Ephesians Series: Ephesians 5:4b-The Giving of Thanks to God is Appropriate Use of Speech Rather Than the Sins of the Tongue
Lesson # 317
Ephesians 5:1 Therefore, each and every one of you as a corporate unit must continue to make it your habit of conducting your lives by imitating the one and only God because each and every one without exception are beloved children. 2 Specifically, each and every one of you as a corporate unit must continue to make it your habit of living your lives by means of the practice of divine-love because the one and only Christ in fact divinely-loved each and every one of you of us as a corporate unit. Namely, He gave Himself up as a substitute for each and every one of us as a corporate unit to be a voluntary offering, which is a sacrifice for the benefit of the one and only God for a fragrant aroma. 3 But sexual immorality in the form of temple prostitution, in fact, sexual impurity of any kind, or greed must continue to never be mentioned as being practiced among any one of you because this conduct is appropriate behavior for saints. 4 Correspondingly, not only obscene language but also stupid conversation or crude joking must continue to never be mentioned as being practiced among any one of you. These are absolutely never appropriate. But instead, the practice of thanksgiving is in fact appropriate. (Lecturer’s translation)
Ephesians 5:4 is composed of the following:
(1) elliptical prohibition: kai aischrotēs kai mōrologia ē eutrapelia (καὶ αἰσχρότης καὶ μωρολογία ἢ εὐτραπελία), “Correspondingly, not only obscene language but also stupid conversation or crude joking must continue to never be mentioned as being practiced among any one of you. (Lecturer’stranslation)
(2) relative pronoun clause: ha ouk anēken (ἃ οὐκ ἀνῆκεν), “These are absolutely never appropriate. (Lecturer’stranslation)
(3) elliptical strong adversative clause: alla mallon eucharistia (ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον εὐχαριστία), “But instead the practice of thanksgiving is in fact appropriate.”(Lecturer’stranslation)
The relative pronoun clause that modifies this elliptical prohibition in Ephesians 5:4 contains the verb anēkō (ἀνήκω), which pertains to the act of performing an appropriate obligation and is emphatically negated by the emphatic negative adverb emphatic negative adverb ou (οὐ).
It therefore emphatically negates the idea of members of the Christian community employing obscene use of language, stupid conversation or talk and crude or vulgar joking when speaking with each other or with those outside the Christian community.
So therefore, the relative pronoun clause in Ephesians 5:4 is asserting that it is absolutely never appropriate for a member of the Christian community to engage in obscene use of language and stupid, silly conversations or crude joking when interacting with each other or with those outside their community.
It is totally inappropriate behavior for members of the Christian community to engage in because they are those who are set apart to serve God exclusively and to reflect His holy character and nature in their lives.
We noted in Ephesians 5:3 that the adjective hagios (ἅγιος), “saints” describes all the members of the body of Christ who have been set apart through the baptism of the Spirit at the moment of justification in order to order serve God exclusively.
The baptism of the Spirit resulted in the church age believer being united with and identified with Jesus Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session at the Father’s right hand.
Now, in Ephesians 5:4, like the prohibition, which preceded it, the strong adversative clause is also elliptical and presents an emphatic contrast between members of the Christian community engaging in obscene speech, foolish talk and coarse jesting when interacting with each other or with those outside the Christian community and giving thanks to God.
The comparative adverb mallon (μᾶλλον) functions as a marker of alternative, which means that it presents giving thanks to God as an alternative to members of the Christian community engaging in obscene speech, foolish talk and coarse jesting when interacting with each other or with those outside the Christian community and is marking the former as the preferred choice.
The noun eucharistia (εὐχαριστία) pertains to expressing gratitude for benefits or blessings.
The word also contains the figure of metonymy, which means that thanksgiving is put for the practice of it.
Now, as was the case with Ephesians 1:16, Ephesians 5:4 also mentions one of the essential elements of a productive prayer life for the church age believer, namely, thanksgiving (Matt 15:36; 26:27; Mark 8:6; 14:23; Luke 22:17-19; John 6:11; 23; 11:41; Acts 27:35; 28:15; Rom. 1:8; 7:25; 1 Cor. 1:4; 11:24; Eph. 5:20; Col. 1:12; 3:17; Phlp. 1:3-4; 4:6; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2:13).
We should never forget to thank God in prayer.
Our gratitude demonstrates our respect and appreciation for God’s grace policy, which blesses us without us ever earning or deserving blessings.
Colossians 3:15 Consequently, the peace produced by the teaching of the one and only Christ must continue to habitually rule within your hearts. For which purpose, each and every one of you were effectually called into union with one body. Therefore, each and every one of you must continue to make it your habit of being characterized by thankfulness. (Lecturer’s translation)
Colossians 4:2 Each of you must continue to make it your habit of being dedicated to persevering in prayer while at the same time continuing to exist in a state of being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. (Lecturer’s translation)
Psalm 9:1 I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. (NASB95)
Also, the believer should always give thanks to the Father for His gift of salvation, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-Man Savior.
2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (NASB95)
Psalm 50:23 teaches that the believer who offers thanksgiving to God the Father in prayer honors Him.
Psalm 50:23 He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God. (NASB95)
We are to give thanks with other believers in our congregation.
This too glorifies God, if done with the proper motivation, which is to worship God in prayer, not to make ourselves look holy.
Psalm 35:18 I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty throng. (NASB95)
The humanity of Christ employed thanksgiving to God in prayer when performing miracles (Mat 14:19; 15:36; Mark 6:41; 8:6; Luke 9:16; John 6:11).
One particular account was when Christ resuscitated Lazarus.
The Lord Jesus Christ, in His humanity, showed immense gratitude towards His Father for hearing His prayer.
John 11:41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.” (NASB95)
The Lord Jesus Christ also offered a prayer of thanksgiving to the Father when instituting the Lord’s Supper for the Church (Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17, 19; 1 Co 11:23-26).
In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the apostle Paul issues the Thessalonian Christian community who like the recipients of the Ephesian epistle, were Gentiles and which command required that they continue to make it their habit of giving thanks to the Father in each and every circumstance in life.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Each and every one of you must continue to make it your habit of giving thanks in each and every circumstance because this is God’s will for each and every one of you because of your union and identification with the Christ who is Jesus. (Lecturer’s translation)
Ephesians Series: Ephesians 5:4b-The Giving of Thanks to God is Appropriate Use of Speech Rather Than the Sins of the Tongue
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday February 5, 2026
www.wenstrom.org
Ephesians Series: Ephesians 5:4b-The Giving of Thanks to God is Appropriate Use of Speech Rather Than the Sins of the Tongue
Lesson # 317
Ephesians 5:1 Therefore, each and every one of you as a corporate unit must continue to make it your habit of conducting your lives by imitating the one and only God because each and every one without exception are beloved children. 2 Specifically, each and every one of you as a corporate unit must continue to make it your habit of living your lives by means of the practice of divine-love because the one and only Christ in fact divinely-loved each and every one of you of us as a corporate unit. Namely, He gave Himself up as a substitute for each and every one of us as a corporate unit to be a voluntary offering, which is a sacrifice for the benefit of the one and only God for a fragrant aroma. 3 But sexual immorality in the form of temple prostitution, in fact, sexual impurity of any kind, or greed must continue to never be mentioned as being practiced among any one of you because this conduct is appropriate behavior for saints. 4 Correspondingly, not only obscene language but also stupid conversation or crude joking must continue to never be mentioned as being practiced among any one of you. These are absolutely never appropriate. But instead, the practice of thanksgiving is in fact appropriate. (Lecturer’s translation)
Ephesians 5:4 is composed of the following:
(1) elliptical prohibition: kai aischrotēs kai mōrologia ē eutrapelia (καὶ αἰσχρότης καὶ μωρολογία ἢ εὐτραπελία), “Correspondingly, not only obscene language but also stupid conversation or crude joking must continue to never be mentioned as being practiced among any one of you. (Lecturer’s translation)
(2) relative pronoun clause: ha ouk anēken (ἃ οὐκ ἀνῆκεν), “These are absolutely never appropriate. (Lecturer’s translation)
(3) elliptical strong adversative clause: alla mallon eucharistia (ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον εὐχαριστία), “But instead the practice of thanksgiving is in fact appropriate.” (Lecturer’s translation)
The relative pronoun clause that modifies this elliptical prohibition in Ephesians 5:4 contains the verb anēkō (ἀνήκω), which pertains to the act of performing an appropriate obligation and is emphatically negated by the emphatic negative adverb emphatic negative adverb ou (οὐ).
It therefore emphatically negates the idea of members of the Christian community employing obscene use of language, stupid conversation or talk and crude or vulgar joking when speaking with each other or with those outside the Christian community.
So therefore, the relative pronoun clause in Ephesians 5:4 is asserting that it is absolutely never appropriate for a member of the Christian community to engage in obscene use of language and stupid, silly conversations or crude joking when interacting with each other or with those outside their community.
It is totally inappropriate behavior for members of the Christian community to engage in because they are those who are set apart to serve God exclusively and to reflect His holy character and nature in their lives.
We noted in Ephesians 5:3 that the adjective hagios (ἅγιος), “saints” describes all the members of the body of Christ who have been set apart through the baptism of the Spirit at the moment of justification in order to order serve God exclusively.
The baptism of the Spirit resulted in the church age believer being united with and identified with Jesus Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session at the Father’s right hand.
Now, in Ephesians 5:4, like the prohibition, which preceded it, the strong adversative clause is also elliptical and presents an emphatic contrast between members of the Christian community engaging in obscene speech, foolish talk and coarse jesting when interacting with each other or with those outside the Christian community and giving thanks to God.
The comparative adverb mallon (μᾶλλον) functions as a marker of alternative, which means that it presents giving thanks to God as an alternative to members of the Christian community engaging in obscene speech, foolish talk and coarse jesting when interacting with each other or with those outside the Christian community and is marking the former as the preferred choice.
The noun eucharistia (εὐχαριστία) pertains to expressing gratitude for benefits or blessings.
The word also contains the figure of metonymy, which means that thanksgiving is put for the practice of it.
Now, as was the case with Ephesians 1:16, Ephesians 5:4 also mentions one of the essential elements of a productive prayer life for the church age believer, namely, thanksgiving (Matt 15:36; 26:27; Mark 8:6; 14:23; Luke 22:17-19; John 6:11; 23; 11:41; Acts 27:35; 28:15; Rom. 1:8; 7:25; 1 Cor. 1:4; 11:24; Eph. 5:20; Col. 1:12; 3:17; Phlp. 1:3-4; 4:6; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2:13).
We should never forget to thank God in prayer.
Our gratitude demonstrates our respect and appreciation for God’s grace policy, which blesses us without us ever earning or deserving blessings.
Colossians 3:15 Consequently, the peace produced by the teaching of the one and only Christ must continue to habitually rule within your hearts. For which purpose, each and every one of you were effectually called into union with one body. Therefore, each and every one of you must continue to make it your habit of being characterized by thankfulness. (Lecturer’s translation)
Colossians 4:2 Each of you must continue to make it your habit of being dedicated to persevering in prayer while at the same time continuing to exist in a state of being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. (Lecturer’s translation)
Psalm 9:1 I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. (NASB95)
Also, the believer should always give thanks to the Father for His gift of salvation, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-Man Savior.
2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (NASB95)
Psalm 50:23 teaches that the believer who offers thanksgiving to God the Father in prayer honors Him.
Psalm 50:23 He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God. (NASB95)
We are to give thanks with other believers in our congregation.
This too glorifies God, if done with the proper motivation, which is to worship God in prayer, not to make ourselves look holy.
Psalm 35:18 I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty throng. (NASB95)
The humanity of Christ employed thanksgiving to God in prayer when performing miracles (Mat 14:19; 15:36; Mark 6:41; 8:6; Luke 9:16; John 6:11).
One particular account was when Christ resuscitated Lazarus.
The Lord Jesus Christ, in His humanity, showed immense gratitude towards His Father for hearing His prayer.
John 11:41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.” (NASB95)
The Lord Jesus Christ also offered a prayer of thanksgiving to the Father when instituting the Lord’s Supper for the Church (Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17, 19; 1 Co 11:23-26).
In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the apostle Paul issues the Thessalonian Christian community who like the recipients of the Ephesian epistle, were Gentiles and which command required that they continue to make it their habit of giving thanks to the Father in each and every circumstance in life.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Each and every one of you must continue to make it your habit of giving thanks in each and every circumstance because this is God’s will for each and every one of you because of your union and identification with the Christ who is Jesus. (Lecturer’s translation)