“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them — the sharp boundary: mē synkoinōneō ('do not participate') en ergois akarpois tou skotous ('in the unfruitful works of darkness'), instead elenchō ('expose,' 'convict') them, bringing them to light.
Church Fathers on Ephesians 5:11
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them. For the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of. But all things when they are reproved, are made manifest by the light.” He had said, “you are light.” Now the light reproves by exposing the things which take place in the darkness. So that if you, says he, are virtuous, and conspicuous, the wicked will be unable to lie hidden. For just as when a candle…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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