The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 186

of the Cb_urch proceed~. ~at _we ~o is not. to regulate ourselves, but rather to put oursel-ves mt-0 accord with Christ m his regulatmg ofus. 'l'he head communicates with all the p.-u-ts of the body; it e&n send commands to them. And thus it is in the Church. In all thi11gs we are commanded from Christ as from the brain or centre of the whole system. And so we grow up into him in all things. The whole development takes a distinctively Christian form. ('y) Partu:ul,arly, the development proceeds round <J7,,rist.. •• From whom all the body fitly framed and knit together." In the body round one centre the different parts are harmoniously related to each other, and so related as mutually to support each other. So the idea is that in the Church Christ, as from the centre, is putting each into his proper position-a position in which he will harmonize with other parts and add strength to them. (B) The development proceeds by a supply from Chri.st acrord,irig t-0 the need ef every part; "Through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body." A tree grows by the vital juices which are supplied t.o every part.. In a tree there is a connecting, as by joints, where the supplies pass off to the nmous points. The joints in the body are where the supplies of nourishment pass off to the nmous members.. So the Church is so jointed that it can all be supplied from Christ. There is a due appo:tionment to every part. There is no part forgotten, so that there is nothing like atrophy. And no part is supplied contrary to its nature, so that there is no abnormal development, as though the hand were enlarged to the size of the foot, or the foot dwarfed to the size of the hand. (e) The result which is being produced is described (the figure being dropped) as the building up ef itself in love. "Unto the building up of itself in love." While the Church may be endlessly growina-, it will come to a state of fixedness, of establishment. It will be built up like a stron"'g compscted building which cannot be broken down. It is in love that this result is produced ; and in love it will remain an etei:nal reality. This then, finally, is the way which the apostle takes to show the foundation that there has been la.id for Christian unity. Thus at length has he supported his particular exhortation that. we are to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.-R. F. Vers. 17-24.-E.r;hortation resumed. "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord." It is characteristic of the apostle to sink his own personality, and to put forward Christ. He wishes it to be understood that it is not in bis own thought, but in the thought of him whom he calls Lord, that he makes his statement and gives his solemn as.5e,eration regarding their dnty. L ExHoRTATIOS DIBECI'ED AGAni"ST GENTILISlL "That ye no longer walk: as the Gentiles also milk." They had formerly been Gentiles in walk: or character, as Gentiles irl nam.e. s~ they were religiously the people of God. It became them, therefore, to han: oone mth Gentile -ways. 1. General, character ef Gentilism. "In the vanity vf.r1eir mind." Th.at was the moral atmosphere with which tbeywere surrounded. In B-0m.. i. 21 it is said that they " became vain in their reasonings." The word translated "mind" clearly refers to the governing part of the nature. And the meaning is that they wasted their " rational powers on worthless objects." They were made to have to do with great real,ities; but they were. taken up instead with vanities. 'l'hey were made to worship God, "who is, and is the Rewarder of them that diligently seek him;" but they were idolaters, making gods of things that were not. They were made for imrrwrtality; but amid the trifles of time they had little or no thought of a hereafter. Of the most privileged populace in ancient heathenism it is said that" they spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing." (1) Gentilism on its intellectual side. "Being darkened in their understanding." We are not to understand that they were unable to use their intellectual powers. For though heathenism has been largely associated with degradation of intellect, yet there have been s?me marked intellectual developments in the heathen world. A pagan, such as Euclid, was able must successfully to prosecute mathematical scien~. But ~t iR tr~e t~~t, as they came near the centn: of human interest, they were dimmed rn their v1s1on, they were em-tloped in darkness. For want of the Divine light they bad no right conception of Goo., or of the meaning of human life. They called evil good, and good evil; they put ciarkness for light, and light for darkness. (2) Gentilism on its practical side. "Alienated from the life of God." There was much inertoei;8 with which heathenism OH, IV, 1-32.] THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 185