The Epistle to the Ephesians

1. Eph 5:11– “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” To whom is the passage directed? Does it apply to all or just the body? How would you describe having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness? Fellowship – to become a partaker together with others Rev 18:4 - And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. Phil 4:14 - Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. Unfruitful works of darkness – lacking instruction, improvement, comfort; but in context pernicious is most accurate Pernicious – having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual and subtle way In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit – verse 9. Works of darkness The Epistle to the Ephesians Ephesians 5:11-14 – “Do Not Participate in the Unfruitful Deeds of Darkness” 1 Oct 14, 2018 Bob Eckel

2. Gal 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But we’re not only told to have no fellowship (present active imperative) with ….., but rather expose (reprove) them. The word expose (elegcho) means to bring to light, to point out, to convince someone of something. Trench says that the word "implies not merely the charge, but the truth of the charge, and further the manifestation of the truth of the charge; ….. being the glorious prerogative of the truth in its highest operation not merely to assert itself, and to silence the adversary, but to silence him by convincing him of his error." Tit 1:9 - holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. How about by our lives, conversation , influence? The Epistle to the Ephesians Ephesians 5:11-14 – “Do Not Participate in the Unfruitful Deeds of Darkness” 2 Oct 14, 2018 Bob Eckel

3. Tit 1:13 - This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, Eph 5:12– “For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.” Clarke – “This no doubt refers to the Eleusinian and Bacchanalian mysteries, which were performed in the night and darkness, and were known to be so impure and abominable, especially the latter, that the Roman senate banished them both from Rome and Italy.” Is it what they do in secret shameful (dishonorable) or for us shameful to keep this secret? Wuest - Expositors explain: "The secrecy of the works in question is the reason why they require to be openly reproved; and the point is this—the heathen practice in secret, vices too abominable even to mention; all the more is the need of open rebuke instead of silent overlooking or connivance (Meyer, Ellicott, etc.).” The Epistle to the Ephesians Ephesians 5:11-14 – “Do Not Participate in the Unfruitful Deeds of Darkness” 3 Oct 14, 2018 Bob Eckel

4. Connivance – willingness to allow or be secretly involved in wrongdoing, especially an immoral or illegal act. JFB – “"Speak of," I think, is used here as "speaking of without reproving," in contrast to "even reprove them." Thus the "for" expresses this, Reprove them, for to speak of them without reproving them, is a shame (Eph 5:3). Thus "works of darkness" answers to "things done in secret." McCalley – “Vices can rub off on us if we continually talk about them – even if that talk comes in the form of condemnation. It is the function of light to make visible. Purity exposes pornography; however, purity is not learned by examining pornography.” Eph 5:13– “But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.” All things relate to all the darkness just mentioned and are made manifest (passive) by the light. John 3:19-21 - “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come The Epistle to the Ephesians Ephesians 5:11-14 – “Do Not Participate in the Unfruitful Deeds of Darkness” 4 Oct 14, 2018 Bob Eckel

5. into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” Eph 5:14– “Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” Although “Awake, you who sleep, …. is a quotation, the source is not certain. Is this OT doctrine paraphrased? Isaiah 60:1 - Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. Or is this a summary of Paul’s teaching? Sleep here is katheudō, a metaphor that implies sloth and sin. And Christ will give you light. John 8:12 - Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the The Epistle to the Ephesians Ephesians 5:11-14 – “Do Not Participate in the Unfruitful Deeds of Darkness” 5 Oct 14, 2018 Bob Eckel

6. light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Rom 13:12 - The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Matt 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. The Epistle to the Ephesians Ephesians 5:11-14 – “Do Not Participate in the Unfruitful Deeds of Darkness” 6 Oct 14, 2018 Bob Eckel