1Paul exhorteth to the imitation of God, and of the love of Christ: 3to avoid fornication and all uncleanness, 5which exclude from the kingdom of God, and draw down God's wrath on unbelievers: 7with whose works of darkness Christians, that have better light to inform and influence them, should have no fellowship: 15to walk with prudence and circumspection; 18not to drink wine to excess, but to be filled with the Spirit, singing psalms, and giving thanks to God; 21and being in due subordination to one another. 22The duty of wives toward their husbands, 25and of husbands toward their wives, enforced by the example of Christ and his church.
1BE ye therefore 1followers of God, as dear children;
1 Namely, in forgiving one another’s failings and trespasses, as is expressed in the last verse of the previous chapter.
2Anda walk in love, asb Christ also hath loved us, andc hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God 2for a sweetsmelling savour.
a John 13:34; 15:12; 1 Thes. 4:9; 1 John 3:23; 4:21.
b Gal. 2:20; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 3:18.
c Heb. 8:3; 9:14.
2 Gr. for an odor of fragrance. A similitude taken from the sacrifices of the Old Testament, see Gen. 8:21, which were said to have a sweet-smelling savor before God, not for their own sake, but for the signification which they had of Christ’s sacrifice and obedience. See Psalm 40:6; Heb. 10:8, etc.
3Butd fornication, and all 3uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
d Mark 7:21; Eph. 4:29; Col. 3:5.
3 Or, filthiness.
4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor 4jesting, which are not convenient:e but rather giving of 5thanks.
4 Gr. eutrapelia; which word is sometimes taken in good part for honest, pleasant discourses, which in times and opportunities are lawful and edifying, as there are examples thereof in God’s Word, 1 Kings 18:27, but it is here taken in ill part for foolery or mockery, such as idle persons and scoffing companions use to make themselves merry withal, and is properly called, scurrility.
e suitable*
5 Gr. eucharistia; that is, thanksgiving; although this word be here taken somewhat more extensive for words which are acceptable and thankworthy.
5Forf this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, 6who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of 7Christ and of God.
f 1 Cor. 6:10; Gal. 5:19; Col. 3:5; Rev. 22:15.
6 Namely, because he puts his trust in his goods, and places his life and happiness therein, instead of placing and seeking the same in the living God, see Col. 3:5; 1 Tim. 6:17.
7 Not that there are two kingdoms, but because Christ, as Mediator, has purchased the same, and first took possession of it, and we shall by God be put in possession of the same, together with Him, see Rev. 3:21.
6Letg no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon 8the children of disobedience.
g Jer. 29:8; Mat. 24:4; Mark 13:5; Luke 21:8; Col. 2:4, 18; 2 Thes. 2:3; 1 John 4:1.
8 That is, who are given over to disobedience, as children to their fathers, as Eph. 2:2.
7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8Forh ye were sometimes 9darkness, but now are ye 10light in the Lord: walk as 11children of light:
h 1 Thes. 5:4.
9 That is, dark or ignorant in your understanding, to discern duly good from evil. See Eph. 4:18.
10 That is, enlightened by God’s Spirit to discern good from evil, and to go before others as lights by a good example.
11 That is, who are partakers of the light of the Gospel, and make profession thereof, and name and boast yourselves thereof, as children of their father, 1 Thes. 5:5.
9(Fori12the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
i Gal. 5:22.
12 That is, working; or that which the Holy Spirit produces.
1013Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
13 That is, diligently searching, and after search, giving proof thereof, and doing, as Rom. 12:2.
11Andj have no fellowship with the 14unfruitful works of darkness, but rather 15reprove them.
j Mat. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:8; 10:20; 2 Cor. 6:14; 2 Thes. 3:14.
14 That is, who not only bring forth no good fruit, but also nothing but evil fruits.
15 Namely, always by your Christian walk; and through God’s Word, when it may be done with profit. See 1 Cor. 14:24. Otherwise Christ says also that such pearls must not be scattered before swine, Mat. 7:6.
12For it is a 16shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
16 It is even much more shameful to do.
13Butk all things that are reproved are made manifest 17by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest 18is light.
k John 3:20, 21.
17 Or, being reproved, are manifest by the light.
18 That is, is like unto lights, namely, purifying and explaining all things. For, God’s Word and the good examples of believers are like unto fire, which enlightens and purifies. See Mat. 5:16; 1 Cor. 3:13.
14Wherefore he 19saith, Awakel thou 20that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall 21give thee light.
19 Some take this for the words of the apostle, who, being moved by the Spirit of Christ, speaks thus, as the prophets everywhere testify: Thus saith the Lord, namely, by me unto you. Others take it for a quotation of words out of the prophets, which Paul joins together and expounds. See Isa. 9:2; 26:19; 60:1, wherein the sum of a person’s conversion is contained.
l Rom. 13:11; 1 Thes. 5:6.
20 Namely, the spiritual sleep of sin and death of sin, being awakened and quickened by the Word and the Spirit of Christ, as is said in Eph. 2:1, which exhortation partly concerns the believers, who sometimes also sleep in some common sins; and partly the unbelievers, who are dead in the same sins. The first he exhorts to be awakened by the power of the Spirit of God, whereof they are already partakers; the others to arise from the dead, that by such exhortations, being made sensible of the quickening power of Christ, they would likewise become obedient to the same, as Lazarus arose from physical death by the word and power of Christ, John 11:43, 44.
21 Namely, as the Sun of righteousness to guide you well, and to cause you to walk circumspectly, as children of the day, as the following verse declares.
15Seem then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
m Col. 4:5.
16Redeemingn the 22time, because 23the days are evil.
n Rom. 13:11.
22 That is, prudently laying hold on the good opportunities of well-doing, and winning others to Christ. A similitude taken from wise merchants.
23 Namely, by reason of the disorderliness of the people, as well as by reason of persecutions. He proceeds therefore in the similitude taken from merchants, who in times of dearth and danger, had need to be most cautious how to trade to the best advantage, to avoid all bad transactions, and not to neglect any good bargain.
17Wherefore be ye not unwise, buto understanding what the will of the Lord is.
o Rom. 12:2; 1 Thes. 4:3.
18Andp be not drunk with wine, 24wherein is excess; but 25be filled with the Spirit;
p Prov. 23:29; Isa. 5:11, 22; Luke 21:34.
24 Namely, when it is misused to drunkenness, and not used for necessity and moderate cheerfulness.
25 That is, seek your amusements not in carnal pleasure, but in spiritual delights, whereof singing is one of the most important.
19Speakingq to yourselves in 26psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody 27in your heart to the Lord;
q Col. 3:16.
26 These three sorts of spiritual singing serve for one end, namely, to cheer the spirit, and are by some thus distinguished, that psalms are all kind of spiritual songs, which are exercised, not only with the voice, but also with stringed instruments of music. Hymns, thanksgivings unto God, or poetical praises of God’s grace towards us; and spiritual songs such poetry as containing all manner of spiritual doctrines. See also Col. 3:16, and these different names seem to be taken from several inscriptions of the Psalms of David.
27 That is, not only with the tongue or instruments, but also with the heart.
20Givingr thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
r Col. 3:17; 1 Thes. 5:18.
2128Submitting yourselves one to another 29in the fear of God.
28 Or, subject, that is, everyone according to his calling, preceding the other with respect, or treating one another in a humble manner, Philip. 2:3.
29 That is, thus notwithstanding, that the fear of God be always the rule and directive of your submission.
22Wives,s submit yourselves unto your own husbands, 30as unto the Lord.
s Gen. 3:16; 1 Cor. 14:34; Col. 3:18; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 3:1.
30 Namely, Jesus Christ, as is expressed in Eph. 6:5. The reason hereof is, because the husband bears Christ’s image in governing of the wife, 1 Cor. 11:3, 7.
23Fort the husband is the head of the wife, evenu as Christ is the head of the church: and 31he is the 32saviour ofv the body.
t 1 Cor. 11:3.
u Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Col. 1:18.
31 Namely, Christ. For, of the duty of husbands shall be spoken of hereafter, verse 25, etc.
32 Or, Keeper.
v Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 1:23; 4:12; Col. 1:24.
24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands 33in every thing.
33 Namely, in the fear of God, as is expressed in verse 21, that is, as long as it is not contrary to the love or the command of Christ, Who is the Head above of both the husband and of the wife. See Luke 14:26.
25Husbands,w love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, andx34gave himself for it;
w Col. 3:19.
x verse 2; Gal. 1:4.
34 Namely, unto death.
26That he might 35sanctify and cleansey it 36with the washing of water 37by the word,
35 That is, might separate her from all worldly people, and appropriate her only to Himself. Whereby the apostle gives to understand that husbands also must take their wives unto them holily, and keep them free from all worldly vanities and aspersions.
y Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21.
36 That is, by His blood and Spirit, whereof the washing of water in baptism is a sign and seal, and is at the same time a means whereby the Spirit of God does more and more strengthen this cleansing. See Mat. 3:11; 2 Cor. 3:3; 1 Peter 3:21.
37 Gr. in the Word.
2738That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; butz that it should be holy and without blemish.
38 Hereby is understood the end of the purification through the blood and the Spirit of Christ; whereof the beginning is wrought and effected in the faithful, even in this life, and the full accomplishment hereafter, when the congregation of Christ shall fully be prepared by her Bridegroom Christ unto this spiritual marriage. See Cant. 2:14; 4:7; Rev. 19:7.
z Col. 1:22.
28So ought men 39to love their wives as their 40own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
39 By the word love is also understood the due care, as declared in verse 29, and the honor which the husband owes to his wife as to the weaker vessel, 1 Peter 3:7.
40 The apostle here has regard unto the creation of the wife out of the rib of the man, and consequently out of his own body, Gen. 2:21, 22, as is declared hereafter in verse 31.
29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30Foraa we are 41members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
aa Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:27.
41 Namely, of Christ. The apostle does not speak here of the communion of nature, whereby Christ also became partaker of flesh and blood, like as the children, Heb. 2:14, but of the spiritual communion between Him and the true believers, of whom He is the Head, and they are His members. See Eph. 1:22; 2:15; 4:12, etc.
31Forab this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and 42they two shall be oneac flesh.
ab Gen. 2:24; Mat. 19:5; Mark 10:7.
42 See hereof Mat. 19:5.
ac 1 Cor. 6:16.
3243This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
43 Not of the physical marriage, but that of the spiritual and of the union between Christ and His congregation, as the apostle here declares; which union he calls a mystery, because this cannot be comprehended by any natural man, nor is any understanding able to search out that which is known by faith that Christ is our Head and Bridegroom, and we are His spiritual bride and members, whereby all the purchased benefits and gifts, needful to salvation, do flow from Christ into us as His members.
3344Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her 45husband.
44 Hereby the apostle comes again to the exhortation of husband and wife, after he had declared between them the mystery of the union of Christ with His congregation.
45 That is, be subject to the husband with respect and awe, as he exhorted before.