Efesus 4:17-19
Konteks4:17 So I say this, and insist 1 in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility 2 of their thinking. 3 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding, 4 being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. 4:19 Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 5
Efesus 5:3-11
Konteks5:3 But 6 among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, 7 or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. 8 5:4 Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. 5:5 For you can be confident of this one thing: 9 that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
5:6 Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. 10 5:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them, 11 5:8 for you were at one time darkness, but now you are 12 light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – 5:9 for the fruit of the light 13 consists in 14 all goodness, righteousness, and truth – 5:10 trying to learn 15 what is pleasing to the Lord. 5:11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather 16 expose them. 17
[4:17] 1 tn On the translation of μαρτύρομαι (marturomai) as “insist” see BDAG 619 s.v. 2.
[4:17] 2 tn On the translation of ματαιότης (mataioth") as “futility” see BDAG 621 s.v.
[4:17] 3 tn Or “thoughts,” “mind.”
[4:18] 4 tn In the Greek text this clause is actually subordinate to περιπατεῖ (peripatei) in v. 17. It was broken up in the English translation so as to avoid an unnecessarily long and cumbersome statement.
[4:19] 5 sn Greediness refers to an increasing desire for more and more. The point is that sinful passions and desires are never satisfied.
[5:3] 6 tn The term “But” translates the δέ (de) in a contrastive way in light of the perfect obedience of Jesus in vv. 1-2 and the vices mentioned in v. 3.
[5:3] 7 tn Grk “all impurity.”
[5:3] 8 tn Grk “just as is fitting for saints.” The καθώς (kaqws) was rendered with “as” and the sense is causal, i.e., “for” or “because.” The negative particle “not” (“for these are not proper for the saints”) in this clause was supplied in English so as to make the sense very clear, i.e., that these vices are not befitting of those who name the name of Christ.
[5:5] 9 tn Grk “be knowing this.” See also 2 Pet 1:20 for a similar phrase: τοῦτο πρῶτον γινώσκοντες (touto prwton ginwskonte").
[5:6] 10 sn The expression sons of disobedience is a Semitic idiom that means “people characterized by disobedience.” In this context it refers to “all those who are disobedient.” Cf. Eph 2:2-3.
[5:7] 11 tn The genitive αὐτῶν (autwn) has been translated as a genitive of association because of its use with συμμέτοχοι (summetocoi) – a verb which implies association in the σύν- (sun-) prefix.
[5:8] 12 tn The verb “you are” is implied in the Greek text, but is supplied in the English translation to make it clear.
[5:9] 13 tc Several
[5:9] 14 tn Grk “in.” The idea is that the fruit of the light is “expressed in” or “consists of.”
[5:10] 15 tn BDAG 255 s.v. δοκιμάζω 1 translates δοκιμάζοντες (dokimazonte") in Eph 5:10 as “try to learn.”
[5:11] 16 tn The Greek conjunction καὶ (kai) seems to be functioning here ascensively, (i.e., “even”), but is difficult to render in this context using good English. It may read something like: “but rather even expose them!”