John Calvin Commentary Ephesians 4:25

"Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another." — Ephesians 4:25 (ASV)

Wherefore, putting away lying. From this head of doctrine, that is, from the righteousness of the new man, all godly exhortations flow like streams from a fountain; for if all the precepts which relate to life were collected, yet without this principle, they would be of little value.

Philosophers take a different method; but, in the doctrine of godliness, there is no other way than this for regulating the life. Now, therefore, he comes to lay down particular exhortations, drawn from the general doctrine.

Having concluded from the truth of the gospel that righteousness and holiness ought to be true, he now argues from the general statement to a particular instance: that every man should speak truth with his neighbour. Lying is here used to mean every kind of deceit, hypocrisy, or cunning; and truth for honest dealing.

He demands that every kind of communication between them should be sincere, and enforces it by this consideration: for we are members one of another. That members should not agree among themselves, — that they should act in a deceitful manner towards each other, is prodigious wickedness.