Ephesians 5-21 Analysis
In Ephesians 5:5-21, Paul addresses the church of Ephesus to encourage them in righteous living and conduct. In the NIV, the subtitle is Living as Children of Light, and this subtitle conveys the thought of the entire section that will be discussed and will help the reader understand the main thesis of Ephesians 5:7-14. In verses Ephesians 5:5-6, Paul tells the Ephesians that they cannot enter the Kingdom of God if they are in immorality and that God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
With recognition to the former verses, the primary section of scripture that this paper discusses comes to life. In chapter 5 of Ephesians, verses 7-14, Paul directs the Ephesians not to partake with those in the dark, for they were once there too, but …show more content…
Paul exclaims to the Ephesians that they were once in darkness, meaning that the Ephesians used to participate in the Artemis cult, which subsists in spiritual darkness. In the latter part of verse 8, Paul encourages the Ephesians that they live as children of the light and exist in the Lord’s light. Children of the light subsists as a metaphor that Jesus spoke in John 12:16, where Jesus tells his disciples to walk in the light, so that the darkness does not overtake them. After Paul uses both metaphors, he then says in verse 10 to find out what pleases the Lord, which conveys a command by Paul for the recipients to learn by doing and acting out the will of God. Paul tells the Ephesians in verse 11 to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but to expose them to the light so they may become visible. Here in verse 11 Paul gives two commands, the first is not to do fruitless deeds and the second, which begins with a conjunction, dictates a more favorable action of exposing the darkness. Verse 12 begins with the conjunction “for”,
With recognition to the former verses, the primary section of scripture that this paper discusses comes to life. In chapter 5 of Ephesians, verses 7-14, Paul directs the Ephesians not to partake with those in the dark, for they were once there too, but …show more content…
Paul exclaims to the Ephesians that they were once in darkness, meaning that the Ephesians used to participate in the Artemis cult, which subsists in spiritual darkness. In the latter part of verse 8, Paul encourages the Ephesians that they live as children of the light and exist in the Lord’s light. Children of the light subsists as a metaphor that Jesus spoke in John 12:16, where Jesus tells his disciples to walk in the light, so that the darkness does not overtake them. After Paul uses both metaphors, he then says in verse 10 to find out what pleases the Lord, which conveys a command by Paul for the recipients to learn by doing and acting out the will of God. Paul tells the Ephesians in verse 11 to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but to expose them to the light so they may become visible. Here in verse 11 Paul gives two commands, the first is not to do fruitless deeds and the second, which begins with a conjunction, dictates a more favorable action of exposing the darkness. Verse 12 begins with the conjunction “for”,