Analysis
The Greek words used in Ephesians in which we will be studying are as follows:
ἅγιος: 1. as adjective pertaining to being dedicated or consecrated to the service of God
- in the cultic sense dedicated to God, holy, sacred, i.e. reserved for God and God’s service:
ἁγιασμός: personal dedication to the interests of the deity, holiness, consecration, sanctification. Kittle: sanctifying, i.e. a process.
ἁγιωσύνη: Holiness. Kittle: “This rare word, formed from the adjective ἅγιος by extension of the o to ω after a short syllable as an abstract term of quality, in the same way as δικαιοσύνη is formed from δίκαιος, is not found in pre-biblical Greek. It means ‘sanctification’ or ‘holiness’ rather than ‘sanctifying’, but as a quality rather than a state.”
ἁγιάζω: 1. set aside something or make it suitable for ritual purposes, consecrate, dedicate of things. 2. include a person in the inner circle of what is holy, in both cultic and moral associations of the word, consecrate, dedicate, sanctify. 3. to treat as holy, reverence. 4. to eliminate that which is incompatible with holiness, purify
In Ephesians, we will introduce this word although it is not so much like the rest as this is what one does as opposed to what God does:
ὁσιότης: state of proper attitude toward God as exhibited in action, devoutness, piety, holiness.”
Passages where Paul calls the Ephesians “holy ones”.
For the first time in this study, we’ll comment a little more on Paul’s use of ἅγιος.
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people ἁγίοις in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people ἁγίους, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people ἁγίοις,
Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people ἁγίων and also members of his household,
In this context, Jews are the “holy ones”. More below.
Ephesians 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people ἁγίων, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,
In 1 Corinthians 15:9 Paul says:
9 Ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι ὁ ἐλάχιστος τῶν ἀποστόλων ὃς οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς καλεῖσθαι ἀπόστολος, διότι ἐδίωξα τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ·
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who is not able to be called an apostles, because I persecuted the assembly of God. (My translation)
Here, Paul goes beyond that to say Ἐμοὶ τῷ ἐλαχιστοτέρῳ πάντων ἁγίων ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις αὕτη (This grace was given to me, the least of all the holy ones) My translation.
Not only does Paul see himself as the “least” of the Apostles, he also sees himself as the “least” of all of the “holy ones”. He gives no reason for this, but we can assume that he is referring to the time when he persecuted the Church.
Ephesians 3:17b And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people ἁγίοις, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 4:11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people ἁγίων for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
Who are the “holy ones” that are equipped for the works of service? All of the Lord’s people!
Ephesians 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people ἁγίοις.
We will speak more on this verse below in the holiness section.
Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people ἁγίων.
Passages on the Holy Spirit:
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy ἅγιον Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
We will discuss this more below in the holiness section.
Holiness Passages:
Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy ἁγίους and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
To grasp the full meaning of this passage, one must look to 5:25-27. We will cover this below.
Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people ἁγίων and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy ἅγιον temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
The context is how through Jesus, the Gentiles have become “the Lord’s people” along with “the Jews”. In this case, it was the Jewish law that was brought to a end because it was a barrier between the Jews and Gentiles. Since the “foundation” here is the apostles and prophets, with Jesus the chief cornerstone, Paul can only be referring to the “New Covenant” people as opposed to the Jews of the “law”. The imagery is that people become the holy temple together!
Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
Ephesians 4:20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness ὁσιότητι.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy ἅγιον Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
5:1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people ἁγίοις. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
Let’s take a look at Paul’s set-up. He has just spoken about the “gifts” that Jesus gave to the his people and how those gifts equip the holy ones for the work of services/ministries. He also spoke on how unity comes about by every member of the body exercising their God-given gift. Now, Paul “solemnly insists” (μαρτύρομαι) upon what the Ephesians in the Lord should NOT do.
First of all, they should not live like they used to live--as the Gentiles are currently living. He says that the Gentiles περιπατεῖ ἐν ματαιότητι τοῦ νοὸς αὐτῶν (walk in the purposelessness of their mind/understanding/thought (my translation). ματαιότης is defined by BDAG as “state of being without use or value”. After this, Paul goes into what the Gentiles were doing at the time.
This brings us to 4:20-24 with verse 24 in the forefront. Let’s take a look at it as it includes our new Greek word ὁσιότης.
24 καὶ ἐνδύσασθαι τὸν καινὸν ἄνθρωπον τὸν κατὰ θεὸν κτισθέντα ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ ὁσιότητι τῆς ἀληθείας.
24 and to put on the new person, which is according to (in conformity with/for the purpose of) God, created in true righteousness and devoutness ὁσιότητι. (my translation)
So, the first question would be “why have you translated this differently?” The simple answer is because I’m not quite sure that the NIV11 translation captures the entire idea of what Paul is saying here. “The new man/person” is indeed created like God because it is God who gives his Spirit to be in that person. But christians are also slaves to God and we must do what he commands us to as we BELONG to him. This is a common theme throughout Paul letters and he applies this to himself and to his fellow christians.
What is important to grasp here is that Paul places in contrast what the pagan gentiles do as opposed to what God’s people (holy ones) are suppose to do. Remember, throughout this study, the evidence is that people can’t make themselves “holy”, they can only hinder the Holy Spirit in the refining process. Here, Paul is referring to the righteous acts and devoutness that God’s people are to have to Him.
Paul then moves into a huge list of “do nots”. Let’s take a closer look at 4:29-32.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy ἅγιον Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Grieving the Holy Spirit. Who would have thought that something like this could happen? To properly understand this, we must take a look at how λυπέω (to grieve) is defined. BDAG defines it in a few ways: to grieve/to offend/to insult/to distress. In this passage, Paul probably mean to cause grieve to the Holy Spirit by insulting the Holy Spirit. Think about it. If a “holy one” is talking in such a way as Paul describes it in verses 29-32, would that not insult the Holy Spirit who is suppose to dwell in a person? Why would the Holy Spirit be grieved and insulted? It’s because doing such as these things are NOT righteous acts. How can the Holy Spirit refine a person if the person is doing these things? How does doing such things “build up the congregation”? This is the greatest fallacy among Christians today. We can’t get along! We slander each other! We call each other heretics! We belittle each other! How can the Holy Spirit stay in such a person? And we are all guilty! God help us!
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Paul ends this whole passage with a summary statement in 5:5.
5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
As has been discussed throughout the holiness study, most of the “don’ts” have been rooted in either Judaism or paganism. Here, Paul equates behavior with worshipping lifeless gods. When we do such things that Paul describes in this whole passage, we put ourselves in the place of our ancestors' pagan past. Therefore, we are no longer slaves to God, but slaves to paganism.
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy ἁγιάσῃ, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy ἁγία and blameless.
What Paul starts as a basis of how husbands should treat their wives reveals just how true holiness came about. It is Jesus’ act of self-sacrifice that makes the Lord’s people holy. In this statement, Paul has brought us full circle from his opening passages of this letter. We now see Paul’s theology on what he wrote in verses 1:4-6.
This, as in Paul’s very first letter to the Thessalonians, sums it up nicely.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
Final Thoughts:
It seems that Gentiles mostly made up the Assembly in Ephesus. This letter is to them as an encouragement to keep up the fight. It is an encouragement to us as well. It keeps us focused on what we should be doing and what we shouldn't be doing. Being devoted to God is a serious matter. Straying off always leads to our ancestors pagan past, which leads to breaking God's 1st law: You will have no other gods instead of me.
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