Ephesians 5:11-12 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 5:3-20

These verses contain a caution against all manner of uncleanness, with proper remedies and arguments proposed: some further cautions are added, and other duties recommended. Filthy lusts must be suppressed, in order to the supporting of holy love. Walk in love, and shun fornication and all uncleanness. Fornication is folly committed between unmarried persons. All uncleanness includes all other sorts of filthy lusts, which were too common among the Gentiles. Or covetousness, which being thus... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 5:9-14

5:9-14 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. You must behave as children of the light, for the fruit of light consists in all benevolence and righteousness and truth. You must decide what is well-pleasing to the Lord. You must take no share in the barren works of the dark. Rather you must expose them, for it is a shameful thing even to speak about the hidden things which are done in secret by such men. Whatever is exposed to the light is illuminated. And everything... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 5:11

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness ,.... It is not said with the workers of darkness, or with the men of the world, who are in darkness, and are darkness itself; to have fellowship with them in a civil way, or to dwell among them, is not prohibited; it is allowed of, and countenanced by the greatest examples; and especially it is lawful and right, when there is any prospect of doing good to the souls of men; and even when natural right, relation, and necessity... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 5:12

For it is a shame even to speak of those things ,.... This is a reason, why persons should walk as children of light; why they should prove what is acceptable to God; why they should have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; why the apostle exhorts to reprove them, and yet does not express what they are; and why they should be reproved rather by deeds than by words: and he tacitly intimates, that if it is a shame to speak of those sins which are done of them in secret ,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:11

Have no fellowship - Have no religious connection whatever with heathens or their worship. Unfruitful works of darkness - Probably alluding to the mysteries among the heathens, and the different lustrations and rites through which the initiated went in the caves and dark recesses where these mysteries were celebrated; all which he denominates works of darkness, because they were destitute of true wisdom; and unfruitful works, because they were of no use to mankind; the initiated being... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:12

For it is a shame even to speak - This no doubt refers to the Eleusinian and Bacchanalian mysteries, which were performed in the night and darkness, and were known to be so impure and abominable, especially the latter, that the Roman senate banished them both from Rome and Italy. How the discovery of these depths of Satan was made, and the whole proceedings in that case, may be seen in Livy, Hist. lib. xxxix. cap. 8-19, where the reader will see the force of what the apostle says here: It is... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:11

Verse 11 11.And have no fellowship. As “the children of light” dwell amidst the darkness, or, in other words, in the midst of “a perverse and crooked generation,” (Deuteronomy 32:5,) — there is good reason for warning them to keep themselves apart from wicked actions. It is not enough that we do not, of our own accord, undertake anything wicked. We must beware of joining or assisting those who do wrong. In short, we must abstain from giving any consent, or advice, or approbation, or assistance;... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:12

Verse 12 12.Which are done by them in secret. This shews the advantage of reproving the ungodly. If they do but escape the eyes of men, there is no crime, however shocking to be mentioned, which they will not perpetrate. To use a common proverb, “Night has no shame.” What is the reason of this? Sunk in the darkness of ignorance, they neither see their own baseness, nor think that it is seen by God and by angels. But let the torch of God’s word be brought forward, and their eyes are opened. Then... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:1-14

The walk suitable to the children of light: no fellowship with sins of the flesh. The fearful prevalence of sensual vice at Ephesus naturally led the apostle to dwell on it emphatically as one of the worst rags of the old man, a rag to be wholly and forever cast away. But, indeed, there are few heathen communities where sensual vice does not flourish when men have it in their power to indulge in it. It is singular how universal sin is in connection with the irregular and disorderly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:1-14

What to imitate and to avoid. I. THE IMITATION OF GOD AND CHRIST . 1. The imitation of God . "Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children." The force of example is abundantly acknowledged. How much do most of us suffer from the low standard of opinion and practice with which we are surrounded? On the other hand, we have all felt what it is to come into Contact with one who is raised above the common standard. By his strength of principle and generous... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 5:3-20

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 5:9-14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 5:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 5:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:11

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:1-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:1-14

Group of Brands