Ephesians Chapter 4 Series

Ephesians Chapter 4

Eph. 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

4:1 So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior--a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation],

A. With this chapter the second part of the letter begins. In the first three chapters Paul has dealt with the great and eternal truths of the Christian faith, and with the functions of the Church in the plan of God. Now he begins to sketch what each member of the Church must be if the Church it to carry out her part in the plan. (William Barclay)

B. Before we begin this chapter, let us again remind ourselves that the central thought of the letter is that Jesus has brought to a disunited world the way to unity. This way is through faith in him and it is the Church’s task to proclaim this message to all the world. And now Paul turns to the character the Christian must have if the Church is to fulfil her great task of being Christ’s instrument of universal reconciliation between man and man, and man and God within the world. (WB)

C. When a man enters into any society, he takes upon himself the obligation to live a certain kind of life; and if he fails in that obligation, he hinders the aims of his society and brings discredit on its name. Here Paul paints the picture of the kind of life that a man must live when he enters the fellowship of the Christian Church. (WB)

D. “I therefore”. Inference not only from last chapter, but the whole Epistle. Paul’s interest in the Ephesians led him to a double application of the great subject which he had expounded:

a. to ask God on their behalf that he would bestow on them the full measure of the blessing to which of his grace they were entitled (Eph_3:14-21); and

b. to entreat them on God’s behalf to live in a way befitting their high calling (Eph_4:6.). To this second application he proceeds now. (Pulpit Comm)

E. “The prisoner in the Lord”. Not merely "of the Lord," but e??, ????´??, the usual formula for vital communion with Christ, indicating that his captivity was the captivity of a part or member of the Lord. An exhortation from such a prisoner ought to fall with double weight. (PC)

F. “Beseech you to walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye were called”. Their call was to be God’s people; this not a mere speculative distinction, but one that must have practical form and that must lead to suitable fruit. True grace in the heart must show itself by true goodness in the life. They were not to conceal their religion, not to be ashamed of it, but to avow it and glory in it, and their lives were not to be disgraced by unworthy conduct, but to be brightened and elevated by their relation to Christ. (PC)

Eph. 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

4:2 with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another [a]in [unselfish] love.

A. “With all lowliness” –

a. Humility; where the same Greek word is used; compare also the following places, where the same Greek word occurs: Php_2:3, “in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves;” Col_2:18, “in a voluntary humility;” Col_2:23; Col_3:12; 1Pe_5:5. The word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. The idea is, that humility of mind becomes those who are “called” Eph_4:1, and that we walk worthy of that calling when we evince it. (Albert Barnes)

b. Or humility of mind, having mean thoughts of yourselves because of your former sinfulness and guilt, depravity, weakness, and misery, and your unworthiness of that mercy which God hath exercised toward you; and meekness — Maintaining calmness, serenity, and peace of mind, amid the infirmities and indiscretions of your Christian friends, and even amid the affronts and injuries of your enemies; with long-suffering. (Joseph Benson)

B. “And meekness” - Meekness relates to the manner in which we receive injuries. We are to bear them patiently, and not to retaliate, or seek revenge. The meaning here is, that; we adorn the gospel when we show its power in enabling us to bear injuries without anger or a desire of revenge, or with a mild and forgiving spirit; see 2Co_10:1; Gal_5:23; Gal_6:1; 2Ti_2:25; Tit_3:2; where the same Greek word occurs. (AB)

C. “With longsuffering”, ... - Bearing patiently with the foibles, faults, and infirmities of others; The virtue here required is that which is to be manifested in our manner of receiving the provocations which we meet with from our brethren. No virtue, perhaps, is more frequently demanded in our contact with others. We do not go far with any fellow-traveler on the journey of life, before we find there is great occasion for its exercise. He has a temperament different from our own. He may be sanguine, or choleric, or melancholy; while we may be just the reverse. He has peculiarities of taste, and habits, and disposition, which differ much from ours. He has his own plans and purposes of life, and his own way and time of doing things. He may be naturally irritable, or he may have been so trained that his modes of speech and conduct differ much from ours. Neighbors have occasion to remark this in their neighbors; friends in their friends; kindred in their kindred; one church-member in another. (AB)