DO NOT
PARTICIPATE
IN THE UNFRUITFUL DEEDS OF DARKNESS: kai me sugkoinoneite (2PPAM) tois
ergois tois akarpois tou skotous:
(7;
Genesis 49:5-7;
Psalms 1:1,2;
26:4,5;
94:20,21;
Proverbs 4:14,15;
9:6;
Jeremiah 15:17;
Romans 16:17;
1 Corinthians 5:9-11;
10:20,21;
2 Corinthians 6:14-18;
2 Thessalonians 3:6,14;
1 Timothy 6:5;
2 Timothy 3:5;
2 John 1:10,11;
Revelation 18:4)
(Proverbs
1:31;
Isaiah 3:10,11;
Romans 6:21;
Galatians 6:8)
(4:22;
Job 24:13-17;
John 3:19-21;
Romans 1:22-32;
13:12;
1 Thessalonians 5:7)
Participate
(4790)
(sugkoinoneo
from
sun = with, reflecting intimate
association + koinoneo = to partake, have fellowship - word study
on
koinonia) means to
join in fellowship with someone or participate in something with
someone. It means to be associated with someone in some activity
and so to be connected with them.
An understanding
of the more familiar related noun
koinonia which is often
translated "fellowship" helps us understand why Paul is commanding his
these Gentile believers to
stop "fellowshiping" with
the unfruitful deeds of darkness.
Koinonia describes an
association involving close mutual relations and involvement.
It can also picture the sharing of one's possessions with the
implication of some kind of joint participation and mutual interest. It
can describe joint-participation in a common interest and activity (like
a partnership). Thus we can understand Paul's charge to not let this be
our lifestyle (present tense).
The
present imperative
with a negative
particle
commands them to stop an action already in progress or forbidding of a
continuation of joining in fellowship in the unfruitful deeds of
darkness.
Sugkoinoneo
is found only 3 times in all of Scripture...
Ephesians 5:11 And
do not participate
in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
Philippians 4:14 Nevertheless,
you have done well to share with me in my affliction.
Revelation 18:4 And I heard
another voice from heaven, saying, "Come
out of her, my people,
that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not
receive of her plagues
Wayne Barber
explains it this way...
Ephesians 5:7
says, "Therefore be not partakers with them," which is very
similar to the word participate in verse 11. But there is a
difference. Partakers means simply that you join in with somebody
and do what they do. It may be a one-time thing, maybe a two-time thing
or whatever. You just happen in a weak moment to come along side of them
and you do what they do. But the word (command) "Don’t
participate" goes a step further. It
means to share in common with. In the first situation you are partaking
of the deed. In the other it goes further and you are beginning to
absorb within you the very attitudes of the people that are around you.
Not only are
you
partaking in the deeds, but you are sharing things in common with people
who wear garments of darkness. We are not to do that but are to wear the
garment of light. We have the power in the new garment to refuse the
deeds of darkness... We refuse the deeds of darkness when we wear the
right garment. We have the power to do that. So we can be in the world,
but not of the world. You see, a boat in water is by design. Water in
the boat is disaster. We are not to have the water in us, we are to be
in the water. We have to reach them for Christ, but not partake with
them and not share in common the deeds of darkness. Only in the garment
of Christ do we have the power to refuse the deeds of darkness.
Unfruitful
(175)
(akarpos from a = without, + karpós = fruit,
produce) means barren, without fruit, unprofitable.
Compare works
of the
flesh...
Now the deeds of the flesh are
evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery,
enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,
factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of
which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who
practice (perform repeatedly or habitually - practice does not make
perfect!) such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians
5:19-21)
With fruit
of the Spirit...
But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Deeds
(2041)
(ergon from ergo = to work) refers to toil as an effort or
occupation.
Darkness
(4655)
(skotos) refers literally to physical darkness,
the essence of darkness, but in this context is used
figuratively to describe spiritual darkness.
Darkness
describes the character of the life of the unconverted as void of truth
and virtue in intellectual and moral matters. Sin loves the dark and
like a decaying parasitic mold thrives in the darkness!
For example, John
writes...
And this is the message we have heard
from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no
darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk
in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in
the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1Jn
1:5-7).
The realm of
darkness is presided over by the “power of darkness,”
"While I was with you daily in the
temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of
darkness are yours." (Lu 22:53, see
Colossians 1:13
below)
Satan rules those
headed for “eternal darkness”
but the sons of the kingdom shall be
cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth." (Mt 8:12).
These are springs without water, and
mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.
(see note
2 Peter 2:17)
Tragically,
sinners love the darkness
"And this is the judgment, that the
light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the
light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the
light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be
manifested as having been wrought in God." (Jn 3:19-21).
It is that very
darkness from which salvation in Christ delivers sinners.
Again therefore Jesus spoke to them,
saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk
in the darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)
For He delivered us from the domain
of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, (See
note
Colossians 1:13)
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal
PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you
may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light; (see note
1 Peter 2:9)
BUT INSTEAD EVEN
EXPOSE
THEM: mallon de kai elegchete, (2PPAM):
(Genesis
20:16;
Leviticus 19:17;
Psalms 141:5;
Proverbs 9:7,8;
13:18;
15:12;
19:25;
25:12;
Proverbs 29:1;
Isaiah 29:21;
Matthew 18:15;
Luke 3:19;
1 Timothy 5:20;
2 Timothy 4:2;
Titus 2:15)
Expose
(1651)
(elegcho
related to elegchos
= bringing to light) (Click
word study of
elegcho) means to bring to the light,
to expose, to reveal things hidden, to convince, to reprove. The idea is
to shame or disgrace and thus to rebuke another in such a way
that they are compelled to see and to admit the error of their ways. To
show someone that they have done something wrong and summon them to
repent. In context Paul's charge is that believers who are light in the
Lord are to convict those who are darkness (and in darkness) by turning
the light on the darkness, by walking as children of light, their lives
convicting those in the dark as much as their words (in fact the
testimony of their lives validates the sincerity of their words!) I
think we would be amazed at how many silent sermons are preached by the
way we conduct ourselves each day! Are you convicted? I am! We must
purpose in His power to continually walk as children of the light.
The
present imperative
calls for the Gentile
believers to do this as their lifestyle.
Trench says that elegcho
“implies not merely the charge, but
the truth of the charge, and further the manifestation of the truth of
the charge; nay, more than all this, very often also the acknowledgment,
if not outward, yet inward, of its truth on the part of the accused; it
being the glorious prerogative of the truth in its highest operation not
merely to assert itself, and to silence the adversary, but to silence
him by convincing him of his error.” (Trench,
R. C. Synonyms of the New Testament. Hendrickson Publishers. 2000)
Elegcho was
used in the Greek law courts not merely of a reply to an opposing
attorney, but of a refutation of his argument. No one could prove any
charges of sin against our Lord. No one could bring charges against Him
in such a way as to convince Him that He was guilty. (because of
course He wasn't)
Jesus said that
"everyone who does evil hates the
light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be
exposed (elegcho)." (Jn
3:20)
Jesus describing the role of the
Holy Spirit says that
"He, when He comes, will convict
(elegcho) the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment" (Jn
16:8).
Wayne Barber writes...
I think Paul is talking about something in line with what he said in
verse 1. Don’t talk it, walk it. He is saying,
"Since you now have a garment that is light, you don’t reprove the world
by what you tell them. You reprove the world by how you live."
It is my garment that exposes what is going on around me. If I am not
wearing my garment, then what I say means nothing anyway. When I am
wearing my garment, the garment of love, the garment that reaches out
and cares about other people, the garment that speaks of the
righteousness and the holiness of God, then that garment begins to
reprove the people around me. By wearing the garment of light, we
reprove those acts of darkness around us.
