10/12/17 Ephesians 4:11-24 “Putting off the old man and putting on the new man”
Ephesians 4:11 – And he
gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;
some – (a primary particle) truly; certainly;
surely; indeed.
“And He (He and He alone) gave (bestowed; caused; appointed to office) some (implying “some men”) as prophets; some as evangelists; and some as pastors and teachers.”
This appears to
refer back to Ephesians 4:8 where He “gave gifts to men.” The emphasis is not
upon whether it was “some” men, but that a diversity of gifts was bestowed upon
people, or a diversity of appointments to office were made. (For the spiritual
gifts were associated with a calling to a spiritual office – 1 Peter 4:10) Not
all had the same gifts (that is, office), but appears to be diverse in order to
put the many together to form one whole, the body of Christ (Vs 12).
An apostle was one
sent with orders, yet it probably here refers to those called to be apostles,
which included Paul – see Ephesians 1:1.
A prophet was one
who spoke according to the word of God given him.
1 Corinthians 14:4b – he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Barnes says these
were people who did by immediate revelation interpret the Scriptures,
and not only such as did foretell things to come.
Evangelists were
preachers of the gospel somewhat like missionaries today.
There were pastors (shepherds
of the flock) and teachers (of the Word; doctrine); it appears that both of
these offices were tagged together here, often both being found in the one
person. However, they could have been separate offices, yet this is not obvious
here.
There may have been
other offices appointed (Eg 1 Corinthians 12:28) but this list in Ephesians may
not be an exhaustive list but an example of appointed officers.
Ephesians 4:12 – For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ:
perfecting – equipping; completing; restoring;
mending. restore such an one in the spirit of
meekness (Galatians 6:1) or mending
nets (Matthew 4:21) Vincent says In
classical Greek of refitting a ship or setting a bone.
work – ergon (employment; that with which
anyone is occupied; enterprise; undertaking)
ministry – diakonia (service; ministering;
those who carry out commands of others; ministry)
“For the perfecting
(equipping;
completing) of the saints, for
the work (undertaking) of the ministry (service), for the edifying (building up) of the body of Christ (the Church).”
This is the purpose
of the appointing to office of the members of the church: each member has a
specific office (and would be gifted – charisma – accordingly).
1 Peter 4:10 – As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister
the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
See Ephesians 4:16 – unto the edifying of itself (the body) in love.
Ephesians 4:13 – Till we
all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
“Till we all come (arrive; attain to) in the unity (one-ness) of the faith (of one mind as to what we
believe), and of the knowledge
(precise and
correct knowledge) of the Son
of God, unto a perfect (brought to its end; finished; wanting nothing necessary to completeness) man, unto the measure (determined extent; required
measure) of the fulness (pleroma)
of Christ.”
This is clearly the
ultimate outcome for the Church, yet, with our imperfections of the flesh, it
will not be totally fulfilled in the flesh. However, it is presented as the
goal to be achieved, our ultimate objective, rather than what we have to
achieve, in much the same way as we see ourselves having to be holy as God is
holy, yet realistically never able to achieve this on this earth.
Paul told the
Philippians that this ongoing work of being perfected would continue until the day
of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)
Ephesians 4:14 – That we [henceforth]
be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind
of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby
they lie in wait to deceive;
children – little child; metaphorically childish;
untaught; unskilled.
sleight – kubeia (literally a cube, a die
for playing; dice-playing; metaphorically the deception of men, because dice
players sometimes cheated and defrauded their fellow players)
“That we (from now on) be like children (childish; untaught) no more (no longer; not hereafter), tossed to and fro (be mentally agitated, like a
ship on the waves), carried
about (in doubt
and hesitation to be led away now to this opinion, now to that) with every wind of doctrine (teaching), by the sleight (deception; cheating) of men, (and) cunning craftiness, wherein they lie in
wait to deceive (cause
to be led astray; cause to be led into error, deceit or fraud).”
When we are
children, we can lack understanding and discernment, and can be easily
deceived. As we mature as Christians, our discernment should increase and the
ability of others to deceive us should be significantly reduced.
1 Corinthians 13:11 – When I was a child, I spake as a child,
I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became
a man, I put away childish things.
Hebrews 5:13-14 – 13 For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful
in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But
strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by
reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (child,
childish, babe are all the same word as “children” in Ephesians
4:14)
Thus, test all
things! Read your Bible for yourself! Check out all teachers!
1 Thessalonians 5:21 – Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
James 1:5-6 – 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that
giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given
him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he
that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Ephesians 4:15 – But speaking
the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even]
Christ:
speaking the
truth – used only twice,
also in the following:
Galatians 4:16 – Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell
you the truth?
The following use a
related word for “truth”.
John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and
the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
3 John 1:1 – The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love
in the truth.
Truth should never
be overruled by love, yet should not be sacrificed for the sake of love. Truth
should always be spoken, with love, if at all possible, although there will be
times when truth must be spoken even if it sacrifices love.
may grow up – used for “groweth” in the following:
Ephesians 2:21 – In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth
unto an holy temple in the Lord:
may grow up into
him in all things – We are
to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29); this clearly means all
aspects of Christ. We are to grow up into Him
such that when we
come face to face with Christ, we will be like Him.
1 John 3:2 – Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth
not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall
be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
And Christ is the
head of the body, the Church.
Colossians 1:18 – And he is the head of the body, the church: who is
the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he
might have the preeminence.
And we are the
members of that same body.
1 Corinthians 12:27 – Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in
particular.
Ephesians 4:16 – From whom
the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint
supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part,
maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
fitly joined
together – sunarmologeo
(to be closely joined together, from syn
+ harmos = a joining + lego = used in the original sense of
“laying”, that is, placed or laid down together in harmony with each other)
Translated “fitly
framed together” in Ephesians 2:21.
compacted – sumbibazo (cause to coalesce; join
together; knit together, from syn + bibazo – to force) Translated
“being knit together” in the following:
Colossians 2:2 – That their hearts might be comforted, being knit
together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding,
to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
“From whom (Christ) the whole body (of the Church) closely joined together and knit together
by that which every joint (bond; connection)
supplies, according to the effectual (efficient) working in (through; according to)
the measure (required
measure; proper measure) of
every (each) part, makes increase (growth) of the body unto (toward) the edifying (building up) of itself (the body) in love.”
The body, which is many individual parts put together and knit together into one because of the bonds (cf. the bond of peace – Ephesians 4:3), and according to the efficient working according to the abilities of every part (member), causes the body of Christ, the Church, to be built up in love. This clearly refers back to the previously-mentioned gifts and appointments to office.
Our ministries and supporting gifts should be used
efficiently for the building up of others in the body – 1
Peter 4:10 – As every man hath received the
gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of
the manifold grace of God.
Ephesians 4:17 – This I
say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other
Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
vanity – what is devoid of truth and
appropriateness; depravity; the illusion of seeing pleasure in sin.
“vanity” is also
used of evil in Romans 8:20 – For the creature was made subject to vanity,
not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in
hope
And 2 Peter 2:18 – For when they speak great
swelling [words] of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the
flesh, [through much] wantonness, those that were clean escaped from
them who live in error.
“This I say (affirm) therefore, and testify (witness to the truth of) in the Lord (by the authority of the Lord). that you no longer walk (live or control your lives) as other Gentiles (ethnos)
walk (live or
control their lives), in the
vanity (depravity;
the illusion of seeing pleasure in sin) of their minds.”
That is, you should
no longer live your lives in depravity as other (non-Christian) Gentiles do.
Ephesians 4:18 – Having
the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the
ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
“(Other Gentiles) having their understanding darkened (deprived of light – cf 2
Corinthians 4:4), being
alienated (shut
out from fellowship and intimacy)
from the life of God (which has been received as a gift by you Gentile saints – 1 John 5:11) through the ignorance (moral blindness) that is in them, because (as a consequence) of the blindness (calloused; dulled perception;
stubbornness; hardening) of
their hearts.”
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 – 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that
are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the
minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of
Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Ephesians 4:19 – Who being
past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all
uncleanness with greediness.
“Who being past
feeling (ceased
to feel pain of grief, become calloused, apathetic, as a consequence of the
callousing or hardening of their hearts), have given themselves over (delivered themselves voluntarily – of their own
free will) to lasciviousness (unbridled lust; licentiousness), to work (produce with diligence) all uncleanness (impurity; lustful living) with greediness (covetousness; always wanting
more than they have).”
These people are
literally addicted to evil! Such people no longer have consciences; they are
past feeling moral anguish.
1 Timothy 4:1-3 – 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits,
and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having
their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to
marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to
be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
2 Corinthians 12:21 – [And]
lest, when I
come again, my God will humble me among you, and [that] I shall bewail
many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and
fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
Ephesians 4:20 – But ye
have not so learned Christ;
But, you have learned
differently from Christ. You have been taught the truth about such depraved
living and should not take part in it because you are not blinded, nor have
seared consciences. You should have the discernment from your learning of
Christ that should cause you to lead a different life from those other
Gentiles.
And if we take note
of that mystery that Paul has told them they could understand Paul’s knowledge
concerning the mystery of the gospel of Christ being made available to the
Gentiles.
Ephesians 3:3-4; 6 – 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the
mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye
read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
6
That
the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his
promise in Christ by the gospel:
They now had the
mind of Christ and could spiritually discern the things of the Spirit of God.
(Or should spiritually discern!)
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 – 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the
Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them],
because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is
spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For
who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the
mind of Christ.
Philippians 3:10 – That I may know him, and the power of his
resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto
his death;
Ephesians 4:21 – If so be
that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
That is, if it is
Christ you have heard and paid attention to, and have “so learned Christ”, as
(seeing that) the truth is in Jesus (alone – Note John 14:6). Or, seeing that
there is no truth other than that taught and revealed by Jesus.
John 17:17 – Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
And Jesus is known
as the logos (the Word) of God (John 1:1-2)
2 Corinthians 2:14 – But the natural man receiveth not the things of the
Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them],
because they are spiritually discerned.
Ephesians 4:22 – That ye
put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts;
If you have so
learned Christ, knowing that Jesus (who is the Christ) is the One who has the
truth (Thy Word is truth), then you should lay aside the old (former) man (the
man you used to be) [concerning your previous behaviour as non-Christian
Gentiles (see Ephesians 4:17-19)] which is corrupt (depraved) according to (in accordance
with) your former deceitful lusts. Note the “new man” of Vs 24 below. Also see:
Colossians 3:9-10 – 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off
the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new [man],
which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Ephesians 4:23 – And be
renewed in the spirit of your mind;
It has been said
that the spirit of the mind is the innermost part of your mind.
Paul taught the
Colossians that they could have a fleshly mind, seemingly as opposed to your
spiritual mind.
Colossians 2:18 – Let no man beguile you of your reward in a
voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which
he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
be renewed – ananeoo (be renewed [in the mind]
from ana [among; amidst; between] – and neos [recently born;
young; youthful; new])
It has the idea of
growth (not “corrupt” of previous Vs) as the result of their new life in Christ
(see 2 Corinthians 5:17). The new creature is now able to grow, not decay.
Ephesians 4:24 – And that
ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true
holiness.
put on – to put on clothing (can be seen as opposite of “put off’ Vs 22
above) In this context, it can
mean to “put on Christ” as in Galatians 3:27 – For as many of you as have been baptized into
Christ have put on Christ.
after God – according to (the image of) God (who
created him). Note the following:
Colossians 3:10 – And have put on the new [man], which is
renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
“And that you put
on (clothe
yourself with) the new (recently made; unused; unworn
(not second-hand!); of a new kind)
man, which, according to (the image of) God, is (was) created (can mean to completely change or transform) in righteousness (the condition acceptable to
God) and true holiness (piety toward God).”
true – may be contrasted with “deceitful” in Vs
22 above.
The calvinists
should love this passage – it’s so works-based! It so clearly defines the
puritan life! But, no, it can’t be of works, because the last thing they would
want to do would be to boast, surely? I mean, you couldn’t accuse the
calvinists of being arrogant, could you? Surely not!
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