How does Ephesians 5:10 define what is pleasing to the Lord? Canonical Setting and Immediate Context Paul’s charge in Ephesians 5 moves from gospel indicatives (1:3-3:21) to gospel imperatives (4:1-6:20). Inside that ethical section, 5:1-21 contrasts the “fruit of the light” (vv. 8-9) with “the unfruitful works of darkness” (v. 11). Verse 10 sits between those two poles: “and test and prove what pleases the Lord” . The verse neither introduces a new idea nor ends a discussion; it serves as the hinge that binds identity (“you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord,” v. 8) with practice (“walk as children of light,” v. 8b). Biblical Definition of “Pleasing to the Lord” 1. Moral Goodness (ἀγαθωσύνη, v. 9). Actions that accord with God’s unchanging character (Exodus 34:6-7; James 1:17). 2. Covenantal Righteousness (δικαιοσύνη, v. 9). Alignment with God’s revealed standards, not human consensus (Isaiah 5:20). 3. Objective Truth (ἀλήθεια, v. 9). A life tethered to the veracity of the gospel (John 17:17; 1 John 2:4). 4. Spirit-Dependence (v. 18). What is “pleasing” cannot be engineered by the flesh (Romans 8:8-9). 5. Christ-Exalting Thanksgiving (v. 20). Gratitude centers on the atoning, resurrected Lord, echoing Psalm 50:23. How the Testing Happens • By Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The written word is the canon (κανών, measuring rod) for deciding. • By Renewal of the Mind (Romans 12:2). Cognitive transformation recalibrates moral perception. • By Community Confirmation (Ephesians 4:15-16). The church, “pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), discerns corporately. • By Prayerful Illumination (Ephesians 1:17-18). The Spirit enables insight; human reason alone is insufficient (1 Corinthians 2:14-16). Old Testament Echoes Paul’s “children of light” (v. 8) traces to Isaiah 2:5; “test/prove” mirrors Malachi 3:2-3’s refining fire; “pleasing” reflects Genesis 4:4 where God “looked with favor” on Abel’s offering. The continuity underscores the unity of Scripture across covenants. Christological Grounding The resurrected Jesus is Himself the Father’s “beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17). To walk in ways pleasing to the Lord is to mirror the incarnate pattern (1 John 2:6) and rely on His indwelling life (Galatians 2:20). The empty tomb—historically verified by multiple independent strands (1 Corinthians 15:3-8; early creed c. A.D. 30-35)—guarantees that our pursuit of what pleases Him is not futile (1 Corinthians 15:58). Practical Outworking • Sexual purity (Ephesians 5:3). God’s pleasure rejects the porneía of Graeco-Roman culture. • Tongue holiness (v. 4). Crude speech precludes divine approval (Matthew 12:36-37). • Light-Bearing Exposure of Evil (vv. 11-13). The believer’s lifestyle is diagnostic to a dark world (Philippians 2:15). • Intentional Discernment (v. 15). “Carefully” (ἀκριβῶς) implies deliberation, not impulsivity. Philosophical and Behavioral Dimension Behavioral science corroborates Scripture’s claim: habituated virtue reshapes neural pathways (cf. Hebrews 5:14, “trained by practice”). Disciplining perception—what modern cognitive psychologists call “attentional control”—maps onto Paul’s “testing” mandate. Ethical relativism offers no stable metric; only an absolute, personal God supplies a transcendent criterion for “euareston.” Encouragement for the Seeker God does not hide His will. The call is to repent, receive the resurrected Christ by faith (Acts 17:30-31), and then, indwelt by the Spirit, commence the lifelong assay of motives, words, and deeds. The same grace that saves (Ephesians 2:8-9) empowers the testing (Titus 2:11-12). Concise Definition Ephesians 5:10 defines what is pleasing to the Lord as any attitude, word, or action that, having been assayed through Spirit-illumined Scripture, aligns with God’s moral goodness, covenant righteousness, and objective truth, thereby reflecting the character of the risen Christ and advancing the glory of God. |
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