But you have not so learned Christ,
Truth to Learn
We can only learn Christ by faith.
Behind the Words
“So” is translated from houtōs, which literally means “in this manner.” It is a comparative word which, when used with the negative article ou as it is here, indicates a sharp contrast.
“Have … learned” is translated from the Greek verb manthanō, which means “to learn.” It is applied primarily to intentional learning that comes as a result of listening to teaching. It is expressed here in the Aorist tense indicating past completed action. Thus, we could translate this verse as: “But you did not learn Christ this way.”
Meaning Explained
In the opening part of this chapter we pointed out that in the first three chapters of this letter to the Ephesians Paul focuses on doctrine, whereas in the last three chapters he focuses on duty. Early in this chapter he spoke of the special gifting that every Christian has been given. We are to use these gifts to serve and strengthen our brothers and sisters in the church. As we do so, we become more and more a united body.
In verse seventeen Paul then introduced a new topic with regard to our duty in Christ. He told us not to live our lives in the way that the unsaved people of this world do. Because of sin, these people are in the dark regarding spiritual truth. As a result, they live their lives intellectually rather than spiritually. Because the unsaved live their lives intellectually, they put great emphasis on education and learning, but because they refuse to acknowledge God, they stay in the dark. Here’s how Paul said it to the Romans:
because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, (Romans 1:21-22)
In verse eighteen of our current chapter Paul told us that they don’t understand God’s truth because of the hardness of their hearts. In his second letter to the Corinthians Paul explained why they continue to have such spiritual blindness:
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
Not only are they deprived of the light of God’s truth as a result of sin, Satan has blinded them to the truth of the gospel.
Paul now tells us that we have not learned Christ in the manner that the world learns. Notice that he did not say “learned about Christ.” There are many in the world who have learned about Christ but who have never submitted to His lordship. We did not learn Christ intellectually but through belief in the sacrificial death of Christ, the Son of God, as payment for our sins. We learned Christ by faith, not by intellectual means.
Application
Just because we learned Christ by faith doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t apply our intellect to learn how to serve Him better. The more we learn about Him and the more we grow our relationship with Him, the better we can serve Him.
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.