Bible Commentaries
Ephesians 5

Verse 1

followers = imitators. Greek. mimetes. See 1 Corinthians 4:16 .

God . App-98 .

dear = beloved. App-135 .

children . App-108 .

Verse 2

love . App-135 .

Christ . App-98 .

hath loved = loved. App-135 .

us . The texts read "you".

hath given = gave up. Compare Romans 4:25 .John 19:30 .

sweetsmelling savour = an odour of a sweet smell.

sweetsmelling . Greek. euodia. See 2 Corinthians 2:15 .

savour . Greek. ocme . Compare John 12:3 .

Verse 3

uncleanness . As in Romans 1:24 .

not . . . once = not even. Greek. mede .

among . App-104 .

saints . See Acts 9:13 .

Verse 4

Neither = Nor.

filthiness . Greek. aischrotes. Only here.

foolish talking . Greek. morologia. Only here.

nor = or.

jesting = ribaldry. Occurs only here.

convenient = befitting. Greek. aneko. Only here; Colossians 3:18 . Philemon 1:8 .

giving of thanks . Greek. eucharistia. The verb in Ephesians 5:20 .

Verse 5

know. App-132 .

whoremonger = fornicator.

covetous = avaricious. Greek. pleonektes. See 1 Corinthians 5:10 , 1 Corinthians 5:11 ; 1 Corinthians 6:10 .

who = which.

idolater . Compare 1 Corinthians 5:10 .

inheritance . As in Ephesians 1:14 .

kingdom of Christ = kingdom of the Messiah. App-114 .

of God . See App-114 .

Verse 6

no man . Greek. medeis.

deceive . Greek. apatao. Occurs only here; 1 Timothy 2:14 .James 1:26 .

vain = hollow. See Colossians 2:8 . First occurance: Mark 12:3 (empty).

words . App-121 .

because of . App-104 .Ephesians 5:2 .

the wrath of God . See Romans 1:18 .

upon . App-104 .

children = sons. App-108 .

disobedience = the disobedience. See Ephesians 2:2 .

Verse 7

Be = Become.

partakers = partners. See Ephesians 3:6 .

Verse 8

sometimes = once.

darkness . The darkness of blindness. Compare Ephesians 4:18 .

light . Not in the light, but having received the Light, are light. App-130 .

Lord . App-98 .

children . App-108 .

Verse 9

Spirit . App-101 ., but the texts read "light".

goodness . Compare Romans 15:14 .

righteousness . App-191 .

truth . See Ephesians 4:21 .

Verse 10

acceptable . As in Romans 12:1 .

unto = to.

Lord . App-98 .

Verse 11

have . . . fellowship = have partnership. Greek. sunkoinoneo. Only here; Philippians 1:4 , Philippians 1:14 .Revelation 18:4 .

unfruitful works . Compare dead works, Hebrews 6:1 ; wicked works, Co Ephesians 1:1 , Ephesians 1:21 ; all works of the darkness, Romans 13:12 . Consequently, the works of the devil, 1 John 3:8 . Compare John 8:44 , and contrast Ephesians 2:10 .

darkness = the darkness.

reprove = convict. See Luke 3:19 .

Verse 12

shame . See 1 Corinthians 11:6 .

done = being done.

in secret . Greek. kruphe . Only here.

Verse 13

made manifest . Greek. phaneroo . App-106 .

Verse 14

Awake . App-178 .

sleepest = art sleeping. Greek. katheudo. App-171 .

arise . App-178 .

from the dead . App-139 .

shall . . . light = will shine upon thee. Greek. epiphauo ; occurs only here. A paraphrase of Isaiah 60:1 , Isaiah 60:2 . App-107 .

Verse 15

See . App-133 .

circumspectly . App-125 .

fools = unwise. Greek. asophos ; only here.

wise . Greek. sophos . First occurance: Matthew 11:25 .

Verse 16

Redeeming . Greek. exagorazo ; literally to buy out. See Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:13 -

time . Greek. - kairo s. Compare App-195 . Here, the opportunity.

evil . Greek. poneros. Compare Ephesians 6:13 . App-128 .

Verse 17

Wherefore = On account of ( App-104 EEphesians 5:2 ) this.

unwise . See Luke 11:40 .

understanding . The texts read "understand ye". Compare Romans 3:11 .

will . App-102 .

Verse 18

be . . . drunk . Greek. methuskomai. Only here; Luke 12:45 . 1 Thessalonians 5:7 .

wherein = by (Greek. en) which.

excess = debauchery. Greek. asotia. Only here; Titus 1:6 . 1 Peter 4:4 . The adverb only in Luke 15:13 .

filled . See Ephesians 3:19 .

with = by (Greek. en) .

Spirit . See App-101 , and Note at end of Ap.

Verse 19

in = with. No preposition.

psalms . Greek. psalmos. See 1 Corinthians 14:26 .

hymns . Greek. humos ; only here and Colossians 3:16 .

spiritual songs . As sung by spiritual persons.

spiritual . Greek. pneumatikos. See 1 Corinthians 12:1 .

songs . Greek. ode , a song of thanksgiving. Here; Colossians 3:16 . Revelation 5:9 ; Revelation 14:3 , Revelation 14:3 ; Revelation 15:3 , Revelation 15:3 .

making melody . Greek. psallo See Romans 15:9 .

in = with. No preposition.

Verse 20

Giving thanks . See Ephesians 5:4 ; Ephesians 1:16 .

always . App-151 .

and = even.

Father . App-98 .

the name . See Acts 2:38 .

Lord Jesus Christ . See Ephesians 1:17 and App-98 .

Verse 21

Submitting . Same as "subject", Ephesians 5:24 .

God . The texts read "Christ".

Verse 22

husbands . App-123 .

Verse 23

the = a.

even as Christ = as Christ also.

church . App-186 .

and He is = He Himself (being).

the saviour = Saviour. Greek. soter ; only here in Eph.: not in Rom., Cor., Gal.

the body . See Ephesians 1:23 .

Verse 24

Therefore = But.

subject . The same as "submit" in Ephesians 5:21 .

Verse 25

love, loved . App-135 .

gave = gave up. See Ephesians 5:2 .

it = her (feminine pronoun).

Verse 26

That = In order that. Greek. hina.

sanctify . Greek. hagiazo. See 1 Corinthians 1:2 .

and cleanse = having cleansed. Greek. katharizo.

with the washing = by (no preposition: dative case) the laver. Greek. loutron ; only here and Titus 3:5 which says Figure of speech Anthropopatheia ( App-6 ), the laver being put for Christ's death and its results. Compare Numbers 19:0 , especially Numbers 19:9 and Numbers 19:17 . Has nothing to do with baptism.

the word . Greek. rhema. First occurance: Matthew 4:4 . See Mark 9:32 .

Verse 27

present . Greek. paristemi . See Romans 12:1 .

it . The texts read Greek. autos = Himself.

glorious . Greek. endoxos. Elsewhere, Luke 7:25 ; Luk 13:17 . 1 Corinthians 4:10 .

spot = blemish. Greek. spilos ; only here and 2 Peter 2:13

wrinkle . Only here.

should = may.

without blemish = faultless. Greek. amomos. See Ephesians 1:4 .

Verse 28

men . Same as "husbands", above.

wives = own wives. Compare "own husbands", Ephesians 5:22 .

wife = own wife.

Verse 29

no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.

yet . Omit.

nourisheth . Greek. ektrepho. Only here and Ephesians 6:4 .

cherisheth . Greek. thalpo. Only here and 1 Thessalonians 2:7 .

the Lord . The texts read "Christ also".

Verse 30

members. See Ephesians 4:25 . Compare Romans 12:4 , Rom 12:5 ; 1 Corinthians 6:15 ; 1 Corinthians 12:27 .

of His body . Being part of the Bridegroom, the church which is His body is not the "bride", as is so commonly taught.

of . . . bones . The texts omit.

Verse 31

For, &c . From Genesis 2:24 . See App-107 .

cause . Omit.

man . App-123 .

shall be = shall.

joined = cleave. Greek. proskoollaomai. Occurs elsewhere, Matthew 19:5 .Mark 10:7 . Acts 5:36 .

they = the.

shall be one flesh . Men and their wives being "one flesh", a man ought to love his wife, inasmuch as she is himself, as Christ loves His own body, the church. The apostle does not once hint that Christ is the husband, or that the church is the wife, but uses the "great mystery" of Ephesians 5:32 in regard to the reciprocal obligations of husband and wife.

one = for (Greek. eis . App-104 .) one. Does this suggest one, in the offspring?

Verse 32

a = the.

mystery . See Romans 16:25 , Romans 16:26 and App-193 .

concerning . Greek. eis . App-104 .

and = and concerning.

Verse 33

every one = each.

in particular . Greek. kath ( App-104 .) hena.

reverence = fear (as her "head"). Greek. phobeo. Occurs ninety-three times; always rendered "fear" or "be afraid", except here.