Ephesians 4 is the fourth chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. Traditionally, it is believed to have been written by Apostle Paul while he was in prison in Rome (around AD 62), but more recently, it has been suggested that it was written between AD 80 and 100 by another writer using Paul's name and style.[1][2] This chapter is a part of Paul's exhortation (Ephesians 4–6), with the particular section about the mutual interdependence of the Christians as the church (verses 1–16) and how they should live in the world (4:17–5:20).[3]
Ephesians 4 | |
---|---|
Book | Epistle to the Ephesians |
Category | Pauline epistles |
Christian Bible part | New Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 10 |
The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 32 verses.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
Paul exhorts the church about its "calling", to live the whole life as a response to God's summons, while maintaining the unity in the Spirit; this a common calling for every believer, regardless of rank or ability, focusing on one common Lord, Jesus.[3]
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,[9]
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.[12]
⁴There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.[13]
The "triadic" confession – one Spirit… one Lord… one God – in the verses 4–6 recalls the scope of the unity in the church.[3]
This section can be seen as an elaboration of Romans 12:4–8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4–31, emphasizing that the church as Christ's body can only function effectively with the recognition of each church member's function within the body, and each individual function is appointed and made to work effectively by the enabling from Christ.[14]
Therefore He says:
"When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men."[15]
Psalm 68:18 reads:
You have ascended on high,
You have led captivity captive;
You have received gifts among men,
Even from the rebellious,
That the Lord God might dwell there.[16]
— And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,[17]
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;[19]
Stretching to 5:20, this part gives a general all-purpose set of instruction, with the classic "put off (vices) and put on (virtues)" in verses 22–32, using the familiar imagery of changing clothes for changing the character and lifestyle.[21]