“WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY”

A BIBLE EXPOSITION ON LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 5:15

BY

REVD CANON ADEBOLA OJOFEITIMI

“WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY”
A Bible Exposition on Epistle to the Ephesians Chapter 5:15

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise...” KJV

Our Theme
Our theme “Walk circumspectly” coined from Ephesians 5:15 is a part of a long instructive writing of Apostle Paul to believers at Ephesus who Paul describes “...saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephes. 1:1b). It is therefore an appropriate theme for a gathering like this. We are faithful in Christ Jesus and saints of God in the Diocese of Lagos.
The two central words making up our theme are “walk” and “circumspect”, these words taking literally seem ordinary and convey little or no deep meaning but in strictest sense are loaded with cryptic message that must be unveiled. And that is my assignment in this segment of our retreat. I have absolute faith in the Holy Spirit whose brain child is the Holy Scripture that He will illuminate our hearts as we unfold the mystery of His word.
Introduction
Letter to the Ephesians is one of the 4 prison letters of Apostle Paul. It was written to encourage the personal faith of believers in Ephesus. It became necessary for Paul to do so because of the problems facing the church at that time. As gathered from records, Ephesus was a city on the western shore of now modern day Turkey. Like Lagos, it was famous for its trade, art and science, but it was even more renowned for its Temple of Diana (goddess of fertility and good sex). This conferred on the city a cosmopolitan status – containing people of different backgrounds and influenced by various types of cultural and religious practices. It was in this setting that the Church at Ephesus operated. For its harshness to Godliness believers found it difficult to stand out in the crowd. They were kind of choked by the prevailing practices. Consequently, it was impossible to tell a believer from an unbeliever. Paul who had laboured to see the birth of the church had to write this encouraging letter to remind them of their new status in Christ and expected responsibility.
Analysis of the Theme
“Walk” is the first word in our theme. The word translated “walk” in our text is “peripateo” which means ‘to tread all around’, “to walk about here and there” (especially as proof of ability) or to follow (as a companion or votary), to go, be occupied with as found in passages like Matt. 4:18; 9:5; 11:5; 1Cor.3:3; 7:17; 2Jn 1:4, 6; 3Jn. 1:3ff, Rom. 6:4, Gal. 5:16, 17 etc. From the usage of this word in the New Testament, it is clear that it could be used literally or metaphorically. In Matt. 4:18 it is used literally to capture Jesus’ action at that time (his walking beside the sea) while it is used figuratively in Gal.5:16 as well as in other passages of occurrence.
Paul known for his wealth of experience would have employed figurative expression to get his message across to highly educated and elitist church like the one at Ephesus. Hence, the profuse usages of the word “walk” by him in this epistle occurring in Ephesians 2:2, 10; 4:1, 2 & 17; 5:1&2, 8, 15.
“Walk” in the Context of Ephesians 5:15
In this verse and in other usage in the letter to the Ephesians, the word “walk” is used figuratively to mean “making one’s way, making progress, making due use of one’s opportunities, to live, to regulate one’s life, to conduct oneself, leading a life”. This agrees with the most of the New Testament uses as “daily conduct of one’s life or how one orders his/her behaviour or passes his/her life i.e. “the whole round of the activities of the individual life”. This word is synonymous with words like “stoicheo” – meaning “to range in regular line” “to march in (military) rank” i.e. “to keep step” “to conform to virtue and piety” “walk orderly” (cf Gal. 5:25; 6:16, Phil. 3:16 etc.)
“Circumspectly” is the second leg of our theme. It is Greek word akribos which means exactness, thoroughness, precision, accuracy in addition to the associated idea of looking, examining and investigating something with great care and alertness. The word akribos also pertains to strict conformity to a norm or standard, involving both detail and completeness, with focus on careful attention. In context akribos refers to ethical behaviour with a focus on careful attention especially regarding the dangers and deceptions that continually assault us from our mortal enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil.
Considered in English the word circumspect is of Latin origin, it is made up of combination of two words circum meaning ‘around’ + specere meaning ‘look’. In this sense it conveys the literal picture of looking around or figuratively being cautious.
Various translations have captured the passage differently but having the same meaning. The under listed are some of them: The Text in Various Versions

1. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,...” KJV 2. “Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise...”. 3. “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise,...” NIV 4. “Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning and purpose of life but as those who do.” 16 Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties of these days.” (J.B. Phillips New Testament) 5. “Take heed therefore that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.” (1599 Geneva Bible) 6. “Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk – not as unwise people but as wise”. (Holman Christian Standard Bible) 7. “Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people).” (Amplified Bible) 8. “So watch your steps. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times”. (Message) 9. “So be careful how you live; be mindful of your steps. Don’t run around like idiots as the rest of the world does. Instead walk as the wise.” (Voice Bible) 10. “So be careful to live your life wisely, not foolishly.” (Common English Bible) Having considered the two legs of the theme we can conveniently unveil the hidden meaning of our theme let us consider those things we are to look around for:
In Ephesians 4:17, Paul having located Ephesians’ Christian in Christ kingdom and how it came about admonished them thus: “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking”.
“...that you must no longer live...” implies that believers at Ephesus were already enmeshed in loose life of the unbelievers which are improper for God’s holy people. He goes on to give a list of the decadence prevalent among them. 1. Sensuality (4:19, 5:3) – This bothers on physical feeling and physical pleasure. 2. Falsehood (4:25) – Deceit was rampant. 3. Rage of anger (4:26) – Leading to malice v. 31 4. Greed leading to stealing (4:28, 5:3) 5. Unwholesome talk (4:29, 5:4) – col. 4:6 6. Bitterness (5:3) 7. Brawling/ slander 4:31
Implication of the theme for us as leaders
Who are leaders? Every leader is an appointee of God. He is a delegated authority of the Most High. Leadership at every level is a stewardship. It is a trust for which each leader must give account. It is important to note therefore that it is to God we may become a disappointment if we fail in our duty. It is therefore imperative for us to take heed to the instruction of our theme for this retreat. It shouldn’t be optional rather it should be for us a must why because 1. As leaders, we are called to be models to others in other words we should be examples to copy. Writer of letter to the Hebrews in Chapter 13:7 corroborate this fact when he said “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith”. Also Apostle Paul in 2Thess. 3:7 affirms the same point by remind the Thessalonians of their responsibility of following their example. People look up to us as leaders. Most innocent errors of new converts or the led are as a result of the bad behaviours of most leaders. The silence influence of our character matters a lot. 2. Another incentive to walk circumspectly is stated in Ephesians 1:4 “for he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight”. 3. Also our walk (our conduct, the life we lead, our behaviour etc) must complement our calling. “Action they say speak louder than voice”. We should be Acts of the Apostles Chapter 29. 4. God wants us to be for the praise of his glory. It by our life that this can be possible. Col. 3: 5. The devil is seeking to destroy our soul. Peter said “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” 1Peter 5:8. When we understand that the devil is actively trying to cause us to fall into sin, we see the need to walk circumspectly. The situation is like a person walking in the den of snakes, he will watch every step he takes, making sure that there is nothing lurking in the shadows which might attack him.
Examples for us 1. Noah in his generation
Noah was a man who lived circumspectly in his generation. He was a man who stood alone in a godless culture, a man whom God chose the father of the new world because he walked with God (Gen. 6:9). His walk consisted in his readiness to do everything just as God commanded it. See Genesis 6:22 2. Joseph the dreamer
Joseph Ben Isaac was another man who walked circumspectly. He purposed in His heart not to act wickedly and sin against God. Gen 39:9b. Even when he was at the receiving end of his brethren’s wickedness he never repaid evil with evil. He positioned himself as channel of blessing to his generation without defrauding anyone. 3. Disciples of Jesus except Judas Iscariot – all walked circumspectly and lived life worthy of the Lord that when the heathen saw them in Antioch referred to them as “followers of Christ” because of their lifestyle which exemplified Christ’s kind of life(Acts 11:19-26). We shouldn’t be the ones to introduce ourselves that we are Christians our conduct should.
Wise Up
Anyone can walk circumspectly as demanded in the text but not everyone can decipher or discern from options to choose right. For this reason Paul introduced the subject of wisdom.
Wise (Sophos)- that the practical application of acquired knowledge and the ability to use that knowledge for correct behaviour ICor.6:5. We need wisdom which preserves in rectitude, guides amidst temptation and affords a lesson of constituency to surrounding spectators.
Our wisdom will assist in redeeming the time. One writer Ray Pritcher says “these are evil days, not only because of widespread fears and tension and violence, but also because of materialism that create such hollowness and emptiness within. But what is the result? It is evil days that make people want to know the truth about God. It is evil days that give us opportunity to demonstrate Christian life if we wise up.
Conclusion
To walk circumspectly is to conduct ourselves or behave or lead our life carefully in strict conformity to the Kingdom standard in the light of our exalted position and privilege as beloved children of God. It is to attain to our full potential as women who are in Christ. Our walk should be characterised by walk in love Ephes 5:2 and walk as children of light Ephes 5:8. To walk in an unwise manner means to descend from the high plane and privilege to the profane practices of the fallen world. May we never descend from our lofty position in Christ Jesus till He appears to take us with Himself into His everlasting glory.