Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Ephesians: Chapter 4].
Paul adds to this idea "the fulness of Christ" (\tou pl•r•matos
tou Christou\), like "the fulness of God" in 3:19. And yet some
actually profess to be "perfect" with a standard like this to
measure by! No pastor has finished his work when the sheep fall
so far short of the goal.
4:14 {That we may be no longer children} (\hina m•keti •men
n•pioi\). Negative final clause with present subjunctive. Some
Christians are quite content to remain "babes" in Christ and
never cut their eye-teeth (Heb 5:11-14), the victims of every
charlatan who comes along. {Tossed to and fro}
(\klud•nizomenoi\). Present passive participle of \klud•nizomai\,
late verb from \klud•n\ (wave, Jas 1:6), to be agitated by the
waves, in LXX, only here in N.T. One example in Vettius Valens.
{Carried about} (\peripheromenoi\). Present passive participle of
\peripher•\, old verb, to carry round, whirled round "by every
wind (\anem•i\, instrumental case) of teaching." In some it is
all wind, even like a hurricane or a tornado. If not anchored by
full knowledge of Christ, folks are at the mercy of these
squalls. {By the sleight} (\en t•i kubi•i\). "In the deceit," "in
the throw of the dice" (\kubia\, from \kubos\, cube), sometimes
cheating. {In craftiness} (\en panourgi•i\). Old word from
\panourgos\ (\pan, ergon\, any deed, every deed), cleverness,
trickiness. {After the wiles of error} (\pros t•n methodian t•s
plan•s\). \Methodia\ is from \methodeu•\ (\meta, hodos\) to
follow after or up, to practise deceit, and occurs nowhere else
(Eph 4:13; 6:11) save in late papyri in the sense of method.
The word \plan•s\ (wandering like our "planet") adds to the evil
idea in the word. Paul has covered the whole ground in this
picture of Gnostic error.
4:15 {In love} (\en agap•i\). If truth were always spoken only in
love! {May grow into him} (\aux•s•men eis auton\). Supply \hina\
and then note the final use of the first aorist active
subjunctive. It is the metaphor of verse 13 (the full-grown
man). We are the body and Christ is the Head. We are to grow up
to his stature.
4:16 {From which} (\ex hou\). Out of which as the source of
energy and direction. {Fitly framed} (\sunarmologoumenon\). See
2:21 for this verb. {Through that which every joint supplieth}
(\dia pas•s haph•s t•s epichor•gias\). Literally, "through every
joint of the supply." See Col 2:19 for \haph•\ and Php 1:19
for the late word \epichor•gia\ (only two examples in N.T.) from
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/EPH4.RWP.html (4 of 8) [28/08/2004 09:23:26 a.m.]