Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Ephesians: Chapter 5].
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5:1 {Imitators of God} (\mim•tai tou theou\). This old word from
\mimeomai\ Paul boldly uses. If we are to be like God, we must
imitate him.
5:2 {An offering and a sacrifice to God} (\prosphoran kai thusian
t•i the•i\). Accusative in apposition with \heauton\ (himself).
Christ's death was an offering to God "in our behalf" (\huper
h•m•n\) not an offering to the devil (Anselm), a ransom
(\lutron\) as Christ himself said (Mt 20:28), Christ's own view
of his atoning death. {For an odour of a sweet smell} (\eis osm•n
eu•dias\). Same words in Php 4:18 from Le 4:31 (of the
expiatory offering). Paul often presents Christ's death as a
propitiation (Ro 3:25) as in 1Jo 2:2.
5:3 {Or covetousness} (\• pleonexia\). In bad company surely.
Debasing like sensuality. {As becometh saints} (\kath•s prepei
hagiois\). It is "unbecoming" for a saint to be sensual or
covetous.
5:4 {Filthiness} (\aischrot•s\). Old word from \aischros\ (base),
here alone in N.T. {Foolish talking} (\m•rologia\). Late word
from \m•rologos\ (\m•ros, logos\), only here in N.T. {Jesting}
(\eutrapelia\). Old word from \eutrapelos\ (\eu, trep•\, to turn)
nimbleness of wit, quickness in making repartee (so in Plato and
Plutarch), but in low sense as here ribaldry, scurrility, only
here in N.T. All of these disapproved vices are \hapax legomena\
in the N.T. {Which are not befitting} (\ha ouk an•ken\). Same
idiom (imperfect with word of propriety about the present) in
Col 3:18. Late MSS. read \ta ouk an•konta\ like \ta m•
kath•konta\ in Ro 1:28.
5:5 {Ye know of a surety} (\iste gin•skontes\). The correct text
has \iste\, not \este\. It is the same form for present
indicative (second person plural) and imperative, probably
indicative here, "ye know." But why \gin•skontes\ added?
Probably, "ye know recognizing by your own experience." {No}
(\p•s--ou\). Common idiom in the N.T. like the Hebrew= _oudeis_
(Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 732). {Covetous man} (\pleonekt•s,
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/EPH5.RWP.html (1 of 7) [28/08/2004 09:23:28 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Ephesians: Chapter 5)