Ephesians 5:15-21 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:15

Walk circumspectly - Our word circumspect, from the Latin circirmspicio , signifies to look round about on all hands; to be every way watchful, wary, and cautious, in order to avoid danger, discern enemies before they come too nigh, and secure a man's interest by every possible and lawful means. But the original word ακριβως signifies correctly, accurately, consistently, or perfectly. Be ye, who have received the truth, careful of your conduct; walk by the rule which God has given you;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:16

Redeeming the time - Εξαγοραζομενοι τον καιρον· Buying up those moments which others seem to throw away; steadily improving every present moment, that ye may, in some measure, regain the time ye have lost. Let time be your chief commodity; deal in that alone; buy it all up, and use every portion of it yourselves. Time is that on which eternity depends; in time ye are to get a preparation for the kingdom of God; if you get not this in time, your ruin is inevitable; therefore, buy up the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:17

Wherefore be ye not unwise - Μη γινεσθε αφρονες· Do not become madmen. Here is a most evident allusion to the orgies of Bacchus, in which his votaries acted like madmen; running about, tossing their heads from shoulder to shoulder, appearing to be in every sense completely frantic. See the whole of the passage in Livy, to which I have referred on Ephesians 5:12 . But understanding what the will of the Lord is - It is the will of God that ye should be sober, chaste, holy, and pure.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:18

Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess - This is a farther allusion to the Bacchanalian mysteries; in them his votaries got drunk, and ran into all manner of excesses. Plato, though he forbade drunkenness in general, yet allowed that the people should get drunk in the solemnities of that god who invented wine. And indeed this was their common custom; when they had offered their sacrifices they indulged themselves in drunkenness, and ran into all kinds of extravagance. Hence it is probable... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:19

Speaking to yourselves in psalms - We can scarcely say what is the exact difference between these three expressions. Psalms, ψαλμοι , may probably mean those of David. Hymns - Ὑμνοις· Extemporaneous effusions in praise of God, uttered under the influence of the Divine Spirit, or a sense of his especial goodness. See Acts 16:25 . Songs - Ωιδαις· Odes; premeditated and regular poetic compositions; but, in whatever form they were composed, we learn that they were all ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:20

Giving thanks always - God is continually loading you with his benefits; you deserve nothing of his kindness; therefore give him thanks for his unmerited bounties. God and the Father - That is: God, who is your Father, and the Father of mercies. See the observations on the Greek article at the end of this epistle. In the name of our Lord Jesus - He is the only mediator; and through him alone can ye approach to God; and it is for his sake only that God will hear your prayers or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:21

Submitting - one to another - Let no man be so tenacious of his own will or his opinion in matters indifferent, as to disturb the peace of the Church; in all such matters give way to each other, and let love rule. In the fear of God - Setting him always before your eyes, and considering that he has commanded you to love one another, and to bear each other's burdens; and that what you do in this or any other commanded case, you do as unto the Lord. Instead of εν φοβῳ Θεου , in the fear... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:15

Verse 15 15.See then. If believers must not neglect to drive away the darkness of others by their own brightness, how much less ought they to be blind as to their own conduct in life? What darkness shall conceal those on whom Christ, the Sun of righteousness, has arisen? Placed, as it were, in a crowded theater, they ought to live under the eye of God and of angels. Let them stand in awe of these witnesses, though they may be concealed from the view of all mortals. Dismissing the metaphor of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:16

Verse 16 16.Redeeming the time. By a consideration of the time he enforces his exhortation.The days are evil. Everything around us tends to corrupt and mislead; so that it is difficult for godly persons, who walk among so many thorns, to escape unhurt. Such corruption having infected the age, the devil appears to have obtained tyrannical sway; so that time cannot be dedicated to God without being in some way redeemed. And what shall be the price of its redemption? To withdraw from the endless... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:17

Verse 17 17.Wherefore be ye not unwise. He whose “delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates in it day and night,” (Psalms 1:2,) will triumph over every obstacle which Satan can oppose to his progress. Whence comes it that some wander, others fall, others strike against a rock, others go away, — but because we allow ourselves to be gradually blinded by Satan, and lose sight of the will of God, which we ought constantly to remember? And observe, that Paul defines wisdom to be,... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:17

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