{"author":null,"canonical_references":[],"database_sha256":"8cfbe7284c6936871d57c02dc6aa63ebbdfd4722422d539dd9f716e46e91112e","date_end":null,"date_start":null,"edition_year":null,"id":"sermonindex-ecf-4324","native_reference":{"book_number":560,"chapter_from":5,"chapter_to":5,"system":"MyBible module coordinates (mapping unverified)","verse_from":11,"verse_to":11},"public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"verse-keyed-module-record","review_required":["English edition and exact text","author/work attribution","dating","verse mapping and citation kind","reuse and attribution","split author quotations and deduplicate"],"review_status":"unreviewed","source_html":"<p><b>Jerome</b>: Paul uses the term fruits in the case of the Spirit, works in the case of the sin nature. … In the present case he indeed is saying that the works of darkness are unfruitful. Those who do these works share an association with darkness.<br/><i>— Commentary on Ephesians 5:11</i></p><p><b>Jerome</b>: No one is prepared to admonish sinners except one who does not deserve to be called a hypocrite [as with the account in Luke 6:42].… Only those prophets who were themselves unpolluted by any stain of sin were in a position to upbraid others for their wrongdoing. From this we learn that the one who is in the best position to reprimand is the one who cannot himself rightly be reprimanded in turn.<br/><i>— Commentary on Ephesians 5:11</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: He had said, \"ye are light.\" Now the light reproves by exposing the things which take place in the darkness. So that if ye, says he, are virtuous, and conspicuous, the wicked will be unable to lie hidden. For just as when a candle is set, all are brought to light, and the thief cannot enter; so if your light shine, the wicked being discovered shall be caught. So then it is our duty to expose them. How then does our Lord say, \"Judge not, that ye be not judged\"? (Matt. vii. 1, 3.) Paul did not say \"judge,\" he said \"reprove,\" that is, correct. And the words, \"Judge not, that ye be not judged,\" He spoke with reference to very small errors. Indeed, He added, \"Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?\" But what Paul is saying is of this sort. As a wound, so long as it is imbedded and concealed outwardly, and runs beneath the surface, receives no attention, so also sin, as long as it is concealed, being as it were in darkness, is daringly committed in full security; but as soon as \"it is made manifest,\" becomes \"light\"; not indeed the sin itself, (for how could that be?) but the sinner. For when he has been brought out to light, when he has been admonished, when he has repented, when he has obtained pardon, hast thou not cleared away all his darkness? Hast thou not then healed his wound? Hast thou not called his unfruitfulness into fruit? Either this is his meaning, or else what I said above, that your life \"being manifest, is light.\" For no one hides an irreproachable life; whereas things which are hidden, are hidden by darkness covering them.<br/><i>— Homily on Ephesians 18</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: \"And have no fellowship,\" he adds, \"with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; for the things which are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of; but all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light.\" Hearken, I entreat you, all, as many of you as like not to be hated for nothing, but to be loved. \"What need is there to be hated?\" one says. A man commits a robbery, and dost thou not reprove him, but art afraid of his hatred? though this, however, is not being hated for nothing. But dost thou justly convict him, and yet fear the hatred? Convict thy brother, incur enmity for the love's sake which thou owest to Christ, for the love's sake which thou owest to thy brother. Arrest him as he is on his road to the pit of destruction. For to admit him to our table, to treat him with civil speeches, with salutations, and with entertainments, these are no signal proofs of friendship. No, those I have mentioned are the boons which we must bestow upon our friends, that we may rescue their souls from the wrath of God. When we see them lying prostrate in the furnace of wickedness, let us raise them up. \"But,\" they say, \"it is of no use, he is incorrigible.\" However, do thou thy duty, and then thou hast excused thyself to God. Hide not thy talent. It is for this that thou hast speech, it is for this thou hast a mouth and a tongue, that thou mayest correct thy neighbor. It is dumb and reasonless creatures only that have no care for their neighbor, and take no account of others. But dost thou while calling God, \"Father,\" and thy neighbor, \"brother,\" when thou seest him committing unnumbered wickednesses, dost thou prefer his good-will to his welfare? No, do not so, I entreat you. There is no evidence of friendship so true as never to overlook the sins of our brethren. Didst thou see them at enmity? Reconcile them. Didst thou see them guilty of covetousness? Check them. Didst thou see them wronged? Stand up in their defense. It is not on them, it is on thyself thou art conferring the chief benefit. It is for this we are friends, that we may be of use one to another. A man will listen in a different spirit to a friend, and to any other chance person. A chance person he will regard perhaps with suspicion, and so in like manner will he a teacher, but not so a friend.<br/><i>— Homily on Ephesians 18</i></p><p><b>Tertullian</b>: We observe among the arts also some professions liable to the charge of idolatry. Of astrologers there should be no speaking even; but since one in these days has challenged us, defending on his own behalf perseverance in that profession, I will use a few words.<br/><i>— On Idolatry</i></p><p><b>Tertullian</b>: \"Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; \" for (in the Psalm it is written, ) \"With the holy man thou shalt be holy, and with the perverse thou shalt be perverse; \" and, \"Thou shalt put away evil from among you.<br/><i>— Against Marcion Book V</i></p><p><b>Tertullian</b>: What, moreover, used (the Spirit) to teach? That there must be no communicating with the works of darkness. Observe what He bids.<br/><i>— On Modesty</i></p>","source_html_sha256":"80b8973781c9cfb09dcce7efdcbe65c028f5828933cee3c632558ce78c337cc1","source_module":"ECF","source_row_id":4324,"source_url":"https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ecf/","text_sha256":"9401614ede7c310c8739291f1dc91014625360c57cf8e2f50b95bda8b1c92fe2","translator":null,"work":null}