EPHESIANS

CHAPTER  FIVE

BE YE THEREFORE FOLLOWERS OF GOD

HAS GIVEN HIMSELF FOR US  
"For" is "huper" is the great preposition of substitutionary atonement in the New Testament, and means, "instead of, in behalf of."   It does not merely mean that Christ died for us, for our benefit.  He died instead of us, in our place. He substituted for us, receiving the full impact of the divine wrath against sin.    (Wuest) 

FORNICATION    porneia (por-ni'-ah)
The Greek order of words is, "But fornication and uncleanness, every kind of it." 
Expositors says: " 'but' carries the exhortation over to a prohibition expressed in the strongest terms, which is leveled against one of the deadliest and most inveterate temptations to which Gentile Christians were exposed. The term  is to be taken in its proper sense and is not to be restricted to anyone particular form - the license practiced at heathen festivals. The moral life of the Greco-Roman world had sunk so low that, while protests against the prevailing corruption were never entirely wanting, fornication had long come to be regarded as a matter of moral indifference, and was indulged in without shame or scruple, not only by the mass, but by philosophers and men of distinction who in other respects led exemplary lives." 

UNCLEANNESS   akatharsia (ak-ath-ar-see'-ah)
In a moral sense, the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living  (Rom 1:24; 6:19).  
Used of impure motives in 1 Thes 2:3.

COVETOUSNESS   pleonexia (pleh-on-ex-ee'-ah)
Greedy desire to have more, avarice.  An inordinate desire for what one does not have. It is also translated "greed"; its basis lies in discontentment with what one has. It has an element of lawlessness. 

It is associated with the lowest and most debasing vices, and this, as well as those vices, was not once to be "named" among them. What was Paul's estimate then of covetousness? He considered it as an odious and abominable vice; a vice to be regarded in the same light as the most gross sin, and as wholly to be abhorred by all who bore the Christian name see Eph 5:5. The covetous man, according to Paul, is to be ranked with the sensual, and with idolaters (Eph 5:5), and with those who are entirely excluded from the kingdom of God.

"Not once" is "not even," Expositors says: "The strong negative gives it this force.  Not to speak of doing such a thing, let it not be even so much as mentioned among you."  Commenting on ''as becometh saints."  Those that are "set apart to Christ".  Those who imitate Him.

FILTHINESS     aischrotes (ahee-skhrot'-ace)
Obscenity, shameless, immoral conduct.   All wanton and unseemly gestures and behavior.

FOOLISH TALKING    morologia (mo-rol-og-ee'-ah)
Ridicule, or what tends to expose another to contempt.

JESTING     eutrapelia (yoo-trap-el-ee'-ah)
Vulgar.  
Vincent says: "That which easily turns and adapts itself to the moods and conditions of those with whom it may be dealing at the moment.  
Wuest says:  "Sometimes it is couched in a bold scheme of speech, in a tart irony, in a lusty hyperbole."

WHICH ARE NOT CONVENIENT   ouk aneeken  
They do not come up to the proper standard; they are utterly improper in themselves, and highly unbecoming in those who profess Christianity. (Clarke) 

RATHER GIVING OF THANKS   
A happy play on sounds in Greek, 'eucharistia' contrasted with 'eutrapelia';   refined  "jesting" and subtle humor sometimes offend the tender feelings of grace.
"giving of thanks"  gives that real cheerfulness of spirit to believers which the worldly try to get from "jesting"  (vs.19.20J James 5c1J).   (Jamieson. Fausset & Brown) 

This is the hurtful jesting - that which offends and belittles.

FOR  THIS YE KNOW
Paul reminds the Ephesian saints that they are absolutely convinced of the truth of the facts which he is about to call to their attention. 

WHOREMONGER    pornos   (por'-nos)
"A man who prostitutes his body to another's lust for hire, a male prostitute, a man who indulges in unlawful sexual intercourse, a fornicator. " 

UNCLEAN    akathartos   (ak-ath'-ar-tos)
Used in a moral sense. Unclean in thought or life. " 

COVETOUS     pleonektes (pleh-on-ek'-tace)
One eager to have more,  especially what belongs to others.  Greedy of gain.

IDOLATER     eidololatres   (i-do-lol-at'-race)
A worshipper of false gods, a covetous man as a worshipper of Mammon. " (Wuest) 

LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU 
Suffer no man to persuade you that any of these things are innocent, or that they are unavoidable frailties of human nature; they are all sins and abominations in the sight of God; those who practice them are children of disobedience; 
and on account of such practices the Wrath of God -Divine punishment. must come upon them. (Clarke) 

 5:7-11

 
LIGHT    phos     (foce)
Referring to light itself, not a mere lamp. Expositors says: "The completeness of the change is indicated again by the use of the abstract term -so possessed and penetrated were they by that truth that they could be described not simply as enlightened but as themselves now light.   And this 'in the Lord,'  for it was in virtue of their fellowship with Christ that this new apprehension of things came to them, transforming their lives." 

      Partakers of Darkness

FELLOWSHIP   

UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF  DARKNESS 
Probably alluding to the mysteries among the heathen, and the different 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 obliged, on pain of death, to keep secret what they had seen, heard, and done: hence they were called unspeakable mysteries -things that were not to be divulged. That the apostle may refer to magic and incantations is also probable, for to these the Ephesians were greatly addicted, (Clarke) 

These works of darkness are unfruitful works.  We must therefore have no fellowship with these unfruitful works.   There are many ways of our being accessory to the sins of others, by commendation, counsel, consent, or concealment.   But, rather than have fellowship with them, we must reprove them, implying that if we do not reprove the sins of others we have fellowship with them.     (Matthew Henry)

      Reprove Them

REPROVE    elegcho   (el-eng'-kho)
To reprove or rebuke so as to bring out conviction or confession of guilt."  Trench says that the word ( "implies not merely the charge, but the truth of the charge, and further the manifestation of the truth of the charge; nay, more 
than all this, very often also the acknowledgment, if not outward, yet inward, of its truth on the part of the accused; it being the glorious prerogative of the truth in its highest operation not merely to assert itself, and to silence the adversary, but to silence him by convincing him of his error,"   (Wuest) 

"We must prudently and in our places witness against the sins of others, and endeavor to convince them of their sinfulness, when we can do it seasonably and pertinently, in our words; but especially by the holiness of our lives, and a religious conversation."    ( Matthew Henry)

"If a Christian is in fellowship with his Lord, his very life will be a reproof to the world."    (Wycliffe)

5:12-13

       Don't even talk about it

FOR IT IS A SHAME EVEN TO SPEAK 
This no doubt refers to the I Eleusinian and Bacchanalian mysteries, which were performed in the night and darkness, and were known to be so impure and abominable, that the Roman senate banished them both from Rome and Italy. (Clarke) 

If the apostle would not allow them to name those things, or to "speak" of them, is it wise or safe for Christians now to be familiar with the accounts of those practices, and for ministers to portray them in the pulpit, and for the friends of "moral reform" to describe them before the world?  The very "naming" of those abominations often produces improper associations in the mind; the description creates polluting images before the imagination; the exhibition of pictures, even for the purpose of condemning them, defiles the soul.  Paul did not "describe" these vices, he denounced them; he did not dwell upon them long enough for the imagination to find employment, and to corrupt the soul. He mentioned the vice-and then he mentioned the wrath of God. 
(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)

BUT ALL THINGS THAT ARE REPROVED  

The Amplified Bible translates:  "But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear, there is light."

The NIV translates:  "But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,"

The NASU translates: "But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light."

5:14-21

     Awake!

As the dead can perform no function of life, so the Gentiles and the unconverted were incapable of performing any thing worthy either of life or being. But though they were asleep - in a state of complete spiritual torpor, yet they might be awoke by the voice of the Gospel; and though dead to all goodness, and to every function of the spiritual life, yet, as their animal life was whole in them, and perception and reason were still left, they were capable of hearing the Gospel, and under that influence which always accompanies it when faithfully preached, they could discern its excellency, and find it to be the power of God to their salvation. (Clarke) 

    As Wise

Circumspectly      (akriboos)    
"correctly, accurately, consistently, perfectly"

Be ye, who have received the truth, careful of your conduct; walk by the rule which God has given you; do this as well in little as in great matters; exemplify your principles, which are holy and good, by a corresponding conduct; do not only profess, but LIVE the Gospel.  As you embrace all it's promises, be careful also to embrace all its precepts; and behave yourselves so, that your enemies may never be able to say that ye are holy in your doctrines and profession, but irregular in  your lives.                (Clarke)
 
    The Root of the Matter 
 
We must not be, as mentioned above, holy in doctrine, but irregular in our lives as were the Corinthians, but it is equally important to be careful not to be caught in the trap of  "law" as were the Galatians.  King David put it properly when he said; "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." (Ps.19:14)    And "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Ps.51:10)

When we see Christ as our Redeemer, the one who forgives completely and covers absolutely, and that our own works avail nothing, then we should throw ourselves completely and absolutely on Him. It is when we fail to fully yield that we have the problems Paul warned the Ephesians about.  As we yield to the Holy Spirit, He will indeed put within us a right spirit and create for us a clear heart. 

When we yield to Him to the extent that our attitudes and motives are pleasing to God, and we have His power at work in us to the extent that we are able to control that deadliest of all members, the tongue, then the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts are acceptable unto Him.  It is at this point that we come to the experience of Galatians 5:16: "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."  And it is just such an experience that Paul is emphasizing in Ephesians chapter 5.  And this is Sanctification. 

Time    (kairos)

Time is not 'chronos' (time as such), but 'kairos' - time as regarded in its strategic, epoch-making, seasonable, opportune seasons.  The idea is not to make best use of time as such, which is what we should do in the sense of not wasting it, but taking advantage of the opportunities that present themselves.    (Wuest) 

Be filled       (pleerousthe)  
Continuously being filled.    Strong's: (literally) to cram.   There is room for nothing other than the Spirit in our life.  And it is not enough that we were filled with the Spirit yesterday - we must be filled anew each day.

It is our choice - we can choose to be drunk with wine (or the thoughts, words and deeds of the ungodly), or we can choose to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

5:22-24

There are books and books written on this subject, from all angles and from all points of view.  We submit that the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,  gave the most beautiful advice to the Corinthian Christians around A.D.59.  The Living Letters translates it something to this effect: 

Love is a two-way street, This is the kind of Love Christ has for the Church, It is the kind of Love the Church must have for Christ, This is the Love the husband and wife must have for each other.  This is not something that God gives us, but this Love is God Himself   (I Jn.4:8).