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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Eph_5:6-14
6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."
Eph_5:6 "Let no one deceive you" This is a present active imperative with the negative particle which usually means to stop an act in process. This referred to the message and lifestyle of the false teachers, who were a mixture of libertine Gnostics and Jewish legalists (which seem so incompatible). There is so much we moderns do not know about the heretics of the first century.
▣ "with empty words" This may refer to the libertine or Gnostic teachings that sex sins do not affect the spiritual life. For them salvation was found in secret knowledge of the angelic levels. They totally separated justification from sanctification. This heresy is still alive and well!
▣ "the wrath of God comes" This is a Present tense. It refers to either (1) temporal judgment (cf. Joh_3:36; Rom_1:18-32; Rom_2:8-9; Rom_9:22; Col_3:6 1Th_2:16); and/or (2) future eschatological judgment (cf. Mat_25:31 ff; Rom_5:9; 1Th_1:10; 1Th_5:9). God's wrath is as revelatory as God's love.
While on this subject of the wrath of God, let me be clear about my understanding of its implications. First it is a theological tragedy to over-emphasize or under-emphasize this truth. God is angry with the way mankind treats His word, His world, His will, and each other. This is not the world that God intended it to be! All human beings will give an account to God for how they lived their lives (cf. Gal_6:7; 2Co_5:10). However, it is important to recognize the biblical perspective on this doctrine. Deu_5:9 compared with Deu_5:10 and Deu_7:9 sets the pattern. As judgment runs to the third and fourth generations, God's love and faithfulness runs to a thousand generations. In Isa_28:21 judgment is called God's "strange" work (cf. Lam_3:32-33; Psa_103:8-14). Judgment is necessary in a moral universe, but is unpleasant to God. Hell is an open bleeding sore in God's heart that will never be healed. He loves all humans made in His image (cf. Gen_1:26-27; Gen_5:1; Gen_9:6). He wants to redeem all humans and He has promised to do so for all who will repent and believe in His Son (cf. Gen_3:15; Eze_18:23; Eze_18:32; 1Ti_2:4; 2Pe_3:9).
▣ "the sons of disobedience" This is a Hebraic idiom (cf. Eph_2:2; Col_3:6). Covenant obedience is a characteristic of God's children. Disobedience is a characteristic of Satan's followers.
Eph_5:7 "do not be partakers with them" This is literally "co-holders." It is a present imperative with the negative particle which usually means to stop an act already in process. Paul uses a compound with syn here as he did in Eph_2:5-6; Eph_3:6. This same phrase is repeated in Eph_5:11. Not only must believers flee entanglement in sin or even the appearance of sin, they must also carefully choose their friends and associates. The close friends we choose, like the words we speak, reveal our hearts.
Eph_5:8-9 "darkness. . .light" This is very similar to John's dualism (cf. Joh_1:4-5; Joh_1:7-8; Joh_3:19; Joh_8:12; Joh_9:5; Joh_12:46). These contrasting terms were universal symbols for good and evil which predate Greek thought and are common in the literature of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which was a Jewish separatist desert community.
The imperfect active verb in the first phrase describes their previous life as continuously sinning (cf. Gen_6:5; Gen_6:11-12; Gen_8:21; Psa_14:3; Psa_58:3; Jer_12:9).
Eph_5:8 "but now you are light in the Lord" What a strong contrast (cf. Mat_5:19; Joh_8:12).
▣ "walk as children of light" This is another present active imperative (cf. Joh_3:19-21; 1Jn_1:7). Believers' words, lifestyles, and priorities reveal who they are!
▣ "children of" This is a Hebrew idiom for "characteristics," as is "sons of" in Eph_5:6. Conversion is evidenced by a changed life. This was spelled out in Eph_5:9. No fruit, no root (cf. Matthew 5-7; James, and 1 John).
Eph_5:9 "fruit of light" The KJV has "fruit of the Spirit," which is in the ancient Greek manuscripts P46, Dc, and I. However, P49, à , A, B, D, G, P and the immediate context (Eph_5:8), demand "fruit of light." Even the NKJV has this. The KJV follows the Western family of Greek manuscripts which assimilated the wording from Gal_5:22.
▣ "righteousness" See Special Topic at Eph_4:24.
Eph_5:10
NASB "trying to learn"
NKJV "proving"
NRSV "trying to find out"
TEV "try to learn"
NJB "try to discover"
This Greek term (dokimazô) "prove" (cf. Rom_12:2; 2Co_8:8; 2Co_8:22; 2Co_13:5; Gal_6:4; 1Th_5:21; 1 Tim. 8:10; Heb_3:9) or "try" (cf. 1Co_3:13; 1Th_2:4; 1Pe_1:7; 1Jn_4:1) has the connotation of "to test with a view toward approval." This was a metallurgical term used of testing coins for genuineness. See Special Topic at Php_2:22.
Eph_5:11 "do not participate in" This is literally "co-fellowshippers." It is another syn compound. This is a present active imperative with the negative particle which usually means to stop an act already in process. This refers to
1. intimate social contact
2. pagan worship settings
3. false teachers' meetings (cf. Eph_5:12)
▣ "expose them" This is another present active imperative. How do believers expose evil? Because of Eph_5:12 this phrase seems to mean "to expose by our own godly lifestyle" or by the proclamation of the gospel. Light cannot coexist in fellowship with darkness (cf. Joh_3:17-19).
Eph_5:14 "awake, sleeper. . .Christ will shine on you" This is either a loose quote from Isa_29:19 or possibly Isa_51:17; Isa_52:1; Isa_60:1 or an early Christian hymn (cf. Php_2:6-11; 1Ti_3:16; 2Ti_2:11-13). It is in metrical form. Paul used lyrical material from
1. the OT (from several translations)
2. Christian hymns
3. Christian creeds
4. even pagan writers
▣ "sleeper. . .dead" This refers to the spiritual blindness, and the spiritual deadness of unbelievers (cf. Eph_2:1; 2Co_4:4).
▣ "Christ will shine on you" Jesus is depicted here as the glorified morning star (cf. Isa_9:1-2; Isa_59:8; Isa_60:1; Luk_1:78-79), the opposite of Lucifer, (cf. Isa_14:12). Light is an ancient symbol of healing, health, truth, knowledge, and goodness (cf. Mal_4:2).