for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just saying you used to be dark and now have light; it declares a radical transformation where you were darkness itself, and now are light in the Lord. This means you're not just passively enlightened, but actively radiate the divine light you now possess because of your union with Christ.
for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is building on his call to imitate God and walk in love, urging believers to abandon their former sinful lives, which were characterized by impurity and greed. He contrasts their past state of spiritual ignorance and sin with their new identity in Christ, emphasizing the radical transformation that has taken place. This shift from darkness to light sets the stage for his commands about how they should now live as God's beloved children.
Before Christ, you weren't just in darkness; you were darkness. What does this profound shift mean?
Paul uses a powerful metaphor here. In the first part of the verse, "ye were sometimes darkness," he's not just saying you lived in dark places or times. The original language suggests something more profound: the very essence of your being was characterized by darkness – ignorance, sin, and separation from God. Think of it as darkness personified.
But then, the incredible transformation: "now you are light in the Lord." This isn't just a small improvement; it's a complete redefinition. You aren't just in the light; you are now light, but crucially, it's "in the Lord." This means your new identity as light is entirely dependent on and united with Christ, who is the ultimate Light. Your light isn't self-generated; it's a reflection and a result of your union with Him.
Your past identity was darkness, your present is light in the Lord. So, how are you supposed to live now?
The verse doesn't just state a change in identity; it calls for a change in behavior. "Walk as children of light." This command is the natural outflow of your new nature.
Just as 'children of disobedience' (a phrase Paul uses elsewhere) live out their inherited characteristic, 'children of light' are meant to live out theirs. This means your actions, decisions, and way of life should now be characterized by the qualities associated with light: truth, holiness, goodness, and love. It's about reflecting the character of God, who is the source of all light, in your daily life. It’s a call to live distinctly from the darkness you once embodied.
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Understand the original words
skotos · Greek Noun
A state of spiritual ignorance, sin, moral corruption, and separation from God. It represents the condition of humanity apart from the redemptive work of Christ.
phōs · Greek Noun
The spiritual condition of holiness, truth, knowledge of God, and moral purity resulting from union with Christ. Light reveals the truth and exposes sin.
peripateite · Greek Verb
A metaphorical description of one's lifestyle. In Scripture, it refers to the ongoing, practical conduct of a person’s life in accordance with their spiritual identity.
This verse speaks to the radical transformation experienced by believers in the Roman world, moving from a pervasive spiritual darkness to becoming 'light' through their union with Christ, a stark contrast to their former lives and the surrounding culture.
Early 1st century AD
Life in the Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was a complex society with significant moral and spiritual decay, where paganism, emperor worship, and various mystery cults were common. Many lived in ignorance of the true God, participating in what the New Testament calls 'darkness.'
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
The pivotal events of Jesus's life, death, and resurrection laid the foundation for the Christian faith and offered a path from spiritual darkness to light.
c. AD 30-60
Spread of the Gospel
Following Jesus's ascension, his apostles and early followers began preaching the message of salvation throughout the Roman Empire, leading many from paganism and Judaism to embrace Christianity.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul's Imprisonment and Writing Ephesians
The Apostle Paul, while under house arrest in Rome, penned the Epistle to the Ephesians, addressing spiritual truths and practical exhortations to believers in Ephesus and beyond.
This passage echoes the transformation from darkness to light, describing God rescuing believers from the dominion of darkness and bringing them into the kingdom of His beloved Son.
1 Thessalonians 5:5It directly parallels the idea of being children of light, stating believers are children of light and children of day, contrasting with those who are of the night and darkness.
John 1:9This verse identifies Jesus as the true light that gives light to everyone, providing the foundational understanding for how believers become 'light in the Lord'.
Matthew 5:14Jesus calls believers 'the light of the world,' a concept directly tied to Paul's exhortation to 'walk as children of light' by letting their light shine.
Romans 13:12This verse further elaborates on the 'walking' aspect, urging believers to 'put off the works of darkness' and 'put on the armor of light,' aligning with the transition from darkness to light.
barnesEphesians 5:8: "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:"
For ye were sometimes darkness - see the Ephesians 2:11-12 notes; 1 Corinthians 6:11 note. The meaning here is, that they were themselves formerly sunk in the same ignorance, and practiced the same abominations. But now are ye light in the Lord - Light is the emblem of happiness, knowledge, holiness. The meaning is, that they had been enlightened by the Lord to see the evil of these pra…
jfbEphesians 5:8: "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:"
- sometimes—"once." The emphasis is on "were." Ye ought to have no fellowship with sin, which is darkness, for your state as darkness is now PAST. Stronger than "in darkness" (Ro 2:19).light—not merely "enlightened"; but light enlightening others (Eph 5:13).in—in union with the Lord, who is THE LIGHT.children of light—not merely "of the light"; just as "children of disobedience" is use…
This verse isn't just saying you used to be dark and now have light; it declares a radical transformation where you were darkness itself, and now are light in the Lord. This means you're not just passively enlightened, but actively radiate the divine light you now possess because of your union with Christ.
Paul is building on his call to imitate God and walk in love, urging believers to abandon their former sinful lives, which were characterized by impurity and greed. He contrasts their past state of spiritual ignorance and sin with their new identity in Christ, emphasizing the radical transformation that has taken place. This shift from darkness to light sets the stage for his commands about how they should now live as God's beloved children.
Paul is building on his call to imitate God and walk in love, urging believers to abandon their former sinful lives, which were characterized by impurity and greed. He contrasts their past state of spiritual ignorance and sin with their new identity in Christ, emphasizing the radical transformation that has taken place. This shift from darkness to light sets the stage for his commands about how they should now live as God's beloved children.
"for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light" — This verse isn't just saying you used to be dark and now have light; it declares a radical transformation where you were darkness itself, and now are light in the Lord. This means you're not…
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Last reviewed October 2026