Ephesians 5:7
in Ephesians 5Therefore do not be partakers with them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Be not ye therefore partakers with them;
KJV
Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
⋯
This verse in Ephesians 5
Commentary
10 notes on this verseBe not ye therefore partakers with them - Do not act as your fellow citizens do; nor suffer their philosophy, to it in vain words, κενοις λογοις, with empty and illusive doctrines, to lead you astray from the path of truth. That there was much need for such directions and cautions to the people of Ephesus has been often remarked.
This site's exposition
empty words
on Ephesians 5:6-7
Empty words are arguments built to excuse the very sins just named. Paul answers them with a plain fact: because of such things the wrath of God is coming.
This site's exposition
do not be partakers with them
Gill lists four ways to share in another's sin. They are needless company, encouragement, passing it over without reproof, and doing the same things. Clarke applies the warning to the empty philosophy of Ephesus, whose vain words verse 6 names.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"Once you were darkness" suggests ignorance. No one sees clearly in shadows. The ignorance referred to is disbelief, harking back to pagan days. Those who lived in darkness have been drawn to faith by the grace of God, which has been brought to light, that …
Observe how wisely he urges them forward; first, from the thought of Christ, that ye love one another, and do injury to no man; then, on the other hand, from the thought of punishment and hell-fire. "For ye were once darkness," says he, "but are now light in the Lord." Which is what he says also in the Epistle to the Romans; "What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed?" (Rom. vi. 21), and reminds them of their former wickedness. That is to say, thinking what ye once were, and what ye are now become, do not run back into your former wickedness, nor do "despite to the grace" (Heb. x. 29) of God. "Ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord!" Not, he says, by your own virtue, but through the grace of God has this accrued to you. That is to say, ye also were sometime worthy of the same punishments, but now are so no more. "Walk" therefore "as children of light." What is meant however by "children of light," he adds afterwards.
Again to the Ephesians: "Be not, then, partners with them: for ye were at one time darkness." And yet more earnestly: "Communicate not with the unfruitful works of darkness; nay rather withal convict them.
The Medieval Church1 voice
He concludes, Be ye not therefore partakers with them by associating with them in such actions. "For what participation hath justice with injustice? Or what fellowship hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath the faithful with the …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Be not ye therefore partakers with them. In their sins, and acts of disobedience; by keeping needless company with them; by abetting and encouraging sinful practices; by conniving at them, and not reproving for them; or by committing the same things.
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
(3.) Consider what obligations Christians are under to live at another rate than such sinners do: For you were sometimes darkness, but now, &c.,
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Be not ye therefore partakers with them - Since these things displease God and expose to his wrath, avoid them.
The words behind it
5 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μὴ | me | Not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| γίνεσθε | ginesthe | do be | G1096 → | 667 times |
| συμμέτοχοι | summetochoi | partakers | G4830 → | |
| αὐτῶν. | auton | with them. | G846 → | 5565 times |
μὴNot
meG3361 →1066 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
γίνεσθεdo be
ginestheG1096 →667 times
συμμέτοχοιpartakers
summetochoiG4830 →
αὐτῶν.with them.
autonG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 18:4Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues.
it leads to
- Isaiah 52:11
Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 6:17
“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
- Jeremiah 51:6
Flee from Babylon! Escape with your lives! Do not be destroyed in her punishment. For this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; He will pay her what she deserves.
- Isaiah 52:11
Through
Ephesians 5:11Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
it leads to
- Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
- 1 Timothy 5:20
But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received…
- 2 John 1:10–11
If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him.
- Romans 16:17
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.
- Romans 13:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies16
About Ephesians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 5.8; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 18; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, On Modesty and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.