Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6:1-99

Ch. 6:1-4. See on ch. 5:22. Duties of children and parents. Children, obey your parents [in the Lord (i.e. Christ: the sphere in which the action is to take place, as usual: ἐνκυρίῳ belonging to ὑπακούετετ . γον ., not to τοῖςγον ., as if it were τοῖςἐνκυρίῳγον ., nor can this be combined, as a second reference, with the other, as by Orig. in Cramer’ s Catena, understanding ‘ your fathers in the faith, ὁποῖοςὁΠαῦλοςἦνΚορινθίων .’

I should venture however to question whether the Apostle’ s view was to hint at such commands of parents as might not be according to the will of God, as is very generally supposed (‘ quia poterant parentes aliquid imperare perversum, adjunxit in Domino.’ Jer.): for cf. Colossians 3:20, ὑπακούετετοῖςγονεῦσινκατὰπάντα . I should rather believe, that he regards both parents and children as ἐνκυρίῳ , and the commands, as well as the obedience, as having that sphere and element. How children were to regard commands not answering to this description, would be understood from the nature of the case: but it seems to violate the simplicity of this ὑποτασσόμενοιἀλλήλοις passage, to introduce into it a by-thought of this kind)]: for this is right (Thdrt., Harl., De W., Mey., al., regard δίκαιον as explained by the next verse, and meaning κατὰτὸνθεοῦνόμον . But it seems rather an appeal to the first principles of natural duty, as Est., ‘ ut a quibus vitam acceperimus, iis obedientiam reddamus.’ So Beng. Stier, as usual, combines both senses— just, according to the law both of nature and of God. Surely it is better to regard the next verse as an additional particular, not the mere expansion of this).

2. Honour thy father and thy mother, for such is (‘ seeing it is,’ as Ellic., is rather too strong for ἥτις , throwing the motive to obedience too much on the fact of the promise accompanying it. Whereas the obedience rests on the fact implied in ἐντολή , and the promise comes in to shew its special acceptableness to God) the first commandment (in the decalogue, which naturally stands at the head of all God’ s other commandments; and which, though not formally binding on us as Christians, is quoted, in matters of eternal obligation (not of positive enactment), as an eminent example of God’ s holy will) with a promise (i.e. with a special promise attached: ‘ in respect of promise’ is too vague, and does not convey any definite meaning in English. The fact certainly is so, and the occurrence of the description of God as ‘ shewing mercy unto thousands, &c.’ after the second commandment, does not, as Jer., al., have thought, present any difficulty— for that is no special promise attached to the commandment. Nor does the fact that no other commandment occurs in the decalogue with a promise: see above. The ἐν , as in reff.— in the sphere or department of— characterized by— accompanied with), that it may be well with thee, and thou be long-lived upon the earth (he paraphrases the latter portion of the commandment, writing for ἵναμακρ . γένῃ , ἔσῃμ .,— and omitting after γῆς , (τῆςἀγαθῆς , so in Exod., but not in Deut.) ἧςκύριοςὁθεόςσουδίδωσίνσοι : thus adapting the promise to his Christian readers, by taking away from it that which is special and peculiar to the Jewish people.

It is surely a mistake, as Jer., Aq., Est., Olsh., to spiritualize the promise, and understand by τῆςγῆς the heavenly Canaan. The very fact of the omission of the special clause removes the words from the region of type into undoubted reality: and when we remember that the persons addressed are τὰτέκνα , we must not depart from the simplest Sense of the words. For the future after ἵνα , see 1 Corinthians 9:18, note: and John 7:3; Revelation 22:14. To consider it as such, is far better than to suppose a change of construction to the direct future— ‘ and thou shalt be, &c.’ ).

4. And ye, fathers (the mothers being included, as ὑποτασσόμεναιτοῖςἰδίοιςἀνδράσιν — they being the fountains of domestic rule: not for any other less worthy reason, to which the whole view of the sexes by the Apostle is opposed), irritate not (οἷον , says Chrys., οἱπολλοὶποιοῦσιν , ἀποκληρονόμουςἐργαζόμενοι , καὶἀποκηρύκτουςποιοῦντες , καὶφορτικῶςἐπικείμενοι , οὐχὡςἐλευθέροιςἀλλ ʼ ὡςἀνδραπόδοις . But the Apostle seems rather to allude to provoking by vexatious commands, and unreasonable blame, and uncertain temper, in ordinary intercourse: cf. Colossians 3:21) your children, but bring them up in (as the sphere and element: see Plato above) the discipline and admonition (‘ παιδεία hic significare videtur institutionem per pœ nas: νουθεσία autem est ea institutio quæ fit verbis.’ Grot. Such indeed is the general sense of παιδεία in the LXX and N. T., the word having gained a deeper meaning than mere ‘ eruditio,’ by the revealed doctrine of the depravity of our nature: see Trench, Syn. § 32.

Ellic. remarks, that this sense seems not to have been unknown to earlier writers, e.g. Xen. Mem. i. 3. 5, διαίτῃτήντεψυχὴνἐπαίδευσεκ . τὸσῶμα … , he disciplined &c., but not Polyb. ii. 9. 6, where it is ἀβλαβῶςἐπαιδεύθησανπρὸςτὸμέλλον .

νουθεσία (a late form for νουθέτησις , see Phryn. Lob. p. 512) is as Cicero, ‘ quasi lenior objurgatio:’ ‘ the training by word— by the word of encouragement, when no more is wanted;— of remonstrance, reproof, or blame where these are required.’ Trench, ubi supra) of the Lord (i.e. Christ: either objective,— ‘ concerning the Lord:’ — so Thdrt. and very many of the ancients, and Erasm., Beza (not Est.), &c.; or subjective— ‘ such as the Lord approves and dictates by His Spirit,’ — so De W., Harl., Olsh., Mey., Stier. Conyb. renders ‘ such training and correction as befits the servants of Christ,’ which surely the words can hardly contain).

5-9. See on ch. 5:22. Duties of masters and slaves. Slaves (or as Conyb., ‘ Bondsmen.’ There is no reason to render οἱδοῦλοι , servants, as in E. V., for by this much of the Apostle’ s exhortation is deprived of point), obey your lords according to the flesh (= τοῖςκατὰσάρκακυρίοις , Colossians 3:22: not to be joined with ὑπακούετε : nor can it be here said as so often, that κύριοσκατὰ -σάρκα is united in one idea: for in the context, another description of κύριος is brought forward, viz. ὁχριστός . Chrys. sees in κατὰσάρκα a consolatory hint that the δεσποτεία is πρόσκαιροςκαὶβραχεῖα : Calv., that their real liberty was still their own: Ellic. in citing these, rightly observes, that however they may be doubted, still both, especially the latter, are obviously deductions which must have been, and which the Apostle might have intended to have been, made) with fear and trembling (see reff., and note on 1 Corinthians 2:3: whence it appears that the φόβοςκ . τρόμος was to be not that of dread, arising from their condition as slaves, but that of anxiety to do their duty,— ‘ sollicita reverentia, quam efficiet cordis simplicitas.’ Calv.), in (as its element) simplicity (singleness of view: “ so Pind., Nem. viii. 61, speaks of κελεύθοιςἁπλόαιςζωᾶς in contrast with πάρφασις , treachery: in Aristoph. Plut. 1159, it is opposed to δόλιος : in Philo, Opif. 36, 39 (§ 55, 61, vol. i. pp. 38, 41), it is classed with ἀκακία ,” Harl.) of your heart, as to Christ (again— He being the source and ground of all Christian motives and duties), not in a spirit of (according to, measuring your obedience by) eyeservice as men-pleasers , but as slaves of Christ (ὁἄραἀνθρωπάρεσκος , οὐδοῦλοςτοῦχριστοῦ · ὁδὲδοῦλοςτοῦχριστοῦ , οὐκἀνθρωπάρεσκος . τίςγὰρθεοῦδοῦλοςὤν , ἀνθρώποιςἀρέσκεινβούλεται ; τίςδὲἀνθρώποιςἀρέσκων , θεοῦδύναταιεἶναιδοῦλος ; Chrys.

The contrast is between κατ ʼ ὀφθαλμοδουλείαν and ὡςδοῦλοιχρ ., and ποιοῦντεςκ .τ .λ . is a qualification of δοῦλοιχριστοῦ . This is much more natural, than, with Rü ckert, to make ποιοῦντεςκ .τ .λ . carry the emphasis, and ὡςδοῦλ . χρ . to be merely subordinate to it), doing the will of God (serving not a seen master only (ὀφθαλμοδουλ .), but the great invisible Lord of all, which will be the surest guarantee for your serving your earthly masters, even when unseen); from your soul with good will doing service (this arrangement, which is that of Syr., Chr., Jer., Beng., Lachm., Harl., De Wette, seems to me far better than the other (Tischdf., Mey., Ellic., al.) which joins ἐκψυχῆς to ποιοῦντεςτὸθέλ . τοῦθεοῦ . For 1) these words need here no such qualification as ἐκψυχῆς : if the will of God be the real object of the man’ s obedience, the μὴκατ ʼ ὀφθαλμοδουλ . will be sufficiently answered: and 2) were it so, it would be more natural to find ἐκψυχῆς preceding than following the clause,— ἐκψυχῆςποιοῦντεςτὸθέλ . τοῦθεοῦ , or ἐκψυχῆςτὸθέλ . τοῦθεοῦποιοῦντες , or τὸθέλ . τοῦθεοῦἐκψυχῆςποιοῦντες , whereas 3) the double qualification, ἐκψυχῆςμετ ʼ εὐνοίας , attached to δουλεύοντες , describes beautifully the source in himself and the accompanying feeling towards another of Christian service. On εὔνοια in this sense, cf. Eur. Androm. 59, εὔνουςδὲκαὶσοί , ζῶντιδ ʼ ἦντῷσῷπόσει : Xen. Œ con. xii. 5, εὔνοιανπρῶτον … δεήσειαὐτὸνἔχεινσοικαὶτοῖςσοῖς … ; ἄνευγὰρεὐνοίαςτίὄφελοςἐπιτρόπουἐπιστήμηςγίνεται ; and the other examples in Wetst.) as to the Lord and not to men,

8. knowing (as ye do; i.e. seeing that ye are aware) that each man if he shall have done (at Christ’ s coming) any good thing (the reading is in some doubt. If we take the rec., or that of A, &c. we must render ‘ whatsoever good thing each man shall have done,’ and take ὃἐάντι for ὅτιἄν ; so Plato, Legg. ix. p. 864 e, ἢνἄντινακαταβλάψῃ : and Lysis. p. 160, ὃςἄντιςὑμᾶςεὖποιῇ (cited in Mey.). On ἐάν , see Winer, § 42. 6 obs.), this he shall receive (see reff. where the same expression occurs— this he shall then receive in its value as then estimated,— changed, so to speak, into the currency of that new and final state) from the Lord (Christ), whether he be slave or free :

9. and ye masters, do the same things (‘ jus analogum, quod vocant:’ as they are to remember one whom they serve, so (below) are ye— and, ‘ mutatis mutandis,’ to act to them as they to you. This wider sense is better than that of Chrys., τὰαὐτὰποῖα ; μετ ʼ εὐνοίαςδουλεύετε ) with regard to them, forbearing your (usual) threatening (τήν , ‘ quemadmodum vulgus dominorum solet,’ Erasm. par. in Mey.), knowing (as ye do: see ver. 8) that both of them and of yourselves the Master is in the heavens, and respect of persons .

10-20. General exhortation to the spiritual conflict and to prayer. Henceforward (cf. Galatians 6:17, note: τὸλοιπόν (see var. readd.) would be ‘ finally.’ Olsh.’ s remark, that the Apostle never addresses his readers as ἀδελφοί in this Epistle, is perfectly correct: the ἀδελφοῖς in ver. 23 does not contravene it (as Eadie), but rather establishes it. He there sends his apostolic blessing τοῖςἀδελφοῖς , but does not directly address them) be strengthened (passive, not middle, see reff.— and Fritz. on Romans 4:20) in the Lord (Christ), and in the strength of his might (see on κράτοςτῆςἰσχύος , note, ch. 1:19). Put on the entire armour (emphatic: repeated again ver. 13: offensive, as well as defensive.

It is probable that the Apostle was daily familiarized in his imprisonment with the Roman method of arming) of God (Harl. maintains that the stress is on τοῦθεοῦ , to contrast with τοῦδιαβόλου below: but there is no distinction made between the armour of God and any other spiritual armour, which would be the case, were this so. τοῦθεοῦ , as supplied, ministered, by God, who ἅπασιδιανέμειτὴνβασιλικὴνπαντευχίαν , Thdrt.), that ye may be able to stand against (so Jos. Antt. xi. 5. 7, θαῤῥεῖνμὲνοὖντῷθεῷπρῶτον , ὡςκαὶπρὸςτὴνἐκείνωνἀπέχθειανστησομένῳ : see Kypke, ii. p. 301, and Ellicott’ s note here) the schemes (the instances (concr.) of a quality (abstr.) of μεθόδεια . τίἐστιμεθόδεια ; μεθοδεῦσαίἐστιτὸἀπατῆσαι , κ . διὰσυντόμονἑλεῖν , Chrys.:— the word is however sometimes used in a good sense, as Diod. Sic. i. 81, ταύταςδὲοὐῥᾴδιονἀκριβῶςἐξελέγξαι , μὴγεωμέτρουτὴνἀλήθειανἐκτῆςἐμπειοίαςμεθοδεύσαντος ,— ‘ if the geometrician had not investigated, &c.’ The bad sense is found in Polyb. xxxviii. 4. 10, πολλὰδήτιναπρὸςταύτηντὴνὑπόθεσινἐμπορεύωνκ . μεθοδευόμενος , ἐκίνεικ . παρώξυνετοὺςὄχλους . See Ellic. on ch. 4:14) of the devil.

12. For (confirms τ . μεθ . τοῦδιαβ . preceding) our (or ‘ your:’ the ancient authorities are divided) wrestling (πάλη must be literally taken— it is a hand to hand and foot to foot ‘ tug of war’ — that in which the combatants close, and wrestle for the mastery) is not (Meyer well remarks, that the negative is not to be softened down into non tam, or non tantum, as Grot., &c.— the conflict which the Apostle means (qu.? better, ἡπάλη , the only conflict which can be described by such a word— our life and death struggle, there being but one such) is absolutely not with men but &c. He quotes from Aug., “ Non est nobis colluctatio adversus carnem et sanguinem, i.e. adversus homines, quos videtis sæ vire in nos. Vasa sunt, alius utitur: organa sunt, alius tangit” ) against blood and flesh (i.e. men: see reff.), but (see above) against the governments, against the powers (see note on ch. 1:21), against the world-rulers (munditenentes, as Tert. c. Marc. v. 18, vol. ii. p. 58. Cf.

John 12:31 note; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19. The Rabbis (see Schö ttg.) adopted this very word ק ו ס מ ו ק ר ת ו ר , and applied it partly to earthly kings (as on Gen_13), partly to the Angel of Death; ‘ quamvis te feci κοσμοκράτορα super homines &c.’ So that the word must be literally understood, as in the places cited.

Cf. Ellicott’ s note) of this (state of) darkness (see ch. 2:2; 5:8, 11), against the spiritual (armies) (so we have (Mey.) τὸπολιτικόν (Herod. vii. 103), τὸἱππικόν (Revelation 9:16), τὰλῃστρικά (Polyæ n. v. 14), τὰδοῦλα , τὰαἰχμάλωτα &c. Winer, Gr. § 34, remark 3, compares τὰδαιμόνια , originally a neuter-adjective form. See Bernhardy, Synt. p. 326, for more examples. Stier maintains the abstract meaning, ‘ the spiritual things:’ but as Ellic. remarks, the meaning could not be ‘ spiritales malignitates,’ as Beza, but ‘ spiritualia nequitiæ ,’ as the Vulg., i.e. ‘ the spiritual elements,’ or ‘ properties,’ ‘ of wickedness,’ which will not suit here) of wickedness in the heavenly places , though possibly the order of the sentence might.

Rü ckert, Matth., Eadie, al., interpret of the scene of the combat, thus also joining ἐντ . ἐπ . with ἔστ . ἡμ . ἡπάλη . The objection to this is twofold: 1) that the words thus appear without any sort of justification in the context: nay rather as a weakening of the following διὰτοῦτο , instead of a strengthening: and 2) that according to Eadie’ s argument, they stultify themselves. He asks, “ How can they (the heavenly places, the scenes of divine blessing, of Christ’ s exaltation, &c.) be the seat or abode of impure fiends?” But if they are “ the scene of” our “ combat” with these fiends, how can our enemies be any where else but in them? Two ways then remain: to join ἐντοῖςἐπουρ . a) with τὰπνευματικὰτῆςπονηρίας — b) with τῆςπονηρίας only. The absence of an article before ἐν forms of course an objection to both: but not to both equally. Were b) to be adopted, the specifying τῆς would appear to be required— because the sense would be, ‘ of that wickedness,’ viz., the rebellion of the fallen angels, ‘ which was (or is) in the heavenly places.’ If a), we do not so imperatively require the τά before ἐν , because ἐντοῖςἐπουρ . only specifies the locality,— does not distinguish τὰπνευματικὰτῆςπονηρ . ἐντοῖςἐπουρ . from any other πνευματικὰτῆςπονηρίας elsewhere.

So that this is in grammar the least objectionable rendering. And in sense it is, notwithstanding what Eadie and others have said, equally unobjectionable.

That habitation of the evil spirits which in ch. 2:2 was said, when speaking of mere matters of fact, to be in the ἀήρ , is, now that the difficulty and importance of the Christian conflict is being forcibly set forth, represented as ἐντοῖςἐπουρανίοις — over us, and too strong for us without the panoply of God. Cf. τὰπετεινὰτοῦοὐρανοῦ , Matthew 6:26; and reff.).

13. Wherefore (since our foes are in power too mighty for us,— and in dwelling, around and above us) take up (i.e. not ‘ to the battle,’ but ‘ to put on:’ ‘ frequens est ἀναλαμβάνειν de armis;’ Kypke in loc. He refers to Diod. Sic. xx. 33, ἕκαστοιτὰςπανοπλίαςἀνελάμβανονἐπὶτὴντοῦφονεύσαντοςτιμωρίαν ,— and many places in Josephus. See also Wetst.) the entire armour of God (see on ver. 11) that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day , and having accomplished all things , nor again, understood of preparation only (= παρασκευασάμενοι , 1 Corinthians 14:8) as Erasm., Beza, Bengel, al. To finish, or accomplish, is the invariable Pauline usage of the word when taken in a good sense) to stand firm (at your post: as Estius, reporting others,— ‘ ut posteaquam omnia quæ boni militis sunt, perfeceritis, stare et subsistere possitis:’ — that you may not, after having done your duty well in battle, fall off, but stand your ground to the end. The other interpretation, ‘ stare tanquam triumphatores,’ is precluded by what has been said above).

14-20. Particulars of the armour, and attitude of the soldier.

14. Stand therefore (whether ‘ ready for the fight,’ or ‘ in the fight,’ matters very little: all the aoristic participles are in time antecedent to the στῆτε — and the fight ever at hand), having girt about your loins with truth (not truth objective, which is rather the ῥῆμαθεοῦ below, ver. 17: but ‘ truthfulness,’ subjective truth: to be understood however as based upon the faith and standing of a Christian, necessarily his truthfulness in his place in Christ. As the girdle (hardly here, however true that may have been, to be regarded as carrying the sword, for that would be confusing the separate images, cf. ver. 17) kept all together, so that an ungirded soldier would be (see Mey.) a contradiction in terms,— just so Truth is the band and expediter of the Christian’ s work in the conflict, without which all his armour would be but encumbrance. Gurnall’ s notion (Christian Armour, vol. i. p. 378), that ‘ the girdle is used as an ornament, put on uppermost, to cover the joints of the armour, which would, if seen, cause some uncomeliness’ , is against the context, and against the use of the phrase ζωνν . τ . ὀσφ . in the N. T.), and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (see ref. Isa., and Wisd. 5:19.

As in those passages, righteousness is the breastplate— the genitive here being one of apposition. The righteousness spoken of is that of Rom 6:13— the purity and uprightness of Christian character which is the result of the work of the Spirit of Christ; the inwrought righteousness of Christ, not merely the imputed righteousness), and having shod your feet (as the soldier with his sandals— cf. the frequent description of arming in Homer— ποσσὶδ ʼ ὑπαὶλιπαροῖσινἐδήσατοκαλὰπέδιλα .

The Roman caliga may be in the Apostle’ s mind: see on ver. 11) with (local again, not instrumental: see on ver. 14) the readiness (the uses of ἑτοιμασία (‘ in classical Greek, ἑτοιμότης , Dem. 1268. 7.’ Mey.) in Hellenistic Greek are somewhat curious, and may have a bearing on this passage. In Psalms 9:17, it has the sense of inward ‘ preparedness,’ — τὴνἑτοιμασίαντῆςκαρδίας — of outward, in Jos. Antt. x. 1. 2, δισχιλίους … ἵππουςεἰςἑτοιμασίανὑμῖνπαρέχεινἕτοιμόςεἰμι : of preparation, in an active sense, Wisd. 13:12, τὰἀποβλήματατῆςἐργασίαςεἰςἑτοιμασίαντροφῆςἀναλώσαςἐνεπλήσθη : in Ezra 2:68, it answers to the Heb. מ ָ כ ו ֹ ן , a foundation, τοῦστῆσαιαὐτὸν (the temple) ἐπὶτὴνἑτοιμασίαναὐτοῦ , see also Psalms 88:14, δικαιοσ . κ . κρίμαἑτοιμασίατοῦθρόνουσου , and Daniel 11:7 Theod. From this latter usage (which can hardly be a mistake of the translators, as Mey. supposes) some (Beza, Bengel, al.) have believed that as the ὑποδήματα are the lowest part of the panoply, the same meaning has place here: but no good sense seems to me to be gained: for we could not explain it ‘ pedes militis Christiani firmantur Evangelio, ne loco moveatur,’ as Beng. Nor again can it mean the preparation (active) of the Gospel, or preparedness to preach the Gospel, as Chrys. and most Commentators (‘ shod as ready messengers of the glad tidings of peace,’ Conyb.), for the persons addressed were not teachers, but the whole church. The only refuge then is in the genitive subjective, ‘ the preparedness of,’ i.e. arising from, suggested by ‘ the Gospel of peace;’ and so Œ c. (2), Calv., Harl., Olsh., De W., Mey., Ellic., al.) of the Gospel of peace (the Gospel whose message and spirit is peace: so ὁμῦθοςὁτῆςἐπιστήμης , Plato, Theæ t. p. 147 c: see Bernhardy, p. 161), besides all (not as E.

V. ‘ above all,’ as if it were the most important: nor as Beng., al. ‘ over all,’ so as to cover all that has been put on before:— see especially reff. to Luke. And the all, as no τούτοις is specified, does not apply only to ‘ quæ cunque induistis’ (Beng.), but generally, to all things whatever.

But it is perhaps doubtful, whether ἐνπᾶσιν ought not to be read: in which case it will be “ in all things,” i.e. on all occasions) having taken up (see on ver. 13) the shield (θυρεός , ‘ scutum:’ οἷόντιςθύραφυλάττωντὸσῶμα : the large oval shield, as distinguished from the small and light buckler, ἀσπίς ,‘ clypeus.’ Polybius in his description (6:23) of the Roman armour, which should by all means be read with this passage, says of the θυρεός ,— οὗτὸμὲνπλάτοςἐστὶτῆςκυρτῆςἐπιφανείαςπένθ ʼ ἡμιποδίων · τὸδὲμῆκος , ποδῶντεττάρων . Kypke quotes from Plutarch, that Philopœ men persuaded the Achæ ans, ἀντὶμὲνθυρεοῦκαὶδόρατοςἀσπίδαλαβεῖνκαὶσάρισσαν . He adduces examples from Josephus of the same distinction,— which Phryn. p. 366, ed. Lob., states to have been unknown to the ancients, as well as θυρεός in this sense at all. See Lobeck’ s note, and Hom. Od. i. 240) of (genitive of apposition) faith, in which (as lighting on it and being quenched in it; or perhaps (as Ellic. altern. with the above), “ as protected by and under cover of which” ) you shall be able (not as Mey., to be referred to the last great future fight— but used as stronger than ‘ in which ye may,’ &c., implying the certainty that the shield of faith will at all times and in all combats quench &c.) to quench all the fiery darts , is evidently ungrammatical.

See Smith’ s Dict. of Antiq. art. Malleolus, and Winer, Realw. ‘ Bogen.’ If the art. τά be omitted, a different turn must be given to the participle, which then becomes predicative: and we must render, ‘ when inflamed,’ even in their utmost malice and fiery power) of the wicked one (see reff. and notes on Matthew 5:37; John 17:15. Here, the conflict being personal, the adversary must be not an abstract principle, but a concrete person).

17. And take (‘ accipite oblatam a Domino.’ Beng.) the helmet (πρὸςδὲτούτοις … περικεφαλαίαχαλκῆ . Polyb. ubi supra) of (genitive of apposition as above) salvation (the neuter form, from LXX l. c.: otherwise confined to St. Luke. Beng. takes it masculine, ‘ salutaris, i.e. Christi,’ — but this is harsh, and does not correspond to the parallel, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, where the helmet is the hope of salvation, clearly shewing its subjective character.

Here, it is salvation appropriated, by faith), and the sword of (furnished, forged, by: cf. τ . πανοπλ . τ . θεοῦ vv. 11, 13: not here the genitive of apposition, for ὅἐστιν follows after) the Spirit, which (neuter, attracted to ῥῆμα : see ch. 3:13 and reff. there) is (see on ἐστιν , Galatians 4:24 reff.) the word of God (the Gospel: see the obvious parallel, Hebrews 4:12: also Romans 1:16: and our pattern for the use of this sword of the Spirit, Matthew 4:4, Matthew 4:7, Matthew 4:10); with (see reff.: as the state through which, as an instrument, the action takes place. The clause depends on στῆτεοὖν , the principal imperative of the former sentence— not on δέξασθε , which is merely a subordinate one, and which besides (Mey.) would express only how the weapons should be taken, and therefore would not satisfy πάσης and ἐνπαντὶκαιρῷ ) all (kind of) prayer and supplication (“ it has been doubted whether there is any exact distinction between προσευχή and δέησις .

Chrys. and Thdrt. on 1 Timothy 2:1 explain προσευχή as αἴτησιςἀγαθῶν (see Suicer, Thes. s. v. 1),— δέησις as ὑπὲρἀπαλλαγῆςλυπηρῶνἱκετεία (so Grot. as ἀπὸτοῦδέους , but see 2 Corinthians 1:11): compare Orig. de Orat. c. 33 (vol. i. p. 271). Alii alia. The most natural and obvious distinction is that adopted by nearly all recent Commentators, viz. that προσευχή is a ‘ vocabulum sacrum’ (see Harl.) denoting prayer in general, ‘ precatio:’ δέησις a ‘ vocabulum commune,’ denoting a special character or form of it, ‘ petitum,’ rogatio: see Fritz. Romans 10:1, vol. ii. p. 372. Huther on Tim. l. c.” Ellicott) praying in every season (literal: cf. Luke 18:1 note, and 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

There seems to be an allusion to our Lord’ s ἐνπαντὶκαιρῷδεόμενοι , ref. Luke) in the Spirit (the Holy Spirit: see especially Jude 1:20, and Romans 8:15, Romans 8:26; Galatians 4:6:— not, heartily, as Est., Grot., al.), and thereunto (with reference to their employment which has been just mentioned.

Continual habits of prayer cannot be kept up without watchfulness to that very end. This is better than to understand it, with Chr., &c. of persistence in the prayer itself, which indeed comes in presently) watching in (element in which: watching, being employed, in) all (kind of) importunity and supplication (not a hendiadys: rather the latter substantive is explanatory of the former, without losing its true force as coupled to it: ‘ importunity and (accompanied with, i.e. exemplified by) supplication’ ) concerning all saints, and (καί brings into prominence a particular included in the general: see Hartung, i. 145) for me that there may be given me (I do not see the relevance of a special emphasis on δοθῇ as Mey., Ellic. That it is a gift, would be of course, if it were prayed for from God) speech in the opening of my mouth (many renderings have been proposed. First of all, the words must be joined with the preceding, not with the following, as in E. V., Grot., Kypke, De W., al., which would (see below) be too tame and prosaic for the solemnity of the passage. Œ c. (and similarly Chr.? see Ellic.) regards the words as describing unpremeditated speech: ἐναὐτῷτῷἀνοῖξαιὁλόγοςπροῄει .

But as Mey., this certainly would have been expressed by ἐναὐτῇτῇἀν . or the like. Calv., ‘ os apertum cupit, quod erumpat in liquidam et firmam confessionem: ore enim semiclauso proferuntur ambigua et perplexa responsa,’ and similarly Rü ck., al., and De W. But this again is laying too much on the phrase: see below. The same objection applies to Beza and Piscator’ s rendering, ‘ ut aperiam os meum:’ and to taking the phrase of an opening of his mouth by God, as Corn.-a-lap., Grot., Harl., and Olsh. from Psalms 50:17 and Ezekiel 29:21. The best rendering is that of Est. , Meyer, Eadie, Ellic., al., ‘ in (at) the opening of my mouth,’ i.e. ‘ when I undertake to speak:’ thus we keep the meaning of ἀνοίγειντὸστόμα (reff. and Job 3:1; Daniel 10:16), which always carries some solemnity of subject or occasion with it), in boldness ((subjective) freedom of speech, not as Grot. (‘ ut ab hac custodia militari liber per omnem urbem perferre possem sermonem evangelicum,’ &c.), Koppe (objective), liberty of speech) to make known the mystery of the gospel (contained in the gospel: subjective genitive. ‘ The genitive is somewhat different to τὸμυστήρ . τοῦθελήματος , ch. 1:9: there it was the mystery in the matter of, concerning the θέλημα , gen. objecti,’ Ellic.), on behalf of which I am an ambassador (of Christ (ref.): to whom, is understood: we need not supply as Michaelis, to the court of Rome) in chains (the singular is not to be pressed, as has been done by Paley, Wieseler, al., to signify the chain by which he was bound to ‘ the soldier that kept him’ (Acts 28:20): for such singulars are often used collectively: see Bernhardy, Syntax, p. 58 f., Polyb. xxi. 3. 3, παρὰμικρὸνεἰςτὴνἅλυσινἐνέπεσον . Wetst. remarks, ‘ alias legati, jure gentium sancti et inviolabiles, in vinculis haberi non poterant.’ His being thus a captive ambassador, was all the more reason why they should pray earnestly that he might have boldness, &c.), that (co-ordinate purpose with ἵναδοθῇ , not subordinate to πρεσβεύω .

See examples of such a co-ordinate ἵνα in Romans 7:13; Galatians 3:14; 2 Corinthians 9:3. But no tautology (as Harl.) is involved: see below) in (the matter of, in dealing with: cf. λήθηἐντοῖςμαθήμασι , Plato, Phileb. p. 252 b: and see Bernhardy, p. 212: not as in 1 Thessalonians 2:2, ἐπαῤῥησιασάμεθαἐντῷθεῷἡμῶν , where ἐν denotes the source or ground of the confidence) it I may speak freely, as I ought to speak (no comma at με , as Koppe— ‘ that I may have confidence, as I ought, to speak;’ but the idea of speaking being already half understood in παῤῥησίᾳ , λαλῆσαι merely refers back to it.

This last clause is a further qualification of the παῤῥησία — that it is a courage and free-spokenness ὡςδεῖ : and therefore involves no tautology).

21-24. Conclusion of the Epistle.

21. But (transition to another subject: the contrast being between his more solemn occupations just spoken of, and his personal welfare) that ye also (the καί may have two meanings: 1) as I have been going at length into the matters concerning you, so if you also on your part, wish to know my matters, &c.: 2) it may relate to some others whom the same messenger was to inform, and to whom he had previously written. If so, it would be an argument for the priority of the Epistle to the Colossians (so Harl. p. lx, Mey., Wieseler, and Wigger’ s Stud. u. Krit. 1841, p. 432): for that was sent by Tychicus, and a similar sentiment occurs there, 4:7. But I prefer the former meaning) may know the matters concerning me, how I fare (not, ‘ what I am doing,’ as Wolf: Meyer answers well, that he was always doing one thing: but as in Æ lian, V. H. ii. 35, where Gorgias being sick is asked τίπράττοι ; or as in Plut. inst.

Lac. p. 241 (Kypke), where when a Spartan mother asks her son τίπράσσειπατρίς ; he answers, ‘ all have perished’ ) Tychicus (Acts 20:4.Colossians 4:7 Colossians 4:7. 2 Timothy 3:122 Ti 3:122 Ti 3:12. He appears in the first-cited place amongst Paul’ s companions to Asia from Corinth, classed with Τρόφιμος as Ἀσιανοί .

Nothing more is known of him) shall make known all to you, the beloved brother (reff.) and faithful (trustworthy) servant (‘ minister’ is ambiguous, and might lead to the idea of Estius, who says on ‘ in Domino,’ — ‘ non male hinc colligitur Tychicum sacra ordinatione diaconum fuisse:’ see Colossians 4:7, where he is πιστὸςδιάκονοςκαὶσύνδουλος , and note there) in the Lord (belongs to διάκονος , not to both ἀδ . and διάκ . He διηκόνειἐνκυρίῳ , Christ’ s work being the field on which his labour was bestowed); whom I sent to you for this very purpose (not ‘ for the same purpose,’ as E. V.) that ye may know the matters respecting us (see Colossians 4:8, where this verse occurs word for word, but with ίναγνῷτὰπερὶὑμῶν for these words. Does not this variation bear the mark of genuineness with it? The ἡμῶν are those mentioned Colossians 4:10) and that he may comfort (we need not assign a reason why they wanted comfort:— there would probably be many in those times of peril) your hearts.

23, 24. Double Apostolic blessing; addressed (23) to the brethren, and (24) to all real lovers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

23. Peace (need not be further specified, as is done by some:— the Epistle has no special conciliatory view. It is sufficiently described by being peace from God) to the brethren (of the Church or Churches addressed: see Prolegg. to this Epistle, § ii.: not as Wieseler, ἀδελφοῖς to the Jews, and πάντων below to the Gentiles: for least of all in this Epistle would such a distinction be found) and love with faith (faith is perhaps presupposed as being theirs: and he prays that love may always accompany it, see Galatians 5:6: or both are invoked on them, see 1 Timothy 1:14) from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (see note on Romans 1:7).

24. General benediction on all who love Christ: corresponding, as Mey. suggests, with the malediction on all who love Him not, 1 Corinthians 16:22. May the grace (viz. of God, which comes by Christ) be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruptibility (i.e. whose love is incorruptible. The method of exegesis of this difficult expression will be, to endeavour to find some clue to the idea in the Apostle’ s mind. He speaks, in Colossians 2:22, of worldly things which are εἰςφθορὰντῇἀποχρήσει · — ἄφθαρτος is with him an epithet of God (Romans 1:23. 1 Timothy 1:17): the dead are raised ἄφθαρτοι (1 Corinthians 15:52): the Christian’ s crown is ἄφθαρτος (1 Corinthians 9:25). ἀφθαρσία is always elsewhere in N. T. (reff.) the incorruptibility of future immortality.

If we seek elsewhere in the Epistles for an illustration of the term as applied to inward qualities, we find a close parallel in 1 Peter 3:4; where the ornament of women is to be ὁκρυπτὸςτῆςκαρδίαςἄνθρωποςἐντῷἀφθάρτῳτοῦπραέοςκ . ἡσυχίουπνεύματος — the contrast being between the φθαρτά , ἀργύριονκαὶχρυσίον , and the incorruptible graces of the renewed spiritual man. I believe we are thus led to the meaning here;— that the love spoken of is ἐνἀφθαρσία ;— in, as its sphere and element and condition, incorruptibility— not a fleeting earthly love, but a spiritual and eternal one. And thus only is the word worthy to stand as the crown and climax of this glorious Epistle: whereas in the ordinary (E. V.) rendering, ‘ sincerity,’ — besides that (as Mey.) this would not be ἀφθαρσία but ἀφθορία (Titus 2:7) or ἀδιαφθορία (see Wetst. on Tit. l. c.), the Epistle ends with an anti-climax, by lowering the high standard which it has lifted up throughout to an apparent indifferentism, and admitting to the apostolic blessing all those, however otherwise wrong, who are only not hypocrites in their love of Christ. As to the many interpretations,— that ἐν is for ὑπέρ (Chr. 2nd alt.), διὰ (Thl.), μετά (Thdrt.), εἰς (Beza), σύν (Piscator)— that ἐνἀφθαρσίᾳ is to be taken with χάρις (Harl., Bengel, Stier), that ἐνἀφθ . means ‘ in immortality,’ as the sphere of the ἀγάπη , cf. ἐντοῖςἐπουρανίοις , ch. 1:3,— that it is to be joined with Ἰησοῦχριστοῦ (‘ Christum immortalem et gloriosum, non humilem,’ Wetst.), that it is short for ἵναζωὴνἔχωσινἐνἀφθαρσίᾳ (Olsh.), &c. &c. (see more in Mey.), none of them seem so satisfactory as that assigned above).