Ephesians 4 is a significant chapter within the New Testament book of Ephesians, written by the Apostle Paul to the early Christian church in Ephesus, a city located in modern-day Turkey. The book of Ephesians is generally considered to have been written around A.D. 60-62, during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome. The letter focuses on the themes of unity, spiritual growth, and the transformation of believers through the grace and power of Jesus Christ.
In Ephesians 4, Paul emphasizes the importance of unity within the body of Christ and the role of each member in building up the Church. He implores the believers to live a life worthy of their calling and to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. The chapter can be divided into three main sections:
- Unity and Spiritual Gifts (Ephesians 4:1-16): Paul begins by exhorting the Ephesians to live in a manner worthy of their calling as Christians, which includes humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love. He then goes on to describe the unity that exists among believers, highlighting the oneness of the faith, the Spirit, and the body of Christ. Paul also discusses the diverse spiritual gifts given to each believer and the roles of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. These gifts and roles are meant to equip the saints for works of ministry, promote unity, and build up the body of Christ.
- Transformation and Renewal (Ephesians 4:17-24): In this section, Paul contrasts the old way of life, characterized by sinful desires and corrupt practices, with the new life in Christ. He urges the Ephesians to put off the old self and to be renewed in the spirit of their minds, embracing the new self created in the likeness of God. This transformation involves replacing deceitful desires with righteousness and holiness.
- Practical Instructions for Christian Living (Ephesians 4:25-32): Finally, Paul provides practical instructions for living out the new life in Christ. He encourages the Ephesians to speak truthfully, deal with anger constructively, work honestly, and use words that build up and encourage others. He also admonishes them to let go of bitterness, wrath, anger, and slander, and to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, just as God has forgiven them in Christ.
Ephesians 4 is a foundational chapter that teaches the importance of unity within the Church, the transformative power of the Gospel, and the need for believers to live according to their new identity in Christ. Through these teachings, Paul offers a blueprint for spiritual growth and the building up of the body of Christ.
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Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one bodyand one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all,who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.8 This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Instructions for Christian Living
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longerlive as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of Godbecause of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfullyto your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
Ephesians 4 : 1
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Ephesians 4 : 2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4 : 3
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4 : 4
There is one bodyand one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
Ephesians 4 : 5
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Ephesians 4 : 6
one God and Father of all,who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4 : 7
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
Ephesians 4 : 8
This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
Ephesians 4 : 9
(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
Ephesians 4 : 10
He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
Ephesians 4 : 11
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
Ephesians 4 : 12
to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Ephesians 4 : 13
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4 : 14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
Ephesians 4 : 15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
Ephesians 4 : 16
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Instructions for Christian Living
Ephesians 4 : 17
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longerlive as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
Ephesians 4 : 18
They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of Godbecause of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
Ephesians 4 : 19
Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
Ephesians 4 : 20
That, however, is not the way of life you learned
Ephesians 4 : 21
when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
Ephesians 4 : 22
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
Ephesians 4 : 23
to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
Ephesians 4 : 24
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4 : 25
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfullyto your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Ephesians 4 : 26
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
Ephesians 4 : 27
and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4 : 28
Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
Ephesians 4 :29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4 : 30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4 : 31
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Ephesians 4 : 32
Be kind and compassionate to one another,forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
