Ephesians4

Paul exhorts believers to walk worthy of their calling, maintaining unity in the Spirit through lowliness, meekness, and love, recognizing the singular nature of God, Lord, faith, and body. He explains that Christ gave diverse spiritual gifts for the church's edification and maturity, preventing them from being swayed by false doctrines. Believers are urged to abandon their former Gentile ways, putting off the "old man" and putting on the "new man" characterized by truth, righteousness, and mutual forgiveness. This transformation is to be evident in their ethical conduct and communication.

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Call to Walk Worthy of Calling

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called,

with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling;

one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.

Gifts for the Unity of the Body

But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men.

(Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?

He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:

till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ;

from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.

Putting Off the Old Man

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind,

being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart;

who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

But ye did not so learn Christ;

if so be that ye heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:

that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit;

and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Specific Commands for the New Life

Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

neither give place to the devil.

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need.

Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice:

and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.

Study Notes for Ephesians 4

Verse 1

Paul transitions from the great theological truths of chapters 1–3 to the practical ethical demands of Christian living (chapters 4–6). Being a 'prisoner of the Lord' lends authority to his appeal for humble obedience.

Verse 3

Unity is not something the church creates, but something it must maintain ('endeavouring to keep'). The Holy Spirit establishes the unity; peace is the 'bond' that holds believers together practically.

Verse 6

Verses 4–6 list the 'seven ones,' stressing the non-negotiable theological foundations of the Christian life. This profound theological unity demands practical relational unity among believers.

Verse 7

While unity is stressed, diversity in gifting is also divine. Grace here refers specifically to the enablement and spiritual gifts distributed by Christ to every believer for service.

Verse 8

Paul quotes Psalm 68:18 (adapting it slightly) to prove Christ’s authority to dispense gifts following His victorious ascension. 'He led captivity captive' refers to Christ triumphing over the powers of sin and death.

Verse 9

The 'lower parts of the earth' refers either to Christ’s descent into the grave/Hades or simply to His humiliation in the Incarnation, contrasting with His ascension 'far above all heavens.'

Verse 11

These roles represent Christ's structural gifts to the church, designed to equip the entire body. The grouping 'pastors and teachers' often indicates a single office combining two functions: leading and instructing.

Verse 12

This verse clarifies the threefold purpose of ministry: equipping the saints (believers), performing the service (ministry), and building up (edifying) the church.

Verse 13

The ultimate goal of ministry is corporate maturity ('a perfect man'), defined by spiritual stability and full knowledge of Christ, reaching His standard of spiritual completeness.

Verse 15

Maturity involves 'speaking the truth in love,' balancing conviction with compassion, ensuring that growth is always directed toward Christ, the Head of the church.

Verse 16

The body metaphor illustrates how every individual part must function effectively ('effectual working in the measure of every part') for the entire church to grow and increase in love.

Verse 17

Paul issues a direct command based on the contrast between the life received in Christ and the futile, morally corrupt way of life characteristic of unregenerate paganism ('other Gentiles').

Verse 18

Describes the spiritual alienation of the unregenerate: intellectual futility, spiritual separation ('alienated from the life of God'), and moral callousness due to willful ignorance.

Verse 22

Verses 22–24 summarize the ethical demand of conversion using the metaphor of changing clothes: 'Put off' the corrupt old life, 'be renewed' inwardly, and 'put on' the new, righteous life.

Verse 25

The first specific command addresses truthfulness, motivated by the theological reality that believers are interconnected members of one body.

Verse 26

This command, likely referencing Psalm 4:4, acknowledges that anger is a natural emotion but strictly limits its duration and expression, lest it become sinful.

Verse 27

Unresolved anger provides the devil a 'place' or foothold (Gk. *topos*), allowing negative influences to take root in the believer's life or community.

Verse 28

Conversion results in an ethical reversal: stealing is replaced by diligent labor, motivated by the desire not just for self-sufficiency but to provide for the needy.

Verse 29

Addresses the use of language. 'Corrupt communication' (Gk. *sapros*, meaning rotten or worthless) must be replaced by speech that is constructive, positive, and ministers grace to the hearers.

Verse 30

The Holy Spirit seals believers as God's guaranteed possession until the final day of redemption. Sinful behavior, especially malice and bitterness, is viewed as personally grieving the Spirit who lives within them.

Verse 32

The pinnacle of Christian ethics: forgiveness toward others is mandatory and must be modeled after the radical, gracious, and unconditional forgiveness God has demonstrated toward believers through Christ.

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Ephesians4

Call to Walk Worthy of Calling

Gifts for the Unity of the Body

Putting Off the Old Man

Specific Commands for the New Life

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