Ephesians 4:17

“This I say therefore and testify in the Lord, &c.] These words may be considered either as an assertion, and so a testimonial of the different walk and conversation of the saints at Ephesus, from the rest of the Gentiles; or as an exhortation in the name of the Lord to such a walk, the apostle here returning to what he stirs them up to in (<490401>Ephesians 4:1) that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind; every natural man walks in a vain show; the mind of man is vain, and whoever walk according to the dictates of it, must walk vainly: the phrase is expressive of the emptiness of the mind; it being naturally destitute of God, of the knowledge, fear, and…”

“therefore--resuming the exhortation which he had begun with, "I therefore beseech you that ye walk worthy," &c. (Eph 4:1). testify in the Lord--in whom (as our element) we do all things pertaining to the ministry (Th1 4:1 [ALFORD]; Rom 9:1). henceforth . . . not--Greek, "no longer"; resumed from Eph 4:14. other--Greek, "the rest of the Gentiles." in the vanity, &c.--as their element: opposed to "in the Lord." "Vanity of mind" is the waste of the rational powers on worthless objects, of which idolatry is one of the more glaring instances. The root of it is departure from the knowledge of the true God (Eph 4:18-19; Rom 1:21; Th1 4:5).”

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord - I bear witness in the name of the Lord Jesus, or ministering by his authority. The object of this is, to exhort them to walk worthy of their high calling, and to adorn the doctrine of the Saviour. With this view, he reminds them of what they were before they were converted, and of the manner in which the pagan around them lived. That ye henceforth walk not - That you do not henceforth live - the Christian life being often in the Scriptures compared to a journey. As other Gentiles walk - This shows that probably the mass of converts in the church at Ephesus were from among the pagan, and Paul regarded them as Gentile converts. Or it may be that…”

“This therefore I say - He returns thither where he begun, Eph 4:1. And testify in the Lord - In the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus. In the vanity of their mind - Having lost the knowledge of the true God, Rom 1:21. This is the root of all evil walking. Ephesians 4:18”

“4:17–5:20 Paul gives believers specific guidelines for living a new life in Christ. 4:17 God’s people are called to a way of life that is different from that of the Gentiles (pagans, unbelievers) of the world.”

“I say: Co1 1:12, Co1 15:50; Co2 9:6; Gal 3:17; Col 2:4 testify: Neh 9:29, Neh 9:30, Neh 13:15; Jer 42:19; Act 2:40, Act 18:5, Act 20:21; Gal 5:3; Th1 4:6 in the: Th1 4:1, Th1 4:2; Ti1 5:21, Ti1 6:13; Ti2 4:1 that ye: Eph 1:22, Eph 2:1-3, Eph 5:3-8; Rom 1:23-32; Co1 6:9-11; Gal 5:19-21; Col 3:5-8; Pe1 4:3, Pe1 4:4 in the: Psa 94:8-11; Act 14:15 Ephesians 4:18”