Exegesis on Ephesians 6:1-3
EXEGESIS PAPER ON EPHESIANS 6:1-3
‘Children Obeying & Honouring their parents is a right thing to do and bring blessings’
Background: Paul the author of this letter, realizing that the Ephesians were starting to forsake their first love, wrote this epistle to encourage them to love both God and their fellow saints. The letter begins with love (1:4,6) and ends with love (6:23-24).1 Chapter 1-3 are principally the doctrinal elaboration of the theme, love, unity, and chapter 4-6 teach what should be the practical consequences of it for human life and relationships.2 Thus after discussing the relationship between husband and wives in chapter 5: 22-33, the apostle turns to that between children and their parents (Eph. 6)
Textual Criticism: There is a textual variant in Ephesians 6:1, some manuscripts omitted the evn kuriw| reading. However, based on the evaluation of external and internal evidences, en kuriw| possibly might have been the original reading. Most Preferably Paul wrote “en kuriw|” rather than the manuscripts which omitted the en kuriw| reading.
Diagramming: Paul’s main point is that Children should obey and honour their parents for such is a right thing to do before the Lord and that can give to enjoy their life. The term ‘upakuow means “to obey, follow, be subject to.”3 This verb stresses that the action of the children or the obedience of the children is and ongoing action. And the prepositional phrase en kuriw| qualifies the verb ‘upakuow, thus emphasizing the children’s ultimate obedience to the Lord.4 It defines the quality of the obedience by defining the sphere which it is to move – a Christian obedience fulfilled in communion with Christ.5 1 Horold, Hoehner, “Ephesians”, in the Bible Knowledge Commentary edited by John F. Walvoord & Roy B. Zuck (Hyderabad: Authentic Books, 1983)P. 614. 2 Francis Foulkes, Ephesians, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries(Grand Rapids: William
‘Children Obeying & Honouring their parents is a right thing to do and bring blessings’
Background: Paul the author of this letter, realizing that the Ephesians were starting to forsake their first love, wrote this epistle to encourage them to love both God and their fellow saints. The letter begins with love (1:4,6) and ends with love (6:23-24).1 Chapter 1-3 are principally the doctrinal elaboration of the theme, love, unity, and chapter 4-6 teach what should be the practical consequences of it for human life and relationships.2 Thus after discussing the relationship between husband and wives in chapter 5: 22-33, the apostle turns to that between children and their parents (Eph. 6)
Textual Criticism: There is a textual variant in Ephesians 6:1, some manuscripts omitted the evn kuriw| reading. However, based on the evaluation of external and internal evidences, en kuriw| possibly might have been the original reading. Most Preferably Paul wrote “en kuriw|” rather than the manuscripts which omitted the en kuriw| reading.
Diagramming: Paul’s main point is that Children should obey and honour their parents for such is a right thing to do before the Lord and that can give to enjoy their life. The term ‘upakuow means “to obey, follow, be subject to.”3 This verb stresses that the action of the children or the obedience of the children is and ongoing action. And the prepositional phrase en kuriw| qualifies the verb ‘upakuow, thus emphasizing the children’s ultimate obedience to the Lord.4 It defines the quality of the obedience by defining the sphere which it is to move – a Christian obedience fulfilled in communion with Christ.5 1 Horold, Hoehner, “Ephesians”, in the Bible Knowledge Commentary edited by John F. Walvoord & Roy B. Zuck (Hyderabad: Authentic Books, 1983)P. 614. 2 Francis Foulkes, Ephesians, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries(Grand Rapids: William