For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Ephesians 5:8-14
This is an interesting piece of text, following along in context with that of our last post. Actually, it’s quite simple: We were once darkness, now we are light, so pursue those things that are produced by the light of God’s truth and avoid the old ways of darkness.
Simple; you knew that, right?
There are two things about this that are curious; the first of which is found in vv. 11-13. We are to stay away from the fruitless deeds of darkness, instead exposing those nasty dark things done in secret…
As I read it, you can take this one of two ways. First, maybe Paul means that we should sneak into those secret places where things are going on that are shameful to even discuss, and then tell everybody what you saw so those deeds will be exposed. This sounds like a politician’s method to me. The other way you could take this is that we share the light with those who live in darkness so that the light may shine in their lives and shed truth on their misdeeds…
Personally, I think Paul gives us a pretty good clue as to his intention when he mentions that even discussing what goes on in secret in certain places is shameful. If it is shameful to mention such things, then big public announcements seem even more shameful to me!
The other curious thing is the quotation in verse 14. I have no clue who or what Paul is quoting; obviously it isn’t the Old Testament, even though Paul set the quote up just like he would an OT quotation. Might he have made a mistake, thinking this was a Scriptural quotation? Frankly I doubt it. More likely it was something very familiar to the Ephesians that has been lost to history; maybe it was something Paul taught there, or an Ephesian’s representation of Paul’s words. In any event, it’s a pretty good saying, don’t you agree?
Life Project Blog 
Maybe it was a saying going around among the churches in his day. Hmmm….
Very possiblely, maybe a paraphrase of a Scripture text even…
I checked on what the Bible commentaries say is the possible source of the quote (he saith…) RWP, Websters, Henry and Darby to highlight a few suggest this is an expression or known phrased reference to Isaiah 26:19 and Isaiah 60:1.
Another view is that it is the understanding of the 1st century Christians linked to the understanding of Jesus reference that we walk in light and we should remain Awake!
When we review the standards set in the bible rarely is anyone encouraged to touch unclean things (the prophets like Ezekiel and Jeremiah plus the Apostle Peter were told to do things that others would have baulked at) in fact the bible does say that we should not touch them, also not to share in the fornication of the idolaters to the point of avoiding their judgement.
Following Pauls reasoning we observe the contrast approach and isolating that bad practices take place in the darkness not in the light where Christians must dwell to be judged worthy.
Clarity is critical keeping the eye simple at all times and walking in the light of Gods word.
Amen!
The quotation is possibly from a prophetic hymn that was going around and being used in the early churches. I seem to remember Prof F F Bruce thought this was the case. There are other great examples of anthem-like lines being quoted in N.T. letters. If this is the case, it’s a wonderful insight into the sort of things they would have been singing in those days.
If it’s true it would be indeed