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.

Call to Walk Worthy of Calling

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,

with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love;

being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

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

one Lord, one faith, one immersion,

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

Gifts for the Unity of the Body

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

Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”

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

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

He gave some to be emissaries; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;

for the perfecting of the holy ones, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Messiah;

until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Messiah;

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

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

from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

Putting Off the Old Man

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility 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 hearts;

who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

But you did not learn Messiah that way;

if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Yeshua:

that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit;

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

and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Specific Commands for the New Life

Therefore putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another.

“Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,

neither give place to the devil.

Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.

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

Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice.

And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Messiah 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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