Ephesians 5.12-Paul Addresses the Content of the Conversations Between Members of the Christian Community with Each Other
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday April 2, 2026
Ephesians Series: Ephesians 5:12-Paul Addresses the Content of the Conversations Between Members of the Christian Community with Each Other
Lesson # 341
Ephesians 5:12 For these unfruitful activities being practiced by them secretly are a shameful disgrace to even mention. (Lecturer’s translation)
In Ephesians 5:12, Paul is employing the figure of ellipsis, which means he is deliberately omitting the neuter plural form of the noun ergon (ἒργον) and the neuter plural form of the adjective akarpos (ἄκαρπος), although they are clearly implied from Ephesians 5:11.
As we noted in our study of Ephesians 5:11, the noun ergon (ἒργον) is speaking of the actions or activities of those who belong to Satan’s cosmic world system and thus the word speaks of the activities or actions of the members of unregenerate humanity.
The adjective akarpos (ἄκαρπος) means “unfruitful, useless” because it pertains to having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully like a tree, which produces no fruit.
In context, it describes the activities or actions of unregenerate humanity as not fulfilling the purpose for which God created them in His image.
The nominative neuter plural form of the definite article ho (ὁ) is modifying these two words and is anaphoric, which means that the word is pointing back to these two words in Ephesians 5:11 indicating that these two words in Ephesians 5:12 retain the same meaning and referent as they had in Ephesians 5:11.
The article also indicates that these words constitute the nominative subject of the verb ginomai (γίνομαι), which means “to perform, to practice.”
Thus, the verb speaks of these unfruitful activities being “practiced” or “performed” by those members of the non-Christian community.
The verb ginomai (γίνομαι) is modified by the prepositional phrase hypʼ autōn (ὑπʼ αὐτῶν), which means “by them.”
The referent of the genitive third person masculine plural form of the intensive personal pronoun autos (αὐτός) is the members of the non-Christian community.
They are identified in Ephesians 5:6 as tous huious tēs apeitheias (τοὺς υἱοὺς τῆς ἀπειθείας), “those members of the human race characterized by disobedience.” (Lecturer’s translation)
The intensive personal pronoun autos (αὐτός) is the object of the preposition hupo (ὑπό), which identifies the members of the non-Christian community as the ultimate agency who are performing or practicing these unfruitful activities.
The verb ginomai (γίνομαι) is also modified by the adverb kryphē (κρυφῇ), which means “secretly” and is used in relation to the unfruitful activities practiced or performed by the members of the non-Christian community.
Therefore, it describes these unfruitful activities as being practiced or performed by them in a secretive manner and known only by them.
Now, in Ephesians 5:12, the verb eimi (εἰμί) means “to possess a particular characteristic,” which is identified by the nominative neuter singular form of the adjective aischros (αἰσχρός), which pertains to behaving in a disgraceful or shameful manner.
This adjective describes the fallen condition of the unregenerate members of the human race.
Specifically, it is describing the unfruitful activities practiced by those who belong to the kingdom of darkness as morally reprehensible in the judgment of a holy God.
This word function as a predicate nominative, which means that it is making the assertion that members of the Christian community speaking to each other in detail about these unfruitful activities practiced by the members of the non-Christian community exists in the state of being characterized as disgraceful or shameful.
The verb legō (λέγω) pertains to expressing something in words with emphasis upon the content of what is said.
In context, it is used in relation to the unfruitful activities practiced by the members of the non-Christian community.
The subject of this verb is the members of the Christian community speaking to each other about the unfruitful activities practiced by the members of the non-Christian community.
This is indicated by the fact that Ephesians 5:6-11 addresses the conduct of the members of the Christian community and now in Ephesians 5:12, he is addressing the conversations with each other.
The infinitive conjugation of the verb legō (λέγω) functions as a substantive infinitive, and specifically as the subject of the verb eimi (εἰμί).
Specifically, the entire clause ta…kryphē ginomena hypʼ autōn… legein (τὰ…κρυφῇ γινόμενα ὑπʼ αὐτῶν… λέγειν) is the subject of the verb eimi (εἰμί).
Therefore, members of the Christian community speaking in detail to each other about the unfruitful activities practiced by the members of the non-Christian community as the subject exists in the state of being characterized as disgraceful or shameful.
The conjunction kai (καί) is ascensive, which means that the members of the Christian community speaking with each other about the unfruitful activities practiced by the members of the non-Christian community is not only an addition to the practice of these unfruitful activities but is also out of the ordinary or unexpected and rises to a climax like the crescendo in music.
The implication is that not only does God consider it morally reprehensible to practice the unfruitful activities practiced by the members of the non-Christian community but also it is morally reprehensible for the Christian to even speak about these activities in detail.
So therefore, in Ephesians 5:12 the apostle Paul presents the reason for the previous prohibition and command in Ephesians 5:11.
Therefore, this indicates that the recipients of this letter must continue to make it their habit of not participating in the unfruitful activities produced by those who belong to the darkness and instead expose them because these activities they practice in secret are shamefully disgraceful even to mention in detail by members of the Christian community when speaking with each other.
The Gentile Christian community knows about these activities in detail because they practiced them as well before becoming Christians.
Ephesians 5:12 is addressing the content of the words the members of the Gentile Christian community employ when interacting with each other in relations to the sinful lifestyle of the non-Christian community.
However, in Ephesians 5:3, he addresses their actions in relation to the sinful lifestyle of the non-Christian community.
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. (Lecturer’s translation)
