The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 152

by nu_, pl:rn~ihl<- rer.:,,n thnt profe.."SeS to be articulated to one auother (this prooess a Christi,rn ten<'her, and such persons are being oontinuous; seo present po.rtioiples, ortC':i 'l"ery dnngel\mS, working by the sleigh& ""J'Ol'll'oA.o')'Oilµ•vov nud uuv/31/Ja(oµ,vov). In of ,:;,,,n, i.a. tho <'lmning legerd<'IU&in by the Church there nre bnbes in Christ, nlso whkh the teachings of men-teachings de- yonng men aud old llleu; some a.re ole,n in Yi$<'<1 bv the hearts of men-nre mado to intelleot, some strong in faith, some Wllrlll in nppcar • to tho uninitio.ted the saruo RS love, som& exoel in pnssh-e virtues, some Chr:8t's teacJ1ing. In orn.ftiness, tending to in nctive; but in o. well-ordered Chmoh these t"-2 scheme of error. Such tC'nchcrs employ should be getting jointed together, o.ud crafty methods, appn.rently harmless, but learning to work with o.nd for one nuother, tending to further the method or scheme of no one despising gifts which he has not error. The strong language here used.cor- but another has; in this sense, there ought responds with thn.t in which, at :M:iletus, the to be o. spiritual communism, for all lll'e ono Rpostle warned the elders of Ephesus of the spiritual body. But spiritual communism "grievous wol.es" that were to come in does not in:volve social communism or even 'llllong them, and of the men •• speaking social equality, nor will social distinctions perverse things " that were to arise among be obliterated in o. pure Church, except so themselves, not sparing the flock (Acts xx. far as they hinder spiritual .communion. 29, 30). According to the energy in tb.e meaBUre Ver. 15.-But speaking the truth in love. (or, proplYl'tion) of ea.oh individual part. 'AM1fr/,orr.u is hn.rdly translatable in Eng- This clause seems to be most na.tura.lly lish-it implies being true o.s well as speak- connected with what follows. In the fit ing the truth and following the trnth. framing of the body, channels as it were Truth is the element in which we are to are laid for the propagation aud working of li,e. move, o.nd have our being; fidelity io the viW force throughout the body ; this blth is fre backbone of the ChrL«tian force is not alike, but of various a.monnt in ru.ini.-try. But truth must be inseparably the di1ferent part.s; somemembera have much married to lo,e; good tidings spoken harshly of it, some little, bnt. the measure of this are no good tidings; the charm of the mes- vital force regulates the growth. Carries on sage is destroyed by the discordant spirit of the growth of the body, The middle voice, the messenger. The more painful the .first ,ro,.tTat, indicates that it is a growth from impression which o. truth is fitted to pro- within, while depending on the energy fur- duce (e.g. eh. ii 1-3), the more need is nished by Christ. For building up of itself there for dealing with it in love-a much- in love. This is the end, so far as the body needed and much-neglected exhortation. itself is concerned, though, of course, the Xa.y grow up into him in a.11 things who is completed spiritual body, like the com- the Hea.d, ne.:rasly, Ch..Tist. Growing up into pleted natural body, has work to do outside Christ is like bnptizing inro the Name of itself. In a healthv Ohurch there js a con- the Father, etc. ; it implies tho.t the growth tinual work of building up: •construction, t.eni!Jl to a closer union to Christ, as, on not destruction, is its proper business-pro- the other hand, union to Christ causes moting peace, purity, pmyerfuluess, tru~t, the growth : the two act e.nd react on each activity in the work of the Lord, but all 111 other. This growth is to be "in all things" love, the absence of which makes· winter -in the whole man-in knowledge, right- instead of summer, declension instead of pro- oonsUeES, and holbess, in all the communi- gress, deo.th insteo.d of life. In illustration cable properties of Chrut. How great the of the various measure of grace, and yet wo,·k of growth is that should be oonght in its real efficiency in o.11 the member~ of the ~i.,- c:i.se of every :Lld.ng- belie,er, is evident Church, Ea.die says," No member or ordin- f, .. m the enormous 6 ulf there is between his e.nce is superfinons. The widow's mite was spiritual and moral state and that of Christ. commended by him who sat over a.go.inst Yei such growth is reasunable, considering the treasury. Solomon built a temple. the relation of the body to him. its Head. Joseph provided o. tomb. Mary the mother The fa.et of tlw relation should encourage gave birth to the child, and the other Marya ns to seek and expect the growth, and wrapped the corpse in spices. Lydja entor- encourage minister11 to labom hopefolly tained the apostle, and· Phcebe carried an towo.rds promoting it. Epistle of old, the princes and heroes went Ver. lG.-From whom all the body fitly to the field, and wise-hearted women, dill framed and knit together thl'ongh that spin, While JoBhua fought, Moses prayed. which every joint supplieth. '.l'he relation The snuffers o.nd trays wore as necesso.ry ns of '" in tbi£ verse to Eis in ver. 15 is to be the magnificout lampsland. . . . : The result noted-growing up vitally into him, the body is that the Church is built up, for love is derives vital sub,tance from him. Kot, how- tho clement of spirilun.l progress. That love ever, in o. mere individual ser..se, but as an fills the renewed nature." 'l'he Church has organization, the partB being adapted and been defined &S a.n institution that ho.a truth OH, IV, 1-32.] THE EPISTLE T(J '1'.0£ EPHESIANS. liil