BUT ALL THINGS BECOME VISIBLE WHEN THEY ARE EXPOSED BY THE LIGHT: ta de panta elegchomena (PPPNPN) hupo tou photos phaneroutai (3SPPI):  (La 2:14; Hosea 2:10; 7:1)

Note: All verbs in bold red indicate commands, not suggestions! Also hold mouse pointer over underlined links for pop up of Scripture which stays open and can be copied.

Light exposes the true character of everything (GWT)

For example Jesus declared that...

For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed (elegcho). But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God. (Jn 3:20, 21)

Eadie writes that Ephesians 5:13...

shows why Christians should engage in the work of reproof—it is so salutary: for it exhibits such vices in all their odious debasement, and proves its own purity and lustre in the very exposure. Many and varied have been the interpretations of this statement.

(Eadie feels that the "but")  has its adversative force—they are done in secret, but they may and ought to be exposed. The apostle bids them reprove those sins, and he here states the result. Reprove them, and the effect is, “all these sins being so reproved, are made manifest by the light.” (John Eadie, D., LL.D. The Epistle of St Paul to the Ephesians)

All (3956) (pas) means all without exception, specifically referring to all the secret sins just alluded to (see note Ephesians 5:12)

Become visible (5319) (phaneroo from phanerós = manifest, visible, conspicuous in turn from phaino = give light; become visible in turn from phos = light) means made clear or known what has been hidden or unknown. In the passive voice as here, it means to become visible or known, to be revealed.

Phaneroo describes an external manifestation to the senses and thus open to all. It means to make visible that which has been hidden. Stated another way, to be manifested, in the Scriptural sense is more than to simply appear. A person may appear in a false guise or without a disclosure of what he truly is but to be manifested is to be revealed in one's true character. It means to render apparent or make manifest, visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way.

Exposed (1651) (elegcho from elegchos = bringing to light) means are exposed, shown their fault implying that there is a convincing of them of their fault.

Light (5457) (phos) is used to here to refer to the spiritual light in believers. Light makes manifest whatever is in the darkness. So a holy life in the Gentile believers would reveal by contrast the sinfulness of those still dead in their trespasses and sins. Appropriate words of rebuke reveal sin in its true character also.

That little "the" is in the text. It is not me, not my garment as much, but it is the Christ who is in me. He is the essence of my garment. If Jesus is being Jesus in me, then the Jesus in me is going to show up others who are not wearing that garment, others who are participating in the deeds of darkness.

A T Robertson exhorts us to...

Turn on the light. Often the preacher is the only man brave enough to turn the light on the private sins of men and women or even those of a community. (Word Pictures)

John Eadie after discussing several alternative interpretations writes that he feels the most accurate understanding is that...

“whatever makes manifest or renders apparent, is light.” Such manifestation is the nature and function of light. These clandestine sins, when reproved, are disclosed by the light so cast upon them, for it belongs to light to make such disclosures. The apostle urges his readers to reprove such sins, which, though done in secret, will and must be exposed; yea, all of them being reproved, are shone upon by the light—that light which radiates from Christianity. And this power of unveiling in Christianity is properly called “light,” for whatever causes such things to disclose themselves is of the essence of light. Such is a natural and simple view of the verse. (John Eadie, D., LL.D. The Epistle of St Paul to the Ephesians).

Blaikie illustrates writing that

for instance, when our Lord reproved the hypocrisy of the Pharisees—their practices had not seemed to the disciples very evil before, but when Christ threw on them the pure light of truth, they were made manifest in their true character—they appeared and they still appear, odious. (Pulpit Commentary. Ages Software)

One of the major reasons for Israel's downfall and 70 year exile in Babylon was the failure of their so-called prophets (not the prophets recorded in the OT) to reprove them for their unfaithfulness, Lamentations recording...

Your prophets have seen for you false and foolish visions; and they have not exposed your iniquity so as to restore you from captivity, but they have seen for you false and misleading oracles. (Lam 2:14)

FOR EVERYTHING THAT BECOMES VISIBLE IS LIGHT:  pan gar to phaneroumenon (PPPNSN) phos estin. (3SPAI): (Micah 7:9; John 3:20,21; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Hebrews 1:13)  (Micah 7:9; John 3:20,21; 1Corinthians 4:5; Hebrews 1:13)

Everything (3956) (pas) means all without exception.

Visible (5319) (phaneroo from phanerós = manifest, visible, conspicuous in turn from phaino = give light; become visible in turn from phos = light) describes an external manifestation to the senses and thus open to all. It means to make visible that which has been hidden. The primary reference is to what is visible to sensory perception.

Light (5457) (phos) (see above)

Below are two ways of interpreting this passage with corresponding Bible translations that also demonstrate this difference.

MacDonald explains everything that becomes visible is light writing that...

This simply means that when Christians exercise their ministry as light, others are brought to the light. Wicked men are transformed into children of light through the reproving ministry of light. (Compare Phillip's translation "It is even possible (after all, it happened to you!) for light to turn the thing it shines upon into light also.")  It is not a rule without exceptions, of course. Not everyone who is exposed to the light becomes a Christian. But it is a general principle in the spiritual realm that light has a way of reproducing itself. We find an illustration of the principle in 1 Peter 3:1 (see note), where believing wives are taught to win their unbelieving husbands to Christ by the example of their lives:

“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives.”

Thus the light of Christian wives triumphs over the darkness of heathen husbands, and the latter become light. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson)

As stated above, the Bible translations also demonstrate a difference in interpretation. For example the Phillip's paraphrase would parallel the interpretation above by MacDonald...

Phillips: For light is capable of "showing up" everything for what it really is. It is even possible (after all, it happened to you!) for light to turn the thing it shines upon into light also.

On the other hand the New Living Translation would parallel the comment by Vincent that follows...

NLT: But when the light shines on them, it becomes clear how evil these things are.

Vincent interprets this passage as...

A general proposition, going to show that manifestation can come only through light. Whatever is revealed in its true essence by light is of the nature of light. It no longer belongs to the category of darkness. Manifestation is a law of good and evil alike. That which is of the truth seeks the light and cometh to the light. That which is evil avoids the light, and loves darkness better than light, but none the less is brought to the light and appears in its own light. (Compare NLT "it becomes clear how evil things are") See John 3:20, 21. This truth is embodied in another form in the parable of the Tares. Growth is manifestation. By suffering the tares to grow, their difference from the wheat, which at first is not apparent, is fully revealed. (Word Study in the NT)

G. Campbell Morgan said that the church did the most for the world when the church was the least like the world. Today, many churches have the idea they must imitate the world in order to reach the world. A nation will not decay and collapse because of the darkness of the people who peddle pornography or illicit drugs, but because of Christians who are no longer as living as Spirit energized light that exposes the darkness, bringing it to light and showing the darkness for what it really is! Sinners will act like sinners. But when genuine saints begin acting like sinners, the Spirit is grieved, His fire is quenched and such compromise hurts not only the believer, their family and their church, but also contributes to the decay of the entire nation. Decay as seen with mold and fungi occurs in darkness. Light retards decay because it exposes darkness. Spirit filled believers are light in the Lord, and the world desperately needs to see that light! Are you convicted yet?

Steven Cole (his sermons are in general highly recommended as they read much like verse by verse commentaries) in his message on this section of Ephesians explains what Paul means in this section...

In the context, he seems to mean that by our lives (primarily) and our words (secondarily) we expose the unfruitful deeds of darkness for what they are: disgraceful sin in God’s holy presence. Jesus used this word (John 3:20) when He said,

“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”

He continues (Jn 3:21),

“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

In other words, by the obvious difference in how we live, our lives expose the sin of those that are engaging in the unfruitful deeds of darkness.

As Paul says (Eph 5:13),

“But all things become visible when they are exposed [same word] by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.”

That last phrase is difficult, but Paul seems to be arguing that light not only exposes, but also transforms (at least some of the time). J. B. Phillips (The New Testament in Modern English [Geoffrey Bles], p. p. 407) paraphrased it,

“It is even possible (after all, it happened with you!) for light to turn the thing it shines upon into light also.”

To illustrate, living in Flagstaff, where it’s cold in the winter with lots of snow, our cars get caked with the salt and grime from the roads, so that after a few weeks of regular snowstorms, they look pretty bad. But, everyone else’s car looks as bad as mine, so I don’t think much about it. But, if I have to drive down to Phoenix, where it’s warm and sunny, I am suddenly surrounded by clean cars! Those clean cars expose the filthiness of my car and make me want to go straight to a car wash. Our clean lives expose the sin of unbelievers’ lives. As God works in their hearts, it often drives them to get their sins washed at the cross. Let me set out the balance of how we expose the deeds of darkness this way:

A. We expose the deeds of darkness by our godly lives as we maintain proper separation from the world.

If we’re no different in our thinking, attitudes, words, and behavior than those that do not know Christ, we have no message to give them. If you profess to know Christ, but you’re not walking in the light, conforming your life to His Word, then please do not let unbelievers know that you claim to be a Christian! If you’re comfortable with your sinful lifestyle, you may not be a genuine Christian. But whether you are or not, don’t link the holy name of the Lord with your disobedient lifestyle (2Sa 12:14).

But, if you’re walking in the light, you can no longer join in the lifestyle of unbelievers. As 1 Peter 4:3, 4, 5 (See notes 1 Peter 4 :3,  4 :4,  4 :5) puts it,

For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

As you separate yourself from that kind of sinful lifestyle and live to please the Lord with all goodness, righteousness, and truth, your godly life exposes the dirty lives of those around you.

B. We expose the deeds of darkness by our godly lives and words as we maintain proper contact with the world.

Don’t go out of the world, or you lose any contact for witness. The Corinthian church was confused about this. They had mistaken Paul’s command not to associate with immoral people to mean that they cut off contact with unbelievers. And yet they were welcoming a sinning believer into their fellowship! Paul didn’t mean that they should break off contact with the world. Rather, they should cut off contact with any so-called brother who is immoral or sinning (1 Cor. 5:9, 10, 11).

Here are four guidelines to follow as you seek to maintain proper contact with this dark world:

(1) Be on guard—bad company corrupts good morals!

You should not be best friends with an unbeliever once you have come to Christ. Your deepest friendships must be with those that share in common a love for Jesus Christ and the things of God. For a believer to enter into a close friendship, business partnership, or marriage with an unbeliever is to violate the clear command that we read earlier (2Co 6:14, 15, 16, 17, 18). If you do not distance yourself from your former friendships, those godless friends will pull you back into your old way of life. But, what about witness?

(2) Be alert to your purpose—to win the lost to Christ.

Jesus was known as a friend of sinners, but He did not hang out with them to have a good time. He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). He said that He didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). He kept a fine balance that is difficult to imitate: He maintained His holiness and yet He put sinners enough at ease so that they listened to His message. It is in this sense that we must interpret Ephesians 5:14 (a difficult verse). Most likely it cites an early Christian hymn based on Isaiah 60:1, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” Paul cites it as an example of the directives he has just given. It pictures the exposure of an unbeliever to the light with a view to his salvation. He is asleep and dead. God calls him to awake and arise, resulting in the light of Christ shining upon him. It does not imply that dead sinners are able in their own strength to arise from the dead, which would contradict the metaphor. Rather, with the command, God imparts the power to obey, just as when Jesus called out, “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43). Light not only reveals sin; it also dispels the darkness. So we can call on sinners to awake and arise, knowing that God may impart the power to obey, resulting in them becoming children of light, with Christ shining on them.

(3) Be sensitive to show concern for the whole person.

Jesus said (Matt. 5:16-note), “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Often, of course, we must tell people the message of the gospel. But that message must be backed up with genuine concern for the whole person. If someone is hungry, feed him and tell him about Jesus. The fruit of the light consists in goodness, which means, good deeds that show love for people. In that context we are able to give verbal witness to the gospel.

(4) Be bold to identify verbally with Christ when you are pressured to compromise your convictions.

This gets back to how you respond to dirty jokes or to someone who wants you to view pornography. Here’s the principle: Be as bold in your witness for Christ as the other person is in his solicitation to evil. If they are bold for Satan, why shouldn’t you be just as bold for the Savior? Smile and say firmly, “That offends my Lord,” or, “I can’t do that.” If he presses the matter, say, “I used to love that sort of thing, but now I belong to Jesus Christ and I want to please Him.” And share your concern for him, that he is under God’s judgment, but that Jesus offers him a full and free pardon if he will repent and believe in Christ.

Conclusion

The church growth movement tells us pastors that we should make the church a place where unbelievers feel comfortable. So, we’re supposed to avoid subjects like sin, righteous living, and the coming judgment. Instead, we’re to focus on how to have a happy family, how to do well in business, how to overcome your addictions, and other upbeat topics. In other words, we’re not supposed to expose the unfruitful deeds of darkness, so that we don’t offend anyone. Just tell them how much God loves them! But Jesus said that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict (same Greek word as “expose”) the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Without that conviction, unbelievers will not see their need and flee to the Savior. Forgiven little, they will love Jesus little. Paul’s strategy is better: Walk as a child of light, maintaining proper separation from the world and proper contact with the world. As you do, your godly life and words will expose the deeds of darkness. Some will awake from the dead and Christ will shine on them, as He has on you.

Application Questions

1. If we openly rebuke someone for a dirty joke, it may cut off all future opportunity for witness. How can we be tactful and yet show disapproval?

2. Do you agree that Christians should not have unbelievers as their closest friends? Why/why not? Cite Scripture.

3. Since no one is perfect, how godly should we be before we tell others about Christ? What guidelines apply?

4. Some argue that believers should frequent taverns and have a few beers to witness to those in the taverns. Agree/disagree?

FOR THIS REASON IT SAYS:  dio legei, (3SPAI): (Isaiah 51:17; 52:1; 60:1; Romans 13:11,12; 1Corinthians 15:34; 1Thessalonians 5:6; 2Timothy 2:26)

For this reason (1352) (dio) is a relatively emphatic marker of a result, usually denoting that the inference is self-evident. Synonyms - So then. Consequently. For that reason. On which account.

What “reason”? In context Paul is alluding to the truth of the previous verses in which he had just explained that light exposes and manifests the darkness. 

It says (3004) (lego) speaks, here possibly picturing the Scripture (some think he is referring to a Christian hymn) as speaking forth, as for example in

Isaiah 60:1 "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

AWAKE SLEEPER AND ARISE FROM THE DEAD: Egeire, (2SAAM) o katheudon, (PAPMSVocative) kai anasta (2SAAM) ek ton nekron: (Eph 2:5; Isaiah 26:19; Ezekiel 37:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10; John 5:25, 26, 27, 28, 29; 11:43,44; Romans 6:4,5,13; Colossians 3:1)

Awake (1453)(egeiro) means to waken, rouse from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; from inactivity, ruins, nonexistence. The aorist imperative is a command calling for them to do this now.

MacDonald rightly observes that...

The life of the believer should always be preaching a sermon, should always be exposing the surrounding darkness, should always be extending this invitation to unbelievers...awake...arise from the dead. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson)

Awake sleeper and arise from the dead - The meaning of Paul's quote from Isaiah (some say from Isaiah 26:19 and others from Isaiah 60:1) is debated.

Some evangelical writers believe that Paul is extending an invitation for salvation to the unsaved, in order that they may be transformed from children of darkness into children of light. Authors favoring this interpretation include John MacArthur (ref), William MacDonald (ref), Calvin, Hodge.

It is interesting that there is no clear consensus on this verse, and one commentator says it applies to both believers and unbelievers. And thus we read...

Believers are called on to awake out of sleep; unbelievers, to arise from the dead (compare Mt 25:5; Ro 13:11; 1Th 5:6, with Eph 2:1). (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments)

In the context of chapters 4 and 5, Paul has been speaking to believing Gentiles, those who had once walked in total darkness, and those who were still surrounded by that darkness. The temptation to drift back into that darkness would be an ever present danger. In fact the repetition of negative commands in the present imperative (Stop doing this or that...) clearly indicates that the readers were involved to some degree in the deeds of darkness. In that context, it would be reasonable for Paul to issue a call to those believers to wake up.

Also Paul uses the metaphor of sleep in other passages to address saints...

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. (1Thes 5:4-7-note)

In the "practical" (a misnomer because all Scripture is practical) section of Romans 12-16, Paul uses the metaphor of sleep, clearly referring to believers, exhorting them...

And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. (See notes  Romans 13:11; 13:12; 13:13; 13:14)

Comment: We ought to be like the little boy whose family clock malfunctioned and struck 15 times so that he rushed wide-eyed to his mother crying, “Mommy, it’s later than it’s ever been before!” What sanctifying logic! We should also keep in mind that if Christ does not return in our time, He will certainly come individually for us in death. Each ache, pain, gray hair, new wrinkle or funeral is another reminder that it is later than it has ever been before. It is time to love our neighbors as ourselves. IT'S LATER THAN YOU THINK. Redeem the time!

As noted above, while there is not a consensus, the majority of evangelical writers interpret Paul's call to "Awake sleeper" not as a call to the spiritually dead to arise but instead as a call to believers who have been lulled asleep and lapsed into some of the "deeds of darkness". 

NIV College Press writes that...

these words do call the Christian to abandon the domain of darkness and death, and to forsake fellowship with those who dwell there.  (Boles, K. L.. Galatians & Ephesians. The College Press NIV Commentary. Joplin, Mo.: College Press)

Ryrie writes that this section (beginning with "Awake sleeper...) is...

Perhaps a portion of an early Christian hymn exhorting the sinning believer to Awake and arise. (The Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Translation: 1995. Moody Publishers)

Warren Wiersbe writes...

When you think of light, you think of waking up to a new day, and Paul presented this picture (Eph 5:14), paraphrasing Isaiah 60:1. You have the same image in Romans 13:11-13 and 1Thessalonians 5:1-10. That Easter morning, when Christ arose from the dead, was the dawning of a new day for the world. Christians are not sleeping in sin and death. We have been raised from the dead through faith in Him. The darkness of the graveyard is past, and we are now walking in the light of salvation. Salvation is the beginning of a new day, and we ought to live as those who belong to the light, not to the darkness. “Lazarus, come forth!” (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor)

S Lewis Johnson believes this text is addressed to believers writing that...

This is a text taken from the Old Testament, but it is applied by the Apostle to the believers. He is telling them that if their lives are not characterized by this purity of which he is talking, they are sleeping morally, and they should awake, and they should arise from the dead and Christ will give them light...Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. It’s a promise that as we, by the grace of God and the enablement of God, get down upon our knees and ask him to deliver us from the failures of our Christian life, well we have the assurance that God will undertake for us and we shall be given light. (Ephesians 5:3-21 Purity in the Christian Life (Audio)

Life Application commentary writes that just...

As the prophets appealed to Israel to awaken from its state of darkness and death, so Paul was appealing to the Ephesians to wake up, stay alert, and realize the dangerous condition into which some of them had been slipping by listening to false teachings. (Barton, B, et al: The NIV Life Application Commentary Series: Tyndale)

Blaikie writes that...

This is evidently intended to give an additional impulse to the Ephesians to walk as children of the light.. But the fundamental idea in the prophecy is, that when the Church gets the light of heaven, she is not to lie still, as if she were asleep or dead, but is to be active, is to make use of the light, is to use it for illuminating the world. The apostle maintains that the Ephesian Church had got the light of heaven; she, therefore, was not to sleep or loiter, but spring forth as if from the grave, and pour light on the world. The changes which the apostle makes on the form of the prophecy are remarkable, and show that it was to its spirit and substance rather than to its precise form and letter that he attached the authority of inspiration. (The Pulpit Commentary)

The KJV Bible Commentary writes...

Awake thou that sleepest. This is a call from drowsiness to spiritual life. Arise from the dead. Stand up from the dead among you. Christ shall give thee light. Make day dawn upon you. (Dobson, E G, Charles Feinberg, E Hindson, Woodrow Kroll, H L. Wilmington: KJV Bible Commentary: Nelson)

Jon Courson writes...

“Wake up!” says Paul. “Look what’s happening in your lives.” I know of young men who could have turned this world upside down for the Lord. I know of young guys who could have really made a mark for the kingdom. But because they weren’t awake to what the Word of God says concerning filthiness, coarse jesting, uncleanness, fornication, and pornography, they’re ineffective to this day. (Courson, J. Jon Courson's Application Commentary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson )

Hoehner explains it this way...

A believer who has committed “deeds of darkness,” is to wake up and rise from the dead since he was involved with the deeds of evildoers. Christ’s shining on him speaks of His approval, an indication that he is discerning and following what is pleasing to the Lord (Eph. 5:10). (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., et al: The Bible Knowledge Commentary. 1985. Victor).

McGee writes...

Here is a command which is humanly impossible to obey. How can a person awake from the dead? How can a person awake out of spiritual death? Only God can awaken us. I think what Paul means here is that the believers who have fallen into a spiritual stupor are to wake up. (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary:  Thomas Nelson)

Wayne Barber feels that Paul is speaking to believers writing...

Most people think Paul is using that verse to say, "This is God’s plea to the whole world, ‘Wake up and I’ll shine on you. Once I shine on you, you can become light for other people.’" I disagree with that. Looking at the context Paul is saying, "You Christians, you see in Isaiah 60:1 when God spoke that, He spoke it to His people."

To me Paul is saying, "God is saying the word to the church, ‘Wake up! You are sleeping! Death is all around you. Darkness has enveloped you. Wake up. Let Jesus shine on you first and reprove you for the things wrong in your life. Then Jesus can shine through you and we can start seeing darkness dissipate because it is light that puts out the darkness.’"

Folks, when you walk into a dark room in the morning, you don’t switch the darkness off and switch the light on. No, you just switch the light on and the darkness has to flee. Darkness does not put out light. Folks, darkness is not the problem, and it never has been the problem. The problem is no light. Christians are sound asleep. You don’t have to go out on the street corner and get a box and tell the world. Live it! Your neighbors will see the difference. Your wife will see the difference. Everybody will see the difference. It is incredible when you put the garment on. It is incredible when you are strengthened in the inner man. Immediately people are affected. You don’t even know it, but that light is penetrating the deeds of darkness and the world of evil. When you put on that garment, it puts out darkness.

Sleeper (2518)(katheudo from katá = an intensifier + heúdo = to sleep) can refer to literal sleep but here is used figuratively to refer to those who are spiritually asleep, feeling secure and unconcerned in sin, indolent and careless in the performance of duty.

Arise (450) (anistemi from ana = up, again + histemi = stand) means to stand up. It describes a figurative change of position, rising from sleep. The aorist imperative is a command calling for them to do this now.

Dead (3498)(nekros) is a body without life and here is used figuratively of those who have no spiritual life for they are dead in their trespasses and sins.

 Expositors Greek Testament explains that...

The passage is introduced in Connection with the reference to the effects of a faithful ‘reproof’ and under the impression of the figure of the light. It takes the form of an appeal to wake out of the pagan condition of sin, described by the two-fold figure of sleep and death, and of a promise that then Christ will shine upon the sinner with the saving light of His truth. The quotation comes in relevantly, therefore, as a further enforcement both of the need for the reproof which is enjoined, and of the good effects of such a reproof faithfully exercised. (Nicoll, W Robertson, Editor: Expositors Greek Testament: 5 Volumes. Out of print. Search Google)

AND CHRIST WILL SHINE ON YOU:  kai epiphausei (3SPAI) soi o Christos : (John 8:12; 9:5; Acts 13:47; 2Co 4:6; 2Ti 1:10)

Christ (5547) (Christos from chrio = to anoint, rub with oil, consecrate to an office) is the Anointed One, the Messiah, Christos being the Greek equivalent of the transliterated Hebrew word Messiah.

Shine (2017) (epiphauo from epí = upon, to, + phaúo = to shine) means to shine upon, give light to. The means employed by Christ are compared to the rays of the rising sun (Son).

Thayer comments that...

Christ will pour upon thee the light of divine truth as the sun gives light to men aroused from sleep.