The Epistles · Chapter 4 of 6

Ephesians 4

Paul turns from doctrine to daily life, urging believers to walk worthy of their calling in humility, gentleness, and patience, keeping the unity of the Spirit. He describes one body with many gifts given by the ascended Christ to build the church to maturity. He then calls readers to put off the old self and put on the new, speaking truth, working honestly, and being kind and forgiving as God forgave them.

What happens in Ephesians 4

Paul, a prisoner for the Lord, begins the practical half of the letter by pleading with believers to walk worthy of their calling in lowliness, meekness, patience, and forbearance, keeping the unity of the Spirit. He grounds unity in a sevenfold oneness: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. The ascended Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip the saints and build up his body until all reach maturity, growing up into Christ the head.

Paul then contrasts the old life with the new. Believers must put off the old corrupt self and put on the new self created in righteousness and holiness. He gives concrete instructions: speak truth, be angry without sinning, steal no more but work and give, let only words that build up proceed. He ends by calling for kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness, just as God forgave them in Christ.

Ephesians 4 in context

Chapter four marks the pivot of Ephesians from what God has done to how believers should live in response. Having spent three chapters on the riches of grace and the unity of Jew and Gentile in one body, Paul now applies these truths to church life and personal conduct.

The theme of unity carries over into practical calls for maturity, gifted ministry, honest speech, and a transformed character shaped by forgiveness.

Main themes of Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4 (KJV)

1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are 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. 7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 17This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20But ye have not so learned Christ; 21If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27Neither give place to the devil. 28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Verses to carry from Ephesians 4

“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”Ephesians 4:3

“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”Ephesians 4:15

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”Ephesians 4:32

Reflection

Consider one relationship where you are holding bitterness. Ephesians four calls you to forgive as you have been forgiven and to let your words build others up rather than tear them down. Growth into Christ is measured not only in knowledge but in how gently and honestly you treat the people around you.

A prayer from Ephesians 4