Ephesians Series: Ephesians 5:13b-The Godly Lives of Believers Reveal Sin in the Life of the Non-Believer
Lesson # 343
Ephesians 5:12 For these unfruitful activities being practiced by them secretly are a shameful disgrace to even mention. 13 However, because each and every one of these things are being habitually exposed by those who are characterized by spiritual light, they are being habitually revealed (as sin to those characterized by spiritual darkness and disobedience) by those who are characterized by spiritual light. (Lecturer’s translation)
Ephesians 5:13 is composed of the following:
(1) causal participial clause: ta de panta elenchomena hypo tou phōtos phaneroutai (τὰ πάντα ἐλεγχόμενα ὑπὸ τοῦ φωτὸς), “because each and every one of these things are being habitually exposed by those who are characterized by spiritual light. (Author’s translation)
(2) elliptical declarative statement: phaneroutai (φανεροῦται), “they are being habitually revealed (as sin to those who are characterized by spiritual darkness and disobedience) by those who are characterized by spiritual light. (Author’s translation)
The elliptical declarative statement in this verse contains the passive voice of the verb phaneroō (φανερόω), which means “to be revealed” since it pertains to causing something to be fully known by revealing clearly, which was previously secret and hidden from view.
Specifically, it speaks of the unfruitful activities practiced secretly by unregenerate humanity being revealed as sin to them by the godly lives of members of the Christian community.
The present tense of this verb is a customary present which indicates that the unfruitful activities practiced in secret by unregenerate humanity are being “habitually” or “regularly” revealed to unregenerate humanity as sin to them.
The passive voice of the verb phaneroō (φανερόω) indicates that the unfruitful activities practiced in secret by unregenerate humanity receives the action of being habitually revealed to unregenerate humanity as sin against a holy God by members of the Gentile Christian community in the Roman province of Asia living godly lives in obedience to Paul’s Spirit inspired apostolic teaching presented in this letter.
There is a distinction between the verb elegchō (ἐλέγχω) and the verb phaneroō (φανερόω) here in Ephesians 5:13.
Paul’s is not being redundant.
There are two different ideas expressed by these two verbs which are related to each other.
The former has the idea of the members of the Christian community living godly lives as “disclosing” the activities practiced by unregenerate humanity “as sinful and opposed to a holy God.”
The latter contains the idea of these activities being “revealed” to unregenerate humanity as sinful and which activities they practiced in secret and were hidden from public view.
Furthermore, we noted that the verb elegchō (ἐλέγχω) functions as a causal participle indicating that it is presenting the reason for the action of the verb phaneroō (φανερόω).
We noted this expresses the idea that the unfruitful activities practiced secretly by unregenerate humanity is being revealed publicly to them as sin “because” members of the Christian community are habitually exposing these activities as sinful by living holy lives in obedience to Paul’s Spirit inspired apostolic teaching.
In other words, Ephesians 5:13 is teaching that the sinful activities of the non-believer are revealed to them as sin against a holy God by the godly lives of members of the Christian community because the latter is exposing them as such.
Both the action of “exposing” and “revealing” are performed by church age believers living their lives in obedience to Paul’s Spirit inspired apostolic teaching.
Ephesians 5:8-9 asserts the recipients of this letter must continue to make it their habit of living their lives as enlightened children of God because the fruit, which is unique to the light and produced by the light is characterized by the fullest expression of the practice of goodness, which is divine in quality and character.
It is also characterized by the fullest expression of the practice of righteousness, which is also divine in quality and character and is also characterized by the fullest expression of the practice of truth, which is also divine in quality and character.
So therefore, the Holy Spirit is revealing the activities practiced by unregenerate humanity as being sinful to them “because” of the members of Christian community living godly lives, which are in obedience to the Spirit’s teaching in Scripture.
The purpose of which is to convict the members of unregenerate humanity of their sin through the godly actions of the members of the Christian community with the result that they will see their need to trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior in order to avoid the wrath of God forever in the lake of fire.
This is indicated by the contents of Ephesians 5:14.
Ephesians 5:14 For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says: “Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!” (NET)
This is what took place with the recipients of the Ephesian epistle, who we noted were members of the Gentile Christian community in the Roman province of Asia, who prior to justification were also characterized by spiritual darkness.
Ephesians 5:6 Continue to make it your habit to never let absolutely anyone cause any one of you to be deceived by means of words devoid of truth because these things are the reason why the one and only God’s wrath is and will be exercised for His own glory against those members of the human race characterized by disobedience. 7 Therefore, each and every one of you as a corporate unit for your own benefit must continue to not make it your habit of conducting your lives as fellow partakers with them. 8 For each and every one of you as a corporate unity formerly were characterized by spiritual darkness. However, each and every one of you as a corporate unit now at the present time are characterized by spiritual light. Like enlightened children, each and every one of you as a corporate unit must continue to make it your habit of living your lives. (Lecturer’s translation)
This principle taught by Paul in Ephesians 5:13 is also taught by the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 3:19 Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed. 21 But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God. (NET)
Ephesians Series: Ephesians 5:13b-The Godly Lives of Believers Reveal Sin in the Life of the Non-Believer
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Tuesday April 7, 2026
www.wenstrom.org
Ephesians Series: Ephesians 5:13b-The Godly Lives of Believers Reveal Sin in the Life of the Non-Believer
Lesson # 343
Ephesians 5:12 For these unfruitful activities being practiced by them secretly are a shameful disgrace to even mention. 13 However, because each and every one of these things are being habitually exposed by those who are characterized by spiritual light, they are being habitually revealed (as sin to those characterized by spiritual darkness and disobedience) by those who are characterized by spiritual light. (Lecturer’s translation)
Ephesians 5:13 is composed of the following:
(1) causal participial clause: ta de panta elenchomena hypo tou phōtos phaneroutai (τὰ πάντα ἐλεγχόμενα ὑπὸ τοῦ φωτὸς), “because each and every one of these things are being habitually exposed by those who are characterized by spiritual light. (Author’s translation)
(2) elliptical declarative statement: phaneroutai (φανεροῦται), “they are being habitually revealed (as sin to those who are characterized by spiritual darkness and disobedience) by those who are characterized by spiritual light. (Author’s translation)
The elliptical declarative statement in this verse contains the passive voice of the verb phaneroō (φανερόω), which means “to be revealed” since it pertains to causing something to be fully known by revealing clearly, which was previously secret and hidden from view.
Specifically, it speaks of the unfruitful activities practiced secretly by unregenerate humanity being revealed as sin to them by the godly lives of members of the Christian community.
The present tense of this verb is a customary present which indicates that the unfruitful activities practiced in secret by unregenerate humanity are being “habitually” or “regularly” revealed to unregenerate humanity as sin to them.
The passive voice of the verb phaneroō (φανερόω) indicates that the unfruitful activities practiced in secret by unregenerate humanity receives the action of being habitually revealed to unregenerate humanity as sin against a holy God by members of the Gentile Christian community in the Roman province of Asia living godly lives in obedience to Paul’s Spirit inspired apostolic teaching presented in this letter.
There is a distinction between the verb elegchō (ἐλέγχω) and the verb phaneroō (φανερόω) here in Ephesians 5:13.
Paul’s is not being redundant.
There are two different ideas expressed by these two verbs which are related to each other.
The former has the idea of the members of the Christian community living godly lives as “disclosing” the activities practiced by unregenerate humanity “as sinful and opposed to a holy God.”
The latter contains the idea of these activities being “revealed” to unregenerate humanity as sinful and which activities they practiced in secret and were hidden from public view.
Furthermore, we noted that the verb elegchō (ἐλέγχω) functions as a causal participle indicating that it is presenting the reason for the action of the verb phaneroō (φανερόω).
We noted this expresses the idea that the unfruitful activities practiced secretly by unregenerate humanity is being revealed publicly to them as sin “because” members of the Christian community are habitually exposing these activities as sinful by living holy lives in obedience to Paul’s Spirit inspired apostolic teaching.
In other words, Ephesians 5:13 is teaching that the sinful activities of the non-believer are revealed to them as sin against a holy God by the godly lives of members of the Christian community because the latter is exposing them as such.
Both the action of “exposing” and “revealing” are performed by church age believers living their lives in obedience to Paul’s Spirit inspired apostolic teaching.
Ephesians 5:8-9 asserts the recipients of this letter must continue to make it their habit of living their lives as enlightened children of God because the fruit, which is unique to the light and produced by the light is characterized by the fullest expression of the practice of goodness, which is divine in quality and character.
It is also characterized by the fullest expression of the practice of righteousness, which is also divine in quality and character and is also characterized by the fullest expression of the practice of truth, which is also divine in quality and character.
So therefore, the Holy Spirit is revealing the activities practiced by unregenerate humanity as being sinful to them “because” of the members of Christian community living godly lives, which are in obedience to the Spirit’s teaching in Scripture.
The purpose of which is to convict the members of unregenerate humanity of their sin through the godly actions of the members of the Christian community with the result that they will see their need to trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior in order to avoid the wrath of God forever in the lake of fire.
This is indicated by the contents of Ephesians 5:14.
Ephesians 5:14 For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says: “Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!” (NET)
This is what took place with the recipients of the Ephesian epistle, who we noted were members of the Gentile Christian community in the Roman province of Asia, who prior to justification were also characterized by spiritual darkness.
Ephesians 5:6 Continue to make it your habit to never let absolutely anyone cause any one of you to be deceived by means of words devoid of truth because these things are the reason why the one and only God’s wrath is and will be exercised for His own glory against those members of the human race characterized by disobedience. 7 Therefore, each and every one of you as a corporate unit for your own benefit must continue to not make it your habit of conducting your lives as fellow partakers with them. 8 For each and every one of you as a corporate unity formerly were characterized by spiritual darkness. However, each and every one of you as a corporate unit now at the present time are characterized by spiritual light. Like enlightened children, each and every one of you as a corporate unit must continue to make it your habit of living your lives. (Lecturer’s translation)
This principle taught by Paul in Ephesians 5:13 is also taught by the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 3:19 Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed. 21 But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God. (NET)