EPHESIANS 5:1-4 CONDUCTING OURSELVES IN A WAY THAT IS FITTING FOR SAINTS

 

EPHESIANS 5:1-4 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

Imitators; akin to A, "an imitator," so the RV for AV, "follower," is always used in a good sense in the New Testament. It is used in exhortations, accompanied by the verb ginomai, "to be, become," and in the continuous tense. The Greek word here is μιμητής mimetes. Vine's (def B-1) Strong's G3402. Thayer denotes - "an imitator". 

NSB* - Believers are to follow the example of God's actions. He loved us when we were still His enemies. As imitators believers should demonstrate that type of self-sacrificial love. 

Cross Reference: Luke 6:36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Dear Children; Signifies beloved or "very dear". The Greek word used here is ἀγαπητός agapetos. Vine's (def 3), Strong's G27. Dodson expands - loved, beloved loved, beloved, with two special applications: the Beloved, a title of the Messiah (Christ), as beloved beyond all others by the God who sent Him; of Christians, as beloved by God, Christ, and one another.

Cross Reference: 1 Thessalonians 4:9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

Moving to Verse 2.

Given Himself; Of Christ giving Himself up to death. The Greek word here is παραδίδωμι paradidomi. Vine's (def. 5) Strong's G3860. Has the idea of to surrender, i.e yield up, intrust, transmit. 

See also Ephesians 1:20. 

Offering; lit., "a bringing to" hence an "offering," in the NT a sacrificial "offering,". Used here of Christ's sacrifice. The Greek word is προσφορά prosphora. Vine's (def. B-1a) Strong's G4376.

Sacrifice; primarily denotes the act of offering;" then, objectively, "that which is offered". Is used here of Christ, in His "sacrifice" on the cross. The Greek word is θυσία thusia. Vines (def A-1c). Strong's G2378.

Cross References: Galatians 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

2 Corinthians 2:14-15  Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

Sweet Smelling Aroma; of the giving up of His life by Christ for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor (osme, See No. 2) of "a sweet smell,". The Greek word is εὐωδία euodia. Vine's (def A-1b), Strong's G2175.

Notes on osme - it is used of the "savor" of the knowledge of Christ through Gospel testimony, in the case of the perishing "a savor from death unto death," as of that which arises from what is dead (the spiritual condition of the unregenerate); in the case of the saved "a savor from life unto life," as from that which arises from what is instinct with life (the spiritual condition of the regenerate) in both 2 Corinthians 2:14 and 2 Corinthians 2:16. In this text it denotes a (sweetsmelling) savor;". 

NSB - Notes relating to 2 Corinthians 2:16. The leader in Roman procession was followed by priests (dispensing incense), officers, soldiers, and captives. The aroma of the event represented victorious life to the soldiers and slavery or death to the captives. In the same way, the gospel message gives life to those who accept it, but it represents death and judgment to those who reject it.

Moving to Verse 3.

Paul gives a warning to believers at Ephesus to avoid pitfalls involving sexual immorality. In Ephesus was located a pagan temple dedicated to the Roman goddess Diana. See Acts 19:23-31. 

Fornication; "illicit sexual intercourse". Illicit sex includes "any" sex outside of marriage. God's design for marital relationships is heterosexual (1 man, 1 woman), not homosexual, and monogamous, not polygamous. So in this text, we are explicitly told that "all" sex outside of marriage is to be "put aside". It is sin not fitting for saints. It's probably not shocking that this is where we get the word "porn" from. The Greek word is πορνεία porneia. Vine's (def A-1a), Strong's G4202.

Uncleanness;  denotes "uncleanness," (suggestive of the fact that sensuality and evil doctrine are frequently associated); The Greek word is akatharsia ἀκαθαρσία. Vines' (def C-1b) Strong's G167. 

Covetousness; "covetousness," lit., "a desire to have more" (pleon, "more," echo, "to have"), always in a bad sense, is used in a general way in Mark 7:22 (plural, lit., "covetings," i.e., various ways in which "covetousness" shows itself); Romans 1:29; Ephesians 5:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:5. The Greek word is πλεονεξία pleonexia. Vine's (def B-3), Strong's G4124. Strong's denotes avarice, i.e. (by implication) fraudulency, extortion when we are talking about material possessions - Luke 12:15; 2 Peter 2:3; 2 Corinthians 9:5.

Cross References: Colossians 3:5-7  Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

Luke 12:5 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Not Even Be Named; To name, mention, or address by name. In passive voice. The Greek word is ὀνομάζω onomazo. Vine's (def B-1), Strong's G3687.

My Notes: God doesn't want His children putting themselves in a position to be accused of such activities based on conduct or speech. 

Moving to Verse 4.

Cross References: Matthew 12:34-35 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

Filthiness; baseness" (from aischos, "shame, disgrace"), is used in Ephesians 5:4, of obscenity, all that is contrary to purity. The Greek word is αἰσχρότης aischrotes. Vine's (def A-1), Strong's G151.

Foolish Talking; from moros, "foolish, dull, stupid," and lego, is used in Ephesians 5:4; it denotes more than mere idle "talk." Trench describes it as "that 'talk of fools' which is foolishness and sin together" (Syn. xxxiv). The Greek word here is μωρολογία morologia. Vine's (def 2), Strong's G3473. 

Cross Reference: Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.

Coarse Jesting; properly denotes wit, facetiousness, versatility" (lit., "easily turning," from eu, "well," trepo, "to turn"). It was used in the literal sense to describe the quick movements of apes and persons. Pericles speaks of the Athenians of his day (430 B.C.) as distinguished by a happy and gracious "flexibility." In the next century Aristotle uses it of "versatility" in the give and take of social intercourse, quick repartee. In the sixth century, B.C., the poet Pindar speaks of one Jason as never using a word of "vain lightness," a meaning deteriorated, and it came to denote "coarse jesting, ribaldry," as in Ephesians 5:4, where it follows morologia, "foolish talking." The Greek word for "jesting" is εὐτραπελία eutrapelia. Vine's (def prime), Strong's G2160. 

Cross Reference: Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

Fitting; Is rendered "convenient". Can also be rendered "befitting". The Greek word for convenient is ἀνήκω aneko. Has the idea of to attain to, i.e. (figuratively) be proper. Vine's (def C-1), Strong's G433.

Cross Reference: Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Takeaways - 1. We should do everything we can to resist involving ourselves in saying idiotic things. I think it's one thing when we are kidding around and everyone knows we are kidding, but we want to stay away from talk that promotes sin, is sin, or is generally foolish. 

2. Do not spend a bunch of time or really any time arguing with fellow Christians about things that are of no importance or have nothing to do with salvation. I mention this a lot, but an example would be the pre and post-tribulation discussion. Just get ready for God to show up and you will be fine.

3. We need to flee sexual immorality. The Bible is VERY clear that includes any sex outside of marriage. We need to stop justifying these things. God is explicit on this. 

* = Nelson Study Bible.