Walk Carefully
Ephesians 5:15-16
Excerpt
The NIV‘s Be very careful, then, how you live is literally, “Look therefore carefully how you walk.” Does the adverb “carefully” (akribÅs, lit. “accurately”) modify “look”? If so the first clause in verse 15 could be translated, “Therefore look carefully how you walk.” (This is behind the rendering in the ASV, NASB, and NIV.) Or does “careful” modify “walk”? If so, the idea is, “Therefore look Excerpt".
The NIV‘s Be very careful, then, how you live is literally, “Look therefore carefully how you walk.” Does the adverb “carefully” (akribÅs, lit. “accurately”) modify “look”? If so the first clause in verse 15 could be translated, “Therefore look carefully how you walk.” (This is behind the rendering in the ASV, NASB, and NIV.) Or does “careful” modify “walk”? If so, the idea is, “Therefore look that you walk carefully” (cf. KJV). This second alternative is preferred because better Greek manuscripts place akribÅs closer to the Greek word “walk” and because in the New Testament the Greek imperative “look” (blepete) is never modified by an adverb. Believers then, are to walk (live) carefully, so as to be wise or skillful and thus please the Lord. The manner for this careful, precise walk is making the right use of every opportunity (cf. Col. 4:5), and the reason for this careful walk is that the days are evil. Many are walking in sin, and since the time is short believers must make full use of their time to help turn them from darkness to light. This necessitates wise conduct…
Hoehner, Harold W. “Ephesians.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Ed. J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 639. Print.
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