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adversary (27). Honest labour enables us to fulfil our corporate duty (28). Evil speech grieves the Holy Spirit, Who works through good words (29, 30). All bitterness is alien from Christ's mind and work (31, 32). Generally all sensual self- indulgence is opposed to love (Eph. 5:1-6). The light which Christ has given must have its perfect work (7-14).

At the same time positive duties are enjoined. ‘Thou shalt’ is added to ‘Thou shalt not’: ‘put on’ completes ‘put off’: 4:25 speak truth: 28 let him labour: 29 give grace to them that hear: 32 be kind:5:1 walk in love: 4 giving of thanks: 8 walk as children of light: 11 reprove works of darkness.

Christian morality cannot be separated from the Christian revelation. In Christ man is seen in new relations. His conduct cannot be rightly considered apart from these.

2. Cardinal social relationships (Eph. 5:15-6:9).

St Paul now passes on to the consideration of social duties. As ‘light’ Christians must affect those among whom they live. Both in their general temper (Eph. 5:15-21) and in the relations of the family (Eph. 5:22-6:9) they will shew the power of their Faith.

(a) Social conduct and temper in general (15-21).

15. Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise but as wise , 16 buying up the opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 For this reason do not shew yourselves foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunken with wine wherein is riot, but be filled in spirit , 19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to our GOD and Father; 21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.

15. blevpete ou\n ...] Look therefore carefully how ye walk , because you are called to a great service and are enabled to fulfil it. Conduct is difficult; and it is for action not for knowledge we were made.
ajkribw'" ] Comp. Eph. 5:10. The Divine light does not make man's carefulness less needful. For blevpete see 1 Cor. 3:10.
mh; wJ" ...] The negative is determined by the implied command.
16.
ejxagor. t. k. ] Latt. redimentes tempus, buying up the opportunity , making your own at all cost the season for action. For each one there is but a limited time for service and that under special conditions. Each one therefore must make himself master of his position and use all the helps and occasions which it brings.

Elsewhere ejxagoravzein (act.) is used for to redeem Gal. 3:13; 4:5; and some have supposed that it has that sense here: redeeming the season from the evil powers who are lords of the world (Eph. 6:12; 1 John 5:19). The use of the middle in Col. 4:5 is parallel to the use in this passage; and there can be no doubt that in these two places the word means ‘buying up for yourselves.’ jExagoravzein occurs in Plut. Crass. 2.1.543 E and in Polyb. 3.42,2 in the sense of ‘buying up,’ and this sense of ejk in compounds is justified by abundant examples (e.g.,, ejkdapanavw 2 Cor. 12:15). Comp. Dan. 2:8 kairo;n uJmei'" ejxagoravzete : Polyc. Mart. 2, dia; mia'" w{ra" th;n aijwvnion kovlasin ejxagorazovmenoi .
o{ti aiJ hJm ....] because the days are evil , and the season for action is brief and
precarious and precious. The connexion in Col. 4:5 is different:
walk in wisdom


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