Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-03-22
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

w aiklng light .EDh, b.I-l4
waking as wise .................E ph. b:l6-2l
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The Epistle to the Ephesians.-
Paul wrote this letter while he was a
prisoner at Rome, in A. D. 81 or 62.
1t was probably sent with the letters
to the Colossians and to Philemon,
and it closely resembles the epistle
to the ColOssians in outline and man
ner of thought. No special reason is
mentioned in the epistle for its writ
ing, and it seems to have been a low
ing pastoral salutation. Some of the
eldest manuscripts omit the name
Ephesus in III, one or two having a
blank space there. That fact has led
some to think that it was a general
letter written to be sent to various
churches. Some have identified it
with Paul's epistle to the Lao
diceans, a writing which is men
toned in some early Christian liter
allure, but which is not now known
unless this suggestion be correct.
Walking in Love.-Of Paul's sum-
mary of Christian duty, the heart is
5: 1-21. In this passage there is COM
paratively little reference to specific
duties, but much dwelling on the
spirit which will make the doing Of
every duty a delight. By walking in
love Paul means that self-forgetfuB
desire to serve others which was the
spirit that moved Christ to His great
sacrifice.
Walking in Purity.-The Christian
life furnishes no place for seIf-indul-
gent immortality. Such sins as are
- Ii
mon in all the cities OF the Greek
and Roman world. The Testing" of
verse 4 is not innocent joking, but
filthy wit and smutty humor. The
first clause of verse alludes to the
false reasons which are often given
in excuse for sins of this sort. There
is no real excuse for them, but the
wrath of God falls on them.
Walking in Light.-1he great rea-
son why the Christian must practice
personal purity is found in his rela-
ton to God Gods light is too bright
for the darkness of human filth to
stand before it. Some, however, while
seeking Gods light. try also to keep
in touch with the worlds wickedness
enough to know what bad men are do
ing. Such fellowship Paul rebukes, de-
claring that the attitude of the Chris
tan must be one of opposition to all
impurity. If the light of Christ really
shine in the life it will reprove deeds
of darkness. The Christlike life is
one of straightforward, simple, trans
parent purity. The quotation in verse
II is believed to be from an early
hymn, but there is no certain proof
that such is the fact.
Walking as Wise.-This last sec
ton is a call to careful living. It is
not enough to strive for purity Of
spirit, but one must watch constant
ly the outworking of his spirit in
life. In verse 16 the duty of the
Christian is likened to that of the
tradesman buying stock for his store.
He must keep his eyes open for good
bargains, and must see to it that all
good opportunities for purchase are
accepted promptly. Especially must
he be very careful when bargains be-
come rare. Such situation is before
the Christian. He must strive the
more carefully to use every oppor-
tunity for a noble, ChristIil1e deed,
because of the evil by which he is
surrounded in the world. The great
essential quaIIhcatIon Tor such living,
according to verse II, is knowledge
of Gods viii. Such knowledge, joined
with cleanness of spirit, is the crown
ing strength of the true life. Every
life needs periods of excitement and
exhaltation. Such reliefs from mo-
notony should be found by the Chris
tian not in drunkenness or in arti-
fetal stimulation. but in the special
STRINGS of the Holy Spirit. Such
STRINGS viii find utterance in songs
of Christian praise, which rise from
the heart; in expressions of thanks
giving to God through Christ for
every experience of life, whether it
seem good or bad; and in the self
humb1ing fellowship which accepts
admonition and suggestions from
fellow Christians.