What is the meaning of Ephesians 5:7? Therefore - The word signals a conclusion drawn from Paul’s previous teaching about living as “children of light” (Ephesians 5:1-6). - Because believers are “dearly loved children” (Ephesians 5:1) and “light in the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8), the command that follows is a natural outcome. - Similar transitions appear in Romans 12:1 and Colossians 3:5, where truth leads directly to action: truth never hangs in mid-air; it calls for obedience. do not be partakers - “Partakers” speaks of sharing in the attitudes, actions, and consequences of the disobedient. • 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 urges us not to be “yoked together with unbelievers,” underscoring the same separation. • Psalm 1:1 blesses the one who “does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.” - The call is not to isolation from people but from participation in their sinful practices, much like Jesus prayed in John 17:15 that His followers be protected from evil while remaining in the world. - Practically, this touches entertainment choices, business ethics, speech, and relationships. Being present as witnesses is good; blending in at the cost of holiness is not (1 Peter 1:15-16). with them - “Them” refers back to those Paul just described: the sexually immoral, impure, greedy, and idolatrous whose lifestyle invites God’s wrath (Ephesians 5:3-6). - The contrast is family language—“you were once darkness, but now you are light” (Ephesians 5:8). We have a new identity and new company. - Proverbs 13:20 warns, “the companion of fools will suffer harm,” while 1 Corinthians 15:33 reminds, “Bad company corrupts good character.” - Loving these individuals means evangelizing and serving them, yet never joining their rebellion (Jude 22-23). summary Paul’s command in Ephesians 5:7 is straightforward: on the basis of our new life in Christ, we must refuse any partnership in the sins of a rebellious world. We stay near enough to shine light, yet far enough to remain untarnished, guarding fellowship with God and preserving a credible witness before people. |
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