 |  |
Truth.
A | 1: 13. Word of truth. Salvation.
B | a | 4: 21, 22. Put off.
b | 4: 24. Righteousness and holiness.
B | a | 4: 25. Put away.
b | 5: 9. Righteousness and goodness.
A | 6: 14. Girdle of truth. Warfare.
The whole world is ranged under two heads, the Truth, and the Lie. Christ stands at
the head of one, Satan at the other. Truth makes the weakest invincible. Truth will
prevent the ship from being carried by the winds and waves. Truth will deliver from the
sleight of men and reveal the systematic deceit of the wicked one.
We shall see presently the close connection between the "old man" and "the lie", and
the "new man" and "the truth"; let us here, while the passage is before us, remember the
close association that must ever be between "the perfect man" and "the truth".
#73. Eph. 4: 15, 16.
The Head, the All Things (Eph. 4: 15)
pp. 49 52
The admonition to "speak the truth in love" taken from the A.V. of Eph. 4: 15 is one
that should ever be before the mind of the believer. It is not, however, the meaning of
this particular verse. There is no word here for "speaking", it is rather "being the truth",
i.e., so living that every act and motion and motive shall be in line with "truth". It is
possible that the words "in love" complete the statement, "being the truth in love", but we
believe the true rendering of the passage links the words "in love" with what follows,
namely, growth.
We have been warned of the dangers that beset the believer who remains a "babe". To
attain the unity of the faith necessitates the "perfect man" and the "stature or full age" of
the fullness of Christ. This therefore demands growth. Over against the sleight of men,
the cunning craftiness and the systematic deception of wickedness, the apostle places one
simple word, aletheuontes. I wish our language permitted such a words as "truthing", it
does not, but even "being true" seems weak in comparison with the fullness of the
original. Over against the perfect man and the stature, the apostle places "growth". It
can be easily seen if set out thus:--
A |
Faith, knowledge, perfect man, stature of Christ.
B
| Systematic deception.
B
| Being true.
A |
Growth in love into Christ.