But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus (Eph 4:20-21 KJV)Did you catch it? The majority of translations talk about hearing Christ. A very few talk about hearing about Christ. The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary specifically mentions, "The 'Him' is emphatic: 'heard Himself,' not merely heard about Him." Now, frankly, the text doesn't seem to make sense if it is "about Him." It specifies "and were taught in Him." How is that significant? "The truth is in Jesus." Jesus said that, too (John 14:6). Jesus also said, "If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).
But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus (Eph 4:20-21 NAS)
But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you heard Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus. (Eph 4:20-21 LITV)
But that is not the way you learned Christ! — assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus. (Eph 4:20-21)
Paul is calling on believers to hear Christ. To learn from Christ.To learn the truth. Christ speaks today ... from His Word, from the Spirit. We ought to be listening. Do you hear Him? Paul says, "if indeed you heard Him." If you're not hearing Him in His Word, perhaps there's a more serious problem.
4 comments:
And this is why this "dusty old book" is still relevant today. How can we hear Christ speak and learn from Him without His Word? I hear these people that come up with different ideas about God and Jesus that contradict what the Bible says, and I have to ask, "Says who?"
Which raises the obvious question (which you touch on), where does one "hear" Christ in 2025? I'm not discounting the possibility of Christ actually speaking to someone, I acknowledge the it would be extremely rare for Him to do so. Which leaves only 3 options that I can see.
1. Scripture
2. The Holy Spirit
3. The Church/other believers
If that is the case, then anyone who isn't onboard with scripture actually being "God breathed" and a way to hear Christ, might find it difficult.
[The text] specifies "and were taught in Him." How is that significant? "The truth is in Jesus." Jesus said that, too (John 14:6).
These words made me think immediately of both John 1:1 and Hebrews 1:1. The true Word of God left the Father’s side to come to earth to speak to us in the flesh. I find it mind-boggling that all the truth of God was embodied in one Man and that we have access to Truth personified through Jesus Christ’s words, actions, teachings, and example. Now, through Scripture, we not only hear and learn about or of Him but are taught in Him. (The thought of “becoming fluid in the truth” comes to mind.) The more I hear Jesus--Truth incarnate--the more I will experience the very Truth of the transcendent God. Personally, that is an incomparable opportunity that I esteem above all.
In my comment above, I meant to type "becoming fluent in the truth," not "fluid."
Post a Comment