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`That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive' (Eph. 4:14).
Moffatt has a suggestive reading:
`Instead of remaining immature, blown from our course and swayed by
every passing doctrine, by the adroitness of men who are dexterous in
devising error'.
The R.V. has `after the wiles of error' which is useful
in making a connection with Ephesians 6:11 `the wiles of the devil'. It is
just here that Paul intervenes with his adversative `but'. `But', instead of
being immature and blown about,
`Speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which
is the Head, even Christ' (Eph. 4:15).
There is actually no word here for `speaking'; the A.V. margin gives
`being sincere', the R.V. margin gives `dealing truly'. If the English
language would permit the use of `truth' as a verb we should express the
original best by saying `truthing in love', but such an expression is not
possible. It is not easy to demonstrate the full meaning of aletheuo. `To
be sincere' is not enough, for a person may be sincere in the pursuit of
error; `to be true' would answer if such a statement did not easily become a
synonym for being `sincere'. If we could use the expression `To Be the
truth', this would come as near as the English idiom permits.
Some of our readers may be helped by having their attention drawn to
the use of this word in the LXX. It occurs in three places as follows:
(1)
`Thus she was reproved' (A.V.), `and be true in all things' (LXX)
(Gen. 20:16).
The Hebrew word thus translated is yakach `to reprove' in the
sense of correcting error, reasoning with, and so pointing out
the truth.
The occasion for the use of this verb `be true' was the deception
practised by Abraham and Sarah on Abimelech.
(2)
`Whether there be any truth in you' (A.V.) `Whether ye be true or
not' (LXX) (Gen. 42:16).
The Hebrew thus translated is emeth, the ordinary word for truth
(see Gen. 24:27; 32:10). In Exodus 18:21 we have `men of truth'.
In response to Joseph's challenge given in Genesis 42:9, his
brothers reply, `We are true men' (Gen. 42:11), Joseph replies
`If ye be true men' (Gen. 42:19) `Ye are no spies, but that ye
are true men' (Gen. 42:34). Here the word `true' is kenim
meaning `right'.
(3)
`That confirmeth the word of His servant, and performeth the
counsel of His messengers' (A.V.). `Confirming the word of His
servant, and verifying the counsel of His messengers' (LXX) (Isa.
44:26).