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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:5

Verse 5 5.One Lord. In the first Epistle to the Corinthians, he employs the word Lord, to denote simply the government of God. “There are differences of administration, but the same Lord.” (1 Corinthians 12:5) In the present instance, as he shortly afterwards makes express mention of the Father, he gives this appellation strictly to Christ, who has been appointed by the Father to be our Lord, and to whose government we cannot be subject, unless we are of one mind. The frequent repetition of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:6

Verse 6 6.One God and Father of all. This is the main argument, from which all the rest flow. How comes it that we are united by faith, by baptism, or even by the government of Christ, but because God the Father, extending to each of us his gracious presence, employs these means for gathering us to himself? The two phrases , ἐπὶ πάντων καὶ διὰ πάντων, may either mean, above all and through all Things, or above all and through all Men. Either meaning will apply sufficiently well, or rather, in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:1-16

CHURCH PRINCIPLE OF GROWTH AND PROGRESS ; THE CHURCH A BODY . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:1-16

The unity of the Church. The doxology has just died away with its ascription of glory to God in the Church throughout all ages, and now the apostle turns from his intercession to admonish the Ephesian Christians about the necessity of cultivating lowliness of mind and mutual consideration, that in the Church there may be preserved "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." It is plain from the verses that follow that Paul's conviction was that the Divine glory could only be manifested... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:1-16

Exhortation. I. TRANSITION FROM THE DOCTRINAL TO THE PRACTICAL . "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you." There is a similar transition at Romans 12:1 , "I beseech you therefore." In both cases the " therefore " is the link of connection between doctrine and duty . In both cases the apostle follows up his exposition of doctrine by an affectionate enforcement of duty. In the other case his affectionate tone is caught from a consideration of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:2-6

Details of a walk worthy of the vocation. This walk demands— I. THE PRESERVATION OF SOCIAL CONCORD , THROUGH THE QUIET OR PASSIVE VIRTUES , which, having been very characteristic of Christ, are eminently incumbent on all who bear his Name. 1. Lowliness , arising from a chastened sense of our sin and unworthiness. 2. Meekness , which is in speech what lowliness is in spirit. 3. Long-suffering and forbearance in love ; in opposition to hastiness,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:3-6

The unities of Christianity a reason for union amongst Christians. "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." These various unities in Christianity are here specified by the apostle in order to enforce the importance and obligation of a loving concord amongst all true... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:4-6

WHEREIN UNITY CONSISTS — SEVEN PARTICULARS . There is one body (see Ephesians 2:16 ). The Church is an organic whole, of which believers are the members, and Christ the Head, supplying the vitalizing power: The real body, being constituted by vital union with Christ, is not synonymous with any single outward society. One Spirit ; viz. the Holy Spirit, who alone applies the redemption of Christ, and works in the members of the Church the graces of the new creation. As ye also... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:4-6

The sevenfold unity. The apostle proceeds to state the nature and grounds of the unity which is to be so carefully guarded. It has its basis in the fact that the Church is one, and does not consist of two rival societies. I. " THERE IS ONE BODY ." The body with its many members and its many functions is yet one. Similarly, "we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" ( Romans 12:5 ); so that believers, no matter how separated by race, color,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:4-6

Christian unity. This is a frequently recurring theme in the Epistle to the Ephesians, and it is always treated with an emphasis that marks its supreme importance, and with a prophetic hopefulness that regards the higher development of it as one of the grandest features of the ideal future. I. WHEREIN CHRISTIAN UNITY CONSISTS . 1. Externally it consists in the " one body ." Plainly the "one body" is the Church, the community of Christians. It should be clear to an... read more

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