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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Ephesians 4:14 - 4:14
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
That we may be no longer children (hina mēketi ōmen nēpioi). Negative final clause with present subjunctive. Some Christians are quite content to remain “babes” in Christ and never cut their eye-teeth (Heb 5:11-14), the victims of every charlatan who comes along.
Tossed to and fro (kludōnizomenoi). Present passive participle of kludōnizomai, late verb from kludōn (wave, Jam 1:6), to be agitated by the waves, in lxx, only here in N.T. One example in Vettius Valens.
Carried about (peripheromenoi). Present passive participle of peripherō, old verb, to carry round, whirled round “by every wind (anemōi, instrumental case) of teaching.” In some it is all wind, even like a hurricane or a tornado. If not anchored by full knowledge of Christ, folks are at the mercy of these squalls.
By the sleight (en tēi kubiāi). “In the deceit,” “in the throw of the dice” (kubia, from kubos, cube), sometimes cheating.
In craftiness (en panourgiāi). Old word from panourgos (pan, ergon, any deed, every deed), cleverness, trickiness.
After the wiles of error (pros tēn methodian tēs planēs). Methodia is from methodeuō (meta, hodos) to follow after or up, to practise deceit, and occurs nowhere else (Eph 4:13; Eph 6:11) save in late papyri in the sense of method. The word planēs (wandering like our “planet”) adds to the evil idea in the word. Paul has covered the whole ground in this picture of Gnostic error.