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Selected Verse: Ephesians 5:8 - Updated King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Eph 5:8 |
Updated King James |
For all of you were sometimes darkness, but now are all of you light in the Lord: walk as children of light: |
| |
King James |
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
sometimes--"once." The emphasis is on "were." Ye ought to have no fellowship with sin, which is darkness, for your state as darkness is now PAST. Stronger than "in darkness" (Rom 2:19).
light--not merely "enlightened"; but light enlightening others (Eph 5:13).
in--in union with the Lord, who is THE LIGHT.
children of light--not merely "of the light"; just as "children of disobedience" is used on the opposite side; those whose distinguishing characteristic is light. PLINY, a heathen writing to Trajan, bears unwilling testimony to the extraordinary purity of Christians' lives, contrasted with the people around them. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
For ye were sometimes darkness - see the Eph 2:11-12 notes; Co1 6:11 note. The meaning here is, that they were themselves formerly sunk in the same ignorance, and practiced the same abominations.
But now are ye light in the Lord - Light is the emblem of happiness, knowledge, holiness. The meaning is, that they had been enlightened by the Lord to see the evil of these practices, and that they ought, therefore, to forsake them.
Walk as children of light - see the notes on Mat 1:1, on the use of the word "son," or "children." The meaning here is, that they should live as became those who had been enlightened to see the evil of sin, and the beauty of virtue and religion; compare Joh 12:36, where the same phrase occurs. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Ye were
Emphatic, and according with become of Eph 5:7. Ye were darkness, but now are ye light. Do not become darkness again.
Darkness (σκότος)
See on Joh 1:5.
Light (φῶς)
Light itself; not a lamp. Children of light. See Mat 5:16. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Ye were once darkness - Total blindness and ignorance. Walk as children of light - Suitably to your present knowledge. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
For ye were sometimes (ποτε, formerly) darkness - While ye lived in darkness, ye lived in these crimes.
But now are ye light in the Lord - When ye were in heathenish darkness ye served divers lusts and pleasures, but now ye have the light - the wisdom and teaching which come from God; therefore walk as children of the light - let the world see that ye are not slaves to the flesh, but free, willing, rational servants of the Most High; not brutish followers of devil gods. |
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever does make manifest is light.
19 And are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
36 While all of you have light, believe in the light, that all of you may be the children of light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
11 And such were some of you: but all of you are washed, but all of you are sanctified, but all of you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
11 Wherefore remember, that all of you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time all of you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
5 And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
7 Be not all of you therefore partakers with them.