of God's powerful love. Those without God feel empty and often fill the void with wine or
other drugs that can cause slow suicide.
The contrast between foolishness and wisdom echoes what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth (in 1Cor. 1:18-25 & 2:6-16),
and it is clear in both passages that the Lord’s will first and foremost is for sinners to repent of debauchery or sin and receive
the Holy Spirit or mind of Christ by believing the Gospel. Paul indicated (in Eph. 3:16-19) that being filled with the Spirit
is manifested by the fullness of God's powerful love. Those without God feel empty and often fill the void with wine or
other drugs that can cause slow suicide.
A literal rendering of the Greek text. -
Eph 5:1 Keep on becoming (γίνεσθε, present middle imperative) therefore (οὖν) followers/mimics (μιμηταὶ) of the God (τοῦ θεοῦ), as ( ὡς) children (τέκνα) beloved (ἀγαπητά).
Eph 5:2 And keep on walking (καὶ περιπατεῖτε, present active imperative) within/by means of love (ἐν ἀγάπῃ), just as (καθὼς) also (καὶ) the Christ (ὁ Χριστὸς) loved (ἠγάπησεν, aorist active indicative) us (ἡμᾶς), and (καὶ) gave (παρέδωκεν, aorist active indicative) himself (ἑαυτὸν) over/for (ὑπὲρ ) us (ἡμῶν), an offering ( προσφορὰν) and (καὶ) a sacrifice (θυσίαν) to the God (τῷ θεῷ) into/for (εἰς) a savour (ὀσμὴν) sweet-smelling (εὐωδίας).
Eph 5:3 But fornication (πορνεία δὲ), and (καὶ) all uncleanness (πᾶσα ἀκαθαρσία), or covetousness (ἢ πλεονεξία), not even (μηδὲ) let it keep on being named (ὀνομαζέσθω, present passive imperative) among you (ἐν ὑμῖν), just as (καθὼς) is eminent /fitting (πρέπει) to/for saints (ἁγίοις);
My own paraphrase of the sense of the Greek text -
Eph 5:1 Therefore, keep on becoming mimics of God, as beloved children. 2 And keep on walking within/by means of love, just as Christ also loved us, and gave himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. 3 But, just as is eminent /fitting for saints, stop fornication, and any uncleanness or covetousness, being reported among you.