Ephesians 5:4-5 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 5:1-8

5:1-8 You must become imitators of God, as well loved children imitate their father. You must live in love, as Christ loved you, and gave himself to God as a sacrifice and an offering, a sacrifice which was the odour of a sweet savour to God. Let no one even mention fornication and unclean living and insatiable desire among you--it does not befit God's consecrated people to talk about things like that. Let no one even mention shameful conduct. Let there be no foolish talking and graceless... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 5:1-8

We must note two other warnings which Paul gives. (i) He says that these shameful sins are not even to be talked about. The Persians had a rule, so Herodotus tells us, by which "it was not even allowed to speak such things as it was not allowed to do." To jest about a thing or to make it a frequent subject of conversation is to introduce it into the mind and to bring nearer the actual doing of it. Paul warns that some things are not safe even to talk or to jest about. It is a grim commentary... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 5:4

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting ,.... The former of these may include all filthy gestures and behaviour, every indecent habit and attire, and all actions which have a tendency to excite lust; and also all impure words, these discover an impure heart, and are the means of corrupting men's minds and manners; filthy speaking, is a verbal commission of the things that are spoken of; and it may include all impure songs and books, and the reading or hearing of them; this is... read more

John Gill

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

For this ye know ,.... Or, "know ye this", as the Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions read: that no whoremonger, nor unclean person ; anyone that is guilty of fornication, adultery, incest, &c.; Nor covetous man, who is an idolater : as every man is, that indulges his lusts, the idols of his own heart; and who serves divers lusts and pleasures, and gives up himself to work all uncleanness with greediness; never having his fill... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:4

Neither filthiness - Αισχροτης· Any thing base or vile in words or acts. Foolish talking - Μωρολογια· Scurrility, buffoonery, ridicule, or what tends to expose another to contempt. Nor jesting - Ευτραπελια· Artfully turned discourses or words, from ευ , well or easily, and τρεπω , I turn; words that can be easily turned to other meanings; double entendres; chaste words which, from their connection, and the manner in which they are used, convey an obscene or offensive... read more

Adam Clarke

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

For this ye know - Ye must be convinced of the dangerous and ruinous tendency of such a spirit and conduct, when ye know that persons of this character can never inherit the kingdom of God. See on Ephesians 5:3 ; (note); and see the observations on the Greek article at the end of this epistle. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:4

Verse 4 4.Neither filthiness. To those three — other three are now added. By filthiness I understand all that is indecent or inconsistent with the modesty of the godly. By foolish talking I understand conversations that are either unprofitably or wickedly foolish; and as it frequently happens that idle talk is concealed under the garb of jesting or wit, he expressly mentions pleasantry, — which is so agreeable as to seem worthy of commendation, — and condemns it as a part of foolish talking The... read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 5 5.For this ye know. If his readers were at all captivated by the allurements of those vices which have been enumerated, the consequence would be that they would lend a hesitating or careless ear to his admonitions. He determines, therefore, to alarm them by this weighty and dreadful threatening, that such vices shut against us the kingdom of God. By appealing to their own knowledge, he intimates that this was no doubtful matter. Some might think it harsh, or inconsistent with the Divine... 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

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

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 5:1-8

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 5:1-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 5:4

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:4

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:4

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:1-14

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