Ephesians 5:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:8

For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Another expressive "but." To make the contrast more emphatic, it is not said, "ye were in darkness, but are now in light;" but, "ye were darkness itself, and are now light itself," and this last is explained by the usual formula, "in the Lord." There was a celebrated Ephesian philosopher, Alexander, who was called "The Light;" but not from that source had the light come. The idea of light-giving is also involved in their being... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:8

The darkness turned into light. As a reason for their not lapsing into vices from which they had escaped, the apostle reminds them of the darkness of their pagan condition. I. THEY WERE ONCE DARKNESS ITSELF . "Ye were sometimes darkness." The phrase is very impressive, for it indicates a moral as well as an intellectual darkness. A hard heart is always linked with a blinded understanding. The two act and react upon each other, becoming alternately cause and effect. Men do not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:8-10

Christian life. "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord." These verses present to us the Christian life in its transformation , obligation , and demonstration . I. TRANSFORMATION . A true Christian is one who has been changed from darkness into light. The figurative language implies: 1. A change from ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 5:8

For ye were sometimes darkness - see the Ephesians 2:11-12 notes; 1 Corinthians 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 Matthew... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ephesians 5:8-10

Ephesians 5:8-10. For ye were sometimes That is, once; darkness In a state of total blindness and ignorance, without any light of instruction without, or divine grace within, and therefore had some excuse for living such unrighteous and profane lives: but now ye are light in the Lord Enlightened by the divine word and Spirit, and brought to the saving knowledge of God and Christ, and of divine things in general; and consequently such vicious practices as you formerly pursued would be... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ephesians 5:1-20

More about the new standards (5:1-20)Just as children follow the example of their parents, so Christians must follow the example of their heavenly Father. Their love, then, will not be mere words, but will show itself by self-sacrifice, just as Christ’s love did (5:1-2).Converted pagans had a special problem in that many of the sinful practices they once engaged in were still widespread in the society in which they lived. One way to overcome the temptation to such practices was not even to... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ephesians 5:8

sometimes = once. darkness . The darkness of blindness. Compare Ephesians 4:18 . light . Not in the light, but having received the Light, are light. App-130 . Lord . App-98 . children . App-108 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ephesians 5:8

Ephesians 5:8. Ye were sometimes darkness,— St. Paul, to express the great darkness in which the Gentiles were, calls them darkness itself. The kingdom of Satan over the Gentile world was a kingdom of darkness. See ch. Ephesians 6:12. And so, on the other hand, we find Jesus is pronounced by Simeon a light to lighten the Gentiles, Luke 2:32. The parenthesis in Eph 5:9 serves to give us the literal sense of all that is here required by the Apostle in this allegorical discourse of light. See... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 5:8

8. 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" ( :-). light—not merely "enlightened"; but light enlightening others ( :-). 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,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 5:7-14

4. Walking in light 5:7-14The resumptive inferential particle translated "Therefore" marks the beginning of a new paragraph in Paul’s thought (cf. Ephesians 4:1; Ephesians 4:17; Ephesians 5:1; Ephesians 5:15). He related three commands concerning walking (living) in the light in these verses and added reasons and explanations to motivate and to assist his readers. read more

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