3. Walking in love 5:1-6In addition to calling his readers to walk in unity (Ephesians 4:1) and holiness (Ephesians 4:17), Paul urged them to walk in love (Ephesians 5:2). He first advocated positive love (Ephesians 5:1-2) and then negatively warned to abstain from evil (Ephesians 5:3-6). read more
Paul proceeded from immorality to vulgarity. The Christian’s speech should also demonstrate love (cf. Ephesians 4:29). Filthiness or obscenity refers to dirty speech. Silly or foolish talk (lit. stupid words) probably describes talk that just wastes time, not necessarily "small talk." Coarse jesting does not mean joking necessarily but vulgar joking that uses clever word plays such as double entendres. This type of speech is inappropriate for saints who should be full of thanksgiving since we... read more
5:4 foolish (n-4) Perhaps 'indecent.' jesting, (o-7) Used for 'buffoonery.' convenient; (p-11) 'Convenient' has the French sense of convenir (see Colossians 3:18 , Philemon 1:8 , 'fitting'), but no other word exactly suits. Perhaps 'becoming' or 'suitable.' read more
The old Darkness and new Light. Rules for the Married1, 2. In close connexion with what precedes. ’It is the mark of beloved children to become imitators of a loving Father; practise the self-sacrifice of Christ, which shows how He loved us and the Father.’3-14. Special exhortation against covetousness and impurity.3. But] The five sins mentioned in Ephesians 4:25-32 are to be put away; these two are not even to be mentioned: ’saints’ are set apart from such subjects, being consecrated to God.... read more
(3b) Ephesians 5:3-14 warn, with even greater fulness and emphasis, against the sins of impurity and lust, as incompatible with membership of the kingdom of heaven, as works of darkness, impossible to those who are children of light. read more
(4) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting.—The word “filthiness” (unlike the “filthy communication” of the parallel passage in Colossians 3:8) is in itself a general word. But the connection with the words following, and the distinction from those going before, appear to show that St. Paul here uses it for “filthy talking.” He is passing from impurity of the inward soul to impurity in outward expression. Of such foul speaking he appears to distinguish two forms. There is, first... read more
The Lessons of Childliness Ephesians 5:1 It is the great mark of the Gospel that its deepest truths are presented to us in forms taken from our daily life. The cleansing water and the simple meal are made sacraments revelations of Divine mysteries. The ties of family are the chosen emblems of our heavenly fellowship. One of these relations is set before us in the words which I have taken for my text. We all are as children in His household, heirs, indeed of a glorious inheritance, but yet... read more
32Chapter 22DOCTRINE AND ETHICSEphesians 4:25-32; Ephesians 5:1-6The homily that we have briefly reviewed in the last chapter demands further consideration. It affords a striking and instructive example of St. Paul’s method as a teacher of morals, and makes an important contribution to evangelical ethics. The common vices are here prohibited on specifically Christian grounds. The new nature formed in Christ casts them off as alien and dead things; they are the sloughed skin of the old life, the... read more
3. The Walk in Holiness and Righteousness CHAPTERS 4:17-5:21 1. Not as the Gentiles walk (Ephesians 4:17-19 ) 2. The putting off and putting on (Ephesians 4:20-32 ) 3. Followers of God (Ephesians 5:1-2 ) 4. Exhortations (Ephesians 5:3-21 ) At this point the exhortations to walk in separation begin. The “therefore” of Ephesians 4:17 refers us to the “wherefore” of Ephesians 2:11-12 . What Gentiles are in their natural condition is here once more put before us. The grace of God takes the... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 5:4
4. filthiness—obscenity in act or gesture. foolish talking—the talk of fools, which is folly and sin together. The Greek of it, and of "filthiness," occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. nor—rather, "or" (compare Ephesians 5:3). jesting—Greek, "eutrapelia"; found nowhere else in the New Testament: implying strictly that versatility which turns about and adapts itself, without regard to principle, to the shifting circumstances of the moment, and to the varying moods of those with whom it may... read more