Lessons for such a time as this: Excerpt from: Hoehner, H. W. (1985). Ephesians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 639 - 640). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. ___________ Walk Carefully Ephesians 5:15–16 The NIV‘s Be very careful, then, how you live is literally, “Look therefore carefully how you walk.” Does the adverb “carefully” (akribōs, lit. “accurately”) modify “look”? If so the first clause in verse 15 could be translated, “Therefore look carefully how you walk.” (This is behind the rendering in the asv, nasb, and niv.) Or does “careful” modify “walk”? If so, the idea is, “Therefore look that you walk carefully” (cf. kjv). This second alternative is preferred because better Greek manuscripts place akribōs closer to the Greek word “walk” and because in the New Testament the Greek imperative “look” (blepete) is never modified by an adverb. Believers then, are to walk (live) carefully, so as to be wise or skillful and thus please the Lord. The manner for this careful, precise walk is making the right use of every opportunity (cf. Col. 4:5), and the reason for this careful walk is that the days are evil. Many are walking in sin, and since the time is short believers must make full use of their time to help turn them from darkness to light. This necessitates wise conduct. Proper state: to become wise (5:17–21). 5:17. Rather than being foolish (aphrones, “senseless”) or “unwise” (asophoi, v. 15), Christians are to understand (syniete, “comprehend intellectually”) what the Lord’s will is. Only after one understands what pleases God (v. 1) can he carry it out in his life. 5:18. Going from the general to the specific, Paul explained how wisdom, as an intellectual and spiritual capacity, works out in one’s conduct. Verse 18 includes a negative command and a positive one. The negative is to abstain from getting drunk on wine with which there is incorrigibility. The word asōtia is translated debauchery (NIV, RSV), “excess” (KJV), “riot” (ASV), and “dissipation” (NASB). All these give the idea of profligate or licentious living that is wasteful. In this verse the literal sense of incorrigibility seems best, for a drunken man acts abnormally. Rather than controlling himself, the wine controls him. Conversely, the positive command is, Be filled with the Spirit. Thus a believer, rather than controlling himself, is controlled by the Holy Spirit. It may be more accurate to say that the Holy Spirit is the “Agent” of the filling (cf. Gal. 5:16) and Christ is the Content of the filling (Col. 3:15). Thus in this relationship, as a believer is yielded to the Lord and controlled by Him, he increasingly manifests the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–23). The Spirit’s indwelling (John 7:37–39; 14:17; Rom. 5:5; 8:9; 1 Cor. 2:12; 6:19–20; 1 John 3:24; 4:13), sealing (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13; 4:30), and baptism (1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27) occur at the time of regeneration and thus are not commanded. However, believers are commanded to be filled constantly with the Holy Spirit. Each Christian has all the Spirit, but the command here is that the Spirit have all of him. The wise walk, then, is one that is characterized by the Holy Spirit’s control. 5:19–21. Paul then gave four results of being filled with the Spirit. First is communication with one another with psalms (psalmois, OT psalms sung with stringed instruments such as harps), hymns (hymnois, praises composed by Christians), and spiritual songs (a general term). Second is communication with the Lord by singing and making melody (psallontes, singing with a stringed instrument) in the heart. Church music, then, should be a means of believers’ ministering to each other, and singing should be a means of worshiping the Lord. Third is thanking God the Father (cf. 1:2–3, 17; 3:14) continually for all things (cf. Col. 3:17; 1 Thes. 5:18). Fourth, Spirit-controlled believers are to submit to one another, willingly serving others and being under them rather than dominating them and exalting themselves. But basic to Christians’ attitudes toward others is their reverence for Christ. - via Logos 6 #lessonsforsuchatimeasthis #christjesus #theword #studyscripture #god #biblestudy #bible #jesus #faith #holyspirit #bookexcerpts #vineofchristministries
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 21:50:12 +0000
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