16. Fitly joined— compacted (cuvapporoyovmevov—oup- BiBafopevov). The present participles denote present, continu- ous progress. The two participles represent respectively the ideas of harmony or adaptation and compactness or solidity. See on Acts ix. 22, and Col. ii. 2.
By that which every joint supplieth (6.a mdons adjs rhs émvxopnylas). Lit., through every joint of the supply. For jowmt, see on Col. ii. 19; for supply, see on 2 Pet.i.5. The supply specifies it as peculiarly Christ’s. The phrase joint of the supply signifies joint whose office or purpose it is to supply. Construe with the two participles, as Col. ii. 19.
According to the working. Construe with maketh in- crease.
In the measure of every part. According as each part works in its own proper measure.
Maketh. Notice the peculiar phrase: the whole body mak- eth increase of the body. It is a living organism, and its growth is produced by vital power within itself.
CanLvay THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 393
In love. As the element in which the upbuilding takes place. Compare ch. iii. 17-19.
17. This—therefore. Referring to what follows. There- Sore, resuming the exhortation of vv. 1-3.
Testify. Solemnly declare. Compare Acts xx. 26; Gal. v. 3.
Other Gentiles. Omit other.
Vanity of their mind (uataudrnte tod vods avT@v). For vanity see on Rom. i. 21; viii. 20. For ménd, on Rom. vii. 23.
18. Understanding (8:avo/a). See on Luke i. 51. The moral understanding.
Life of God (Swfs). See on Johni. 4. The life which God bestows; life in Christ. See 1 John v. 11.
Through the ignorance. The cause of the alienation. Not to be construed with darkened, since ignorance is the of- fect, and not the cause, of the darkness of the understanding.
Which is in them (7 odcav év adtois). The participle of the substantive verb expresses the deep-seated, indwelling char- acter of the ignorance.
Hardening (7épwow). See on Mark iii. 5. Dependent, like ignorance, on alienated. Arrange the whole clause thus:
The Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart.
19. Who (ofriwes). Explanatory and classifying: men of the class which.
Being past feeling (amndynxores). Only here in the New Testament. Lit., the verb means to cease from feeling pain. Hence to be apathetic.
394 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. IV.
Have given themselves over (aapédwxav). See on Matt. iv. 12; xi. 27; xxvi. 2; Mark iv. 29; Luke i. 2; 1 Pet. ii. 23. The verb is frequently used of Christ giving Himself for the world. Rom. iv. 25; Gal. ii. 20; Eph. v. 5, 25. It indicates a complete surrender. Meyer says, “with frightful emphasis.” Where men persistently give themselves up to evil, God gives them up to its power. See Rom. i. 24.
Lasciviousness (dcedyelg). See on Mark vii. 22.
To work (eis épyaciav). Lit., to a working. In Acts xix. 25, used of a trade. Not precisely in this sense here, yet with a shade of it. They gave themselves up as to the prosecution of a business. The eds wnito is very forcible.
With greediness (év 7AeoveEva). The noun commonly rend- ered covetousness ; in an eager grasping after more and more uncleanness. Not with, but an, as the state of mind in which they wrought evil.
20. Have not learned (ovy éeudJere). Rev., giving the force of the aorist tense, dzd not learn ; at the time of your conversion, when you were instructed in Christ’s precepts. The phrase learn Christ occurs nowhere else. Christ does not stand for the doctrine of Christ ; but Christ is the subject of His own message. See ver. 21.
21. If so be that ye heard Him (ei ye avtov nxovcare). The indicative mood implies the truth of the supposition: 7f ye heard as ye did. Him is emphatic. If it was Him that ye heard. Compare John x. 27.