And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Read Chapter 5
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
You are light, they are darkness; do you, therefore, show by the light of your good works how base and detestable their works of darkness are. (Estius)
No one is prepared to admonish sinners except one who does not deserve to be called a hypocrite [as with the account in Lk :]…. Only those prophets who were themselves unpolluted by any stain of sin were in a position to upbraid others for their wrongdoing. From this we learn that the one who is in the best position to reprimand is the one who cannot himself rightly be reprimanded in turn. .
Paul uses the term fruits in the case of the Spirit, works in the case of the sin nature. … In the present case he indeed is saying that the works of darkness are unfruitful. Those who do these works share an association with darkness. .
He has said, “you are light.” Light exposes what takes place in darkness. Insofar as you are light your goodness shines forth. The wicked are not able to hide. Their actions are illuminated as though a lamp were at hand. .
He had said, you are light. Now the light reproves by exposing the things which take place in the darkness. So that if you, says he, are virtuous, and conspicuous, the wicked will be unable to lie hidden. For just as when a candle is set, all are brought to light, and the thief cannot enter; so if your light shine, the wicked being discovered shall be caught. So then it is our duty to expose them. How then does our Lord say, Judge not, that you be not judged? Matthew 7:1-3 Paul did not say judge, he said reprove, that is, correct. And the words, Judge not, that you be not judged, He spoke with reference to very small errors. Indeed, He added, Why do you behold the mote that is in your brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in your own eye? But what Paul is saying is of this sort. As a wound, so long as it is imbedded and concealed outwardly, and runs beneath the surface, receives no attention, so also sin, as long as it is concealed, being as it were in darkness, is daring...
Also some professions liable to the charge of idolatry. Of astrologers there should be no speaking even;.
"Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; ".
What, moreover, used (the Spirit) to teach? That there must be no communicating with the works of darkness.
