This last verse was a first in another way, too: the object of the verb ‘elencho’ was impersonal, so that it meant not to ‘show up’ a wrong-doer, but to ‘show clearly’ a truth. There are two other instances of this usage. In John 3. 18-20 (a passage relevant to 16.8 in several ways), Jesus is referred to, as in John’s great prologue, as ‘the Light’: “he who puts his faith in him is not condemned”; but, tragically, “men loved darkness more than the Light”. Why was this ? “Because their actions were evil”, so that they avoid the light “so that their actions may not be exposed by it” – or “revealed for what they are”, or “shown up” ('elencho'). Just as Jesus in his earthly ministry and in his human form showed up people’s sinfulness for what it was, so now, through his Spirit, the ‘Jesus-substitute’, he shows up the sinfulness of our lives by shining on them the pure light of his own perfection – just as we do not realise how dirty our windows are until the sun shines through them. Paul seems to have these verses in mind when he writes to the Ephesians: “Walk as children of light” (5.8 – present continuous imperative again: ‘keep on walking’). Christians, too, in their witness to the world, are to be ‘Jesus-substitutes’. Jesus said both “I am the light of the world” (John 8.12), and “you are the light of the world” (Matt 5.14). ‘Walking in the light’ seems to be the equivalent of ‘walking in the Spirit’ (Gal 5.16); as the Spirit fills our lives with the light of Christ, so we can reflect that light into the world around us. “So”, Paul urges the Ephesisns, “do not associate in any way with the fruitless works of darkness, but rather ‘show them up’('elencho') for what they are; for everything that is ‘shown up’ by the light becomes clear” (vv. 11, 13). One of the ways in which the ‘parakletos’ “convicts the world of sin” is through the shining lives of faithful Christians. Sinful behaviour may be ‘shown up’ not only by the Christlike behaviour of Christians but also by the Christlike standard of righteousness prescribed by the law. James quotes the ‘royal law’, “love you neighbour as yourself”, and then goes on to say that those who, within the fellowship of the church, give preferential treatment to the rich, offering them comfortable chairs while making the poor sit on the floor, are ‘shown up’ by the law as transgressors (James 2.9).
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
[Parakletos] 'elencho' d: to 'show up'
This last verse was a first in another way, too: the object of the verb ‘elencho’ was impersonal, so that it meant not to ‘show up’ a wrong-doer, but to ‘show clearly’ a truth. There are two other instances of this usage. In John 3. 18-20 (a passage relevant to 16.8 in several ways), Jesus is referred to, as in John’s great prologue, as ‘the Light’: “he who puts his faith in him is not condemned”; but, tragically, “men loved darkness more than the Light”. Why was this ? “Because their actions were evil”, so that they avoid the light “so that their actions may not be exposed by it” – or “revealed for what they are”, or “shown up” ('elencho'). Just as Jesus in his earthly ministry and in his human form showed up people’s sinfulness for what it was, so now, through his Spirit, the ‘Jesus-substitute’, he shows up the sinfulness of our lives by shining on them the pure light of his own perfection – just as we do not realise how dirty our windows are until the sun shines through them. Paul seems to have these verses in mind when he writes to the Ephesians: “Walk as children of light” (5.8 – present continuous imperative again: ‘keep on walking’). Christians, too, in their witness to the world, are to be ‘Jesus-substitutes’. Jesus said both “I am the light of the world” (John 8.12), and “you are the light of the world” (Matt 5.14). ‘Walking in the light’ seems to be the equivalent of ‘walking in the Spirit’ (Gal 5.16); as the Spirit fills our lives with the light of Christ, so we can reflect that light into the world around us. “So”, Paul urges the Ephesisns, “do not associate in any way with the fruitless works of darkness, but rather ‘show them up’('elencho') for what they are; for everything that is ‘shown up’ by the light becomes clear” (vv. 11, 13). One of the ways in which the ‘parakletos’ “convicts the world of sin” is through the shining lives of faithful Christians. Sinful behaviour may be ‘shown up’ not only by the Christlike behaviour of Christians but also by the Christlike standard of righteousness prescribed by the law. James quotes the ‘royal law’, “love you neighbour as yourself”, and then goes on to say that those who, within the fellowship of the church, give preferential treatment to the rich, offering them comfortable chairs while making the poor sit on the floor, are ‘shown up’ by the law as transgressors (James 2.9).
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