Ephesians 5:9
for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.
for the fruit of the light
The phrase "for the fruit of the light" is a metaphorical expression that draws from agricultural imagery, common in biblical texts, to describe the visible outcomes or manifestations of living in the light of Christ. The Greek word for "fruit" (καρπός, karpos) suggests a natural product of a living organism, indicating that these virtues are the natural result of a life transformed by the light of the Gospel. The "light" here refers to the divine illumination and truth brought by Jesus Christ, contrasting with the darkness of sin and ignorance. Historically, light has been a symbol of purity, knowledge, and divine presence, as seen in the Old Testament, where God's word is described as a lamp and light (Psalm 119:105).

consists in all goodness
The word "goodness" (ἀγαθωσύνη, agathōsynē) in Greek encompasses moral excellence, kindness, and benevolence. It is a quality that reflects the character of God, who is the ultimate standard of goodness. In the context of Ephesians, Paul is urging believers to exhibit this divine attribute as evidence of their transformation. The historical context of Ephesus, a city known for its idolatry and moral corruption, highlights the radical nature of this call to goodness. Christians are to stand out as beacons of moral integrity and kindness in a world often characterized by selfishness and vice.

righteousness
"Righteousness" (δικαιοσύνη, dikaiosynē) refers to the state of being in right relationship with God and others, characterized by justice, fairness, and ethical conduct. In the biblical narrative, righteousness is not merely a legal standing but a dynamic quality that influences one's actions and relationships. Theologically, it is both imputed through faith in Christ and imparted as believers grow in holiness. In the Greco-Roman world, where Ephesus was situated, righteousness was often associated with civic duty and social order. However, Paul elevates it to a divine standard, rooted in God's own nature and revealed through Christ.

and truth
The term "truth" (ἀλήθεια, alētheia) in this context signifies more than factual accuracy; it embodies sincerity, reliability, and faithfulness. Truth is a central theme in the Johannine writings, where Jesus is described as "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). For the Ephesian believers, living in truth meant rejecting the deceit and falsehood prevalent in their society and embracing the reality of God's revelation in Christ. Historically, truth was a contested concept in the philosophical schools of the time, yet Paul anchors it in the person and work of Jesus, who embodies ultimate truth.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul was a key figure in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and theological teachings.

2. Ephesus
A major city in Asia Minor, Ephesus was a center of commerce and culture. The Ephesian church was one of the early Christian communities to which Paul wrote.

3. The Ephesian Church
The recipients of the letter, this early Christian community faced challenges from both pagan influences and internal disputes.
Teaching Points
Understanding Fruit of the Light
The term "fruit" (Greek: karpos) signifies the visible outcome or evidence of living in the light of Christ. Believers are called to exhibit goodness, righteousness, and truth as evidence of their faith.

Goodness in Action
Goodness (Greek: agathosyne) involves moral excellence and benevolence. Christians are encouraged to perform acts of kindness and charity, reflecting God's goodness.

Righteousness as a Lifestyle
Righteousness (Greek: dikaiosyne) refers to living in a way that is just and in accordance with God's standards. Believers should strive to align their actions with God's will.

Truth as a Foundation
Truth (Greek: aletheia) is foundational to the Christian life. It involves honesty, integrity, and faithfulness to God's Word. Christians are called to speak and live truthfully.

Walking in the Light
Living as children of light means rejecting the deeds of darkness and embracing a lifestyle that reflects Christ's light to the world.
Bible Study Questions
1. How can you practically demonstrate the "fruit of the light" in your daily interactions with others?

2. In what ways does the concept of "goodness" challenge you to change your behavior or attitudes?

3. How does understanding righteousness as a lifestyle impact your decision-making process?

4. What are some practical steps you can take to ensure that truth is a foundation in your life?

5. How can you encourage others in your community to walk as children of light, reflecting goodness, righteousness, and truth?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Galatians 5:22-23
This passage lists the fruit of the Spirit, which parallels the "fruit of the light" in Ephesians 5:9, emphasizing virtues like goodness, righteousness, and truth.

John 8:12
Jesus declares Himself as the light of the world, which connects to the concept of living as children of light in Ephesians 5.

Philippians 1:11
Paul speaks of being filled with the fruit of righteousness, which ties into the righteousness mentioned in Ephesians 5:9.
Righteousness in All ThingsA. Maclaren, D. D.Ephesians 5:9
The Connection Between a Gracious State and a Holy LifeT. Boston, D. D.Ephesians 5:9
The Fruit of the LightT. Croskery Ephesians 5:9
The Fruit of the LightAlexander MaclarenEphesians 5:9
The Fruit of the SpiritEphesians 5:9
The Fruits of the Spirit, the Same with Moral VirtuesArchbishop Tillotson.Ephesians 5:9
What to Imitate and to AvoidR. Finlayson Ephesians 5:1-14
The Love and the Wrath of God Enforcing MoralityR.M. Edgar Ephesians 5:1-16
Christian LifeD. Thomas Ephesians 5:8-10
People
Christians, Ephesians, Paul
Places
Ephesus
Topics
TRUE, Consists, Effect, Fruit, Goodness, Kind, Righteousness, Sons, Spirit, Truth, Uprightness
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ephesians 5:9

     1462   truth, in NT
     8157   righteousness, as faith
     8258   fruitfulness, spiritual

Ephesians 5:8-9

     8164   spirituality
     8255   fruit, spiritual
     8326   purity, moral and spiritual

Ephesians 5:8-10

     7027   church, purpose
     8460   pleasing God

Ephesians 5:8-11

     6627   conversion, nature of
     7922   fellowship, with God

Ephesians 5:8-12

     4811   darkness, symbol of sin

Ephesians 5:8-14

     4836   light, and people of God

Ephesians 5:8-16

     3254   Holy Spirit, fruit of

Library
January 1. "Redeeming the Time" (Eph. v. 16).
"Redeeming the time" (Eph. v. 16). Two little words are found in the Greek version here. They are translated "ton kairon" in the revised version, "Buying up for yourselves the opportunity." The two words ton kairon mean, literally, the opportunity. They do not refer to time in general, but to a special point of time, a juncture, a crisis, a moment full of possibilities and quickly passing by, which we must seize and make the best of before it has passed away. It is intimated that there are not
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

June 27. "Be Filled with the Spirit" (Eph. v. 18).
"Be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. v. 18). Some of the effects of being filled with the Spirit are: 1. Holiness of heart and life. This is not the perfection of the human nature, but the holiness of the divine nature dwelling within. 2. Fulness of joy so that the heart is constantly radiant. This does not depend on circumstances, but fills the spirit with holy laughter in the midst of the most trying surroundings. 3. Fulness of wisdom, light and knowledge, causing us to see things as He sees them.
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

April 22. "Christ is the Head" (Eph. v. 23).
"Christ is the head" (Eph. v. 23). Often we want people to pray for us and help us, but always defeat our object when we look too much to them and lean upon them. The true secret of union is for both to look upon God, and in the act of looking past themselves to Him they are unconsciously united. The sailor was right when he saw the little boy fall overboard and waited a minute before he plunged to his rescue. When the distracted mother asked him in agony why he had waited so long, he sensibly replied:
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Third Sunday in Lent
Text: Ephesians 5, 1-9. 1 Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; 4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity the Careful Walk of the Christian.
Text: Ephesians 5, 15-21. 15 Look therefore carefully how ye walk [See then that ye walk circumspectly], not as unwise, but as wise; 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; 19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always for all things
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

God's Imitators
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children'--Eph. v. 1. The Revised Version gives a more literal and more energetic rendering of this verse by reading, 'Be ye, therefore, imitators of God, as beloved children.' It is the only place in the Bible where that bold word 'imitate' is applied to the Christian relation to God. But, though the expression is unique, the idea underlies the whole teaching of the New Testament on the subject of Christian character and conduct. To be like God, and
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Pleasing Christ
'Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.'--Eph. v. 10. These words are closely connected with those which precede them in the 8th verse--'Walk as children of light.' They further explain the mode by which that commandment is to be fulfilled. They who, as children of light, mindful of their obligations and penetrated by its brightness, seek to conform their active life to the light to which they belong, are to do so by making experiment of, or investigating and determining, what is 'acceptable
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Unfruitful Works of Darkness
'And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.'--Eph. v. 11. We have seen in a former sermon that 'the fruit,' or outcome, 'of the Light' is a comprehensive perfection, consisting in all sorts and degrees of goodness and righteousness and truth. Therefore, the commandment, 'Walk as children of the light,' sums up all Christian morality. Is there need, then, for any additional precept? Yes; for Christian people do not live in an empty world. If there were
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Sleepers at Noonday
'Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light,'--Eph. v. 14. This is the close of a short digression about 'light.' The 'wherefore' at the beginning of my text seems to refer to the whole of the verses that deal with that subject. It is as if the Apostle had said, 'I have been telling you about light and its blessed effects. Now I tell you how you may win it for yours. The condition on which it is to be received by men is that they awake
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

What Children of Light Should Be
'Walk as children of light.'--Eph. v. 8. It was our Lord who coined this great name for His disciples. Paul's use of it is probably a reminiscence of the Master's, and so is a hint of the existence of the same teachings as we now find in the existing Gospels, long before their day. Jesus Christ said, 'Believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light'; and Paul gives substantially the same account of the way by which a man becomes a Son of the Light when he says, in the words preceding
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Fruit of the Light
'The fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.'--Eph. v. 9 (R.V.). This is one of the cases in which the Revised Version has done service by giving currency to an unmistakably accurate and improved reading. That which stands in our Authorised Version, 'the fruit of the Spirit' seems to have been a correction made by some one who took offence at the violent metaphor, as he conceived it, that 'light' should bear 'fruit' and desired to tinker the text so as to bring it into
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Paul's Reasons for Temperance
'And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16. Redeeming the time, because the days
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Redeeming the Time
'See, then, that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.'--Eph. v. 15, 16. Some of us have, in all probability, very little more 'time' to 'redeem.' Some of us have, in all probability, the prospect of many years yet to live. For both classes my text presents the best motto for another year. The most frivolous among us, I suppose, have some thoughts when we step across the conventional boundary that seems to separate the unbroken sequence
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

On Marriage.
TEXT: EPH. v. 22-31. IN completing lately the annual round of our Christian holy-days, I expressed to you the wish that the holy emotions which our hearts experience at such seasons might not pass away with them; but that the impressions then made might accompany us during the other half of the year, so that without any extraordinary festival incitement we might constantly retain a more lively sense of communion with the Redeemer, and a fuller enjoyment of what the eternal Father has done through
Friedrich Schleiermacher—Selected Sermons of Schleiermacher

The Light of God
Preached for the Chelsea National Schools.] Ephesians v. 13. All things which are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever is made manifest is light. This is a noble text, a royal text; one of those texts which forbid us to clip and cramp Scripture to suit any narrow notions of our own; which open before us boundless vistas of God's love, of human knowledge, of the future of mankind. There are many such texts, many more than we fancy; but this is one which is especially valuable
Charles Kingsley—Sermons for the Times

Against Foolish Talking and Jesting.
"Nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient."-- Ephes. v.4. Moral and political aphorisms are seldom couched in such terms that they should be taken as they sound precisely, or according to the widest extent of signification; but do commonly need exposition, and admit exception: otherwise frequently they would not only clash with reason and experience, but interfere, thwart, and supplant one another. The best masters of such wisdom are wont to interdict things, apt by unseasonable
Isaac Barrow—Sermons on Evil-Speaking, by Isaac Barrow

Sensual and Spiritual Excitement.
Preached August 4, 1850. SENSUAL AND SPIRITUAL EXCITEMENT. "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit."--Ephesians v. 17, 18. There is evidently a connection between the different branches of this sentence--for ideas cannot be properly contrasted which have not some connection--but what that connection is, is not at first sight clear. It almost appears like a profane and irreverent juxtaposition
Frederick W. Robertson—Sermons Preached at Brighton

Members of Christ
"For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones."--Ephesians 5:30. YESTERDAY, when I had the painful task of speaking at the funeral of our dear friend, Mr. William Olney, I took the text which I am going to take again now. I am using it again because I did not then really preach from it at all, but simply reminded you of a favorite expression of his, which I heard from his lips many times in prayer. He very frequently spoke of our being one with Christ in "living, loving, lasting
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892

Living, Loving, Lasting Union
With new portraits of Pastor C. H. Spurgeon and Mr. William Olney "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones--Ephesians 5:30. BEFORE the funeral, at Norwood Cemetery, of the late Mr. William Olney, senior deacon of the church at the metropolitan Tabernacle, a service was held in the Tabernacle. The building was crowded with sympathizing friends, who came to testify the affection they bore to the beloved deacon who had been so suddenly called from their midst. The senior Pastor
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892

Wary Walking.
(Twentieth Sunday after Trinity.) EPHESIANS v. 15. "See then that ye walk circumspectly." Some people tell us that salvation is the easiest thing in the world. We have only to feel that we believe in Jesus Christ, and all is done. Now neither Jesus Christ Himself, nor the Apostles whom He sent to teach, tell us anything of the kind. On the contrary, our Saviour, whilst He dwells on the fulness and freedom of salvation, offered to all without money, and without price, tells us that many are called,
H. J. Wilmot-Buxton—The Life of Duty, a Year's Plain Sermons, v. 2

Tenth Day. Love to the Brethren.
"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us."--Eph. v. 2. "Jesus," says a writer, "came from heaven on the wings of love." It was the element in which he moved and walked. He sought to baptize the world afresh with it. When we find Him teaching us by love to vanquish an enemy, we need not wonder at the tenderness of His appeals to the brethren to "love one another." Like a fond father impressing his children, how the Divine Teacher lingers over the lesson, "This is My commandment!" If
John R. Macduff—The Mind of Jesus

"For to be Carnally Minded is Death; but to be Spiritually Minded is Life and Peace. "
Rom. viii. 6.--"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." It is true, this time is short, and so short that scarce can similitudes or comparisons be had to shadow it out unto us. It is a dream, a moment, a vapour, a flood, a flower, and whatsoever can be more fading or perishing; and therefore it is not in itself very considerable, yet in another respect it is of all things the most precious, and worthy of the deepest attention and most serious consideration;
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"If So be that the Spirit of God Dwell in You. Now if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ, He is None of His. "
Rom. viii. 9.--"If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." There is a great marriage spoken of, Eph. v. that hath a great mystery in it, which the apostle propoundeth as the sample and archetype of all marriages or rather as the substance, of which all conjunctions and relations among the creatures are but the shadows. It is that marriage between Christ and his church, for which, it would appear, this world was builded, to be
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"The Truth. " Some Generals Proposed.
That what we are to speak to for the clearing and improving this noble piece of truth, that Christ is the Truth, may be the more clearly understood and edifying, we shall first take notice of some generals, and then show particularly how or in what respects Christ is called the Truth; and finally speak to some cases wherein we are to make use of Christ as the Truth. As to the first. There are four general things here to be noticed. 1. This supposeth what our case by nature is, and what we are all
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

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