Ephesians Chapter 4 marks a turning point in Paul’s letter, moving from theological foundations to practical instructions for Christian living. Paul begins by urging believers to walk in a manner worthy of their calling, emphasizing humility, gentleness, patience, and love as they strive to maintain unity in the Spirit. He highlights the oneness of the body of Christ, describing how there is one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all. Paul explains that Christ has given various gifts to believers, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, in order to equip the church for ministry and to build up the body of Christ until believers reach spiritual maturity.
The latter part of the chapter addresses the transformation that should take place in the lives of believers as they turn away from their former way of life, characterized by ignorance, hardness of heart, and sinful desires, and instead embrace a new life shaped by the truth of Christ. Paul instructs the Ephesians to put off the old self and put on the new self, calling them to practical holiness in areas such as speech, honesty, anger, and generosity. He emphasizes that believers should not grieve the Holy Spirit through sinful behavior, but instead should be kind, compassionate, and forgiving toward one another, just as God, through Christ, has forgiven them.
Chapter 4 (BBE)
1 I then, the prisoner in the Lord, make this request from my heart, that you will see that your behaviour is a credit to the position which God’s purpose has given you,
2 With all gentle and quiet behaviour, taking whatever comes, putting up with one another in love;
3 Taking care to keep the harmony of the Spirit in the yoke of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, even as you have been marked out by God in the one hope of his purpose for you;
6 One God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.
7 But to every one of us has grace been given in the measure of the giving of Christ.
8 For this reason he says, He went up on high, taking his prisoners with him, and gave freely to men.
9 (Now this, He went up, what is it but that he first went down into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who went down is the same who went up far over all the heavens so that he might make all things complete.)
11 And he gave some as Apostles, and some, prophets; and some, preachers of the good news; and some to give care and teaching;
12 For the training of the saints as servants in the church, for the building up of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come to the harmony of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to full growth, to the full measure of Christ:
14 So that we may be no longer children, sent this way and that, turned about by every wind of teaching, by the twisting and tricks of men, by the deceits of error;
15 But saying true words in love, may come to full growth in him, who is the head, even Christ;
16 Through whom all the body, being rightly formed and united together, by the full working of every part, is increased to the building up of itself in love.
17 This I say, then, and give witness in the Lord, that you are to go no longer in the way of the Gentiles whose minds are turned to that which has no profit,
18 Whose thoughts are dark, to whom the life of God is strange because they are without knowledge, and their hearts have been made hard;
19 Who having no more power of feeling, have given themselves up to evil passions, to do all unclean things with overmuch desire.
20 For this was not the teaching of Christ which was given to you;
21 If in fact you gave ear to him, and were given teaching in him, even as what is true is made clear in Jesus:
22 That you are to put away, in relation to your earlier way of life, the old man, which has become evil by love of deceit;
28 Let him who was a thief be so no longer, but let him do good work with his hands, so that he may have something to give to him who is in need.
29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouth, but only what is good for giving necessary teaching, and for grace to those who give ear.
30 And do not give grief to the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were marked for the day of salvation.
31 Let all bitter, sharp and angry feeling, and noise, and evil words, be put away from you, with all unkind acts;
32 And be kind to one another, full of pity, having forgiveness for one another, even as God in Christ had forgiveness for you.
Important Verses
Ephesians 4:2-3 Paul urges believers to walk with humility, gentleness, and patience, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:11-13 Christ gives spiritual gifts and roles within the church, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, to equip believers for ministry and to help the body of Christ grow toward maturity and unity in faith.
Ephesians 4:22-24 Believers are called to put off their old sinful nature and put on the new self, created to reflect the righteousness and holiness of God.
Ephesians 4:29 Paul instructs believers to avoid corrupting talk and instead speak words that build others up and benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:32 Believers are called to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as God, through Christ, has forgiven them.
