Ephesians 5:6-10

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

⁷ Therefore do not be partakers with them.

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

⁹ (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

¹⁰ finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

empty (v.6) = vain, hollow — here, plausible but devoid of truth — attempting to make the sins Paul mentioned in verses 3 and 4 look unsinful

these things (v.6) — the sins in verses 3 and 4

sons (v.6) — a Hebraism in which calling a person having a certain quality a son of that quality

be (v.7) = become — referring to a relapse into past sins — stop becoming

partakers (v.7) = participants

were (v.8) — indicator of past position — “you were; don’t become again”

you were once darkness (v.8) — not in darkness — darkness was our nature. Now we are light (not in light) — light is now our nature in Christ.

light (v.8) = phos = light itself, not a mere lamp — not just enlightened but light itself in the Lord

walk (v.8) = order one’s behavior, conduct oneself — the verb tense commands a habitual action

children (v.8) = born ones — children of God, thus light in the Lord, thus children of light

Spirit (v.9) — should probably be “light”

fruit of the light (v.9) — the moral results of the light

goodness (v.9) = benevolence, active goodness

finding out (v.10) = putting to the test for the purpose of approving, then, when it meets the specifications, sanctioning or approving it — proving

acceptable (v.10) = well-pleasing