Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin (continued)
CHAPTER 5
Ephesians 5:15-20
Ephesians 5:15-20
15. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 15. Videte igitur, quomodo exacte ambuletis; non tanquam insipientes, sed tanquam sapientes:
16. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 16. Redimentes tempus, quoniam dies mali sunt. 17. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is
17. Quare ne sitis imprudentes, sed intelligentes, quae sit voluntas Domini. 18. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
18. Et ne inebriemini vino, in quo inest lascivia, sed impleamini Spiritu. 19. Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
19. Vobis ipsis loquentes psalmis et hymnis, et canticis spiritualibus, canentes et psallentes in corde vestro, Domino;
20. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
20. Gratias agentes semper de omnibus, in nomine Domini nostri Iesu Christi, Deo et Patri.
15. See then. If believers must not neglect to drive away the darkness of others by their own brightness, how much less ought they to be blind as to their own conduct in life? What darkness shall conceal those on whom Christ, the Sun of righteousness, has arisen? Placed, as it were, in a crowded theater, they ought to live under the eye of God and of angels. Let them stand in awe of these witnesses, though they may be concealed from the view of all mortals. Dismissing the metaphor of darkness and light, he enjoins them to regulate their life circumspectly as wise men, 173 who have been educated by the Lord in the school of true wisdom. Our understanding must shew itself by taking God for our guide and instructor, to teach us his own will.
16. Redeeming the time. By a consideration of the time he enforces his exhortation. The days are evil. Everything around us tends to corrupt and mislead; so that it is difficult for godly persons, who walk among so many thorns, to escape unhurt. Such corruption having infected the age, the devil appears to have obtained tyrannical sway; so that time cannot be dedicated to God without being in some way redeemed. And what shall be the price of its redemption? To withdraw from the endless variety of allurements which would easily lead us astray; to rid ourselves from the cares and pleasures of the world; and, in
173"In {μὴ} {ὡς} {ἄσοφοι} {ἀλλ} {᾿} {ὡς} {σοφοὶ} we have an antithetical parallelism, (such as is found in the Classical as well as the Scriptural writers,) where, for emphasis' sake, a proposition is expressed both affirmatively and negatively, as in John 1:20, {ὡμολόγησε} {καὶ} {οὐκ} {ἠρνήσατο}, `he confessed and denied not.' By {ἄσοφοι}, and {σοφοὶ} are meant the persons just before denoted by {κότος} and {φῶς}, and, a little after, termed {ἄφρονες} and {συνίεντες}, by a frequent Hebrew idiom, whereby Wisdom stands for Virtue, and Folly for Vice'' --- Bloomfield.