Ephesians 5:8-14
Amplified Bible
8 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light] 9 (for the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior expressing gratitude to God for your salvation]. 11 Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character]; 12 for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that such people practice in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light [of God’s precepts], for [a]it is light that makes everything visible. 14 For this reason He says,
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine [as dawn] upon you and give you light.”(A)
Footnotes
- Ephesians 5:13 Paul, who was privileged to study under the brilliant Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), is probably speaking from the viewpoint of ancient Greek science. Even the philosopher Plato maintained that vision essentially is the process of light forming an image of an object it touches and conveying that image to the eyes. So Paul may mean that what is actually seen is an image composed of light (like the photographic process), and since light is always reliable and its physical properties are constant, nothing exposed to light escapes being revealed. Spiritually speaking, to the extent that a believer functions as Light (v 8), he will expose the sins of unbelievers simply by his presence, just as it is the nature of light to expose whatever it touches.
Ephesians 5:8-14
New American Standard Bible
8 for (A)you were once (B)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as (C)children of light 9 (for (D)the fruit of the light consists in all (E)goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 [a](F)as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 (G)Do not participate in the useless (H)deeds of (I)darkness, but instead even (J)expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible (K)when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason [b]it says,
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ephesians 5:10 Lit putting to the test what
- Ephesians 5:14 Or He
Ephesians 5:8-14
New International Version
8 For you were once(A) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light(B) 9 (for the fruit(C) of the light consists in all goodness,(D) righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.(E) 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,(F) but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light(G) becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
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