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John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:1-32

Unity of the New Life. Rules for the New LifeThe Apostle passes, as usual, from doctrinal statements to practical exhortations; but doctrine is here and there introduced to support exhortation.1-6. ’Live in humility, in loving forbearance, and in unity, for we have one Body, one Head, and one Heavenly Father.’1. Prisoner] This looks back to Ephesians 3:1. ’He can no longer superintend them: they must walk alone. He lost his liberty in their service: they will do what he asks.’2. To a Greek,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 4:1-6

(1) Ephesians 4:1-6, although cast in a hortatory form contain the final summary of the great doctrine of the Epistle—the UNITY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH—in words which have all the glowing freedom of spiritual enthusiasm, and all the clear-cut precision of a creed.Thus (a) the ground of that unity is laid in that spiritual communion of each soul with the “one Spirit,” the “one Lord,” and the “one God and Father of all,” which underlies all outward ordinance, and which no power of man can either... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 4:2

(2) From this general description of the regeneration of the soul out of the death of sin, in the Lord Jesus Christ, St. Paul now passes on to deal with special moral duties (Ephesians 4:25-30)—the casting out of falsehood, wrath, dishonesty, and impurity, which are the four typical sins forbidden in the four general Commandments of the Second Table—the Ninth, the Sixth, the Eighth, and the Seventh. But he treats all with a marked and striking peculiarity of treatment—in relation to the great... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 4:2-3

(2, 3) Forbearing one another in love . . .—The word rendered “endeavouring” is, in the original, a word expressing “earnestness” of thought and exertion to secure a thing not lightly obtained. (See 2 Timothy 4:9-21; Hebrews 4:11; 2 Peter 1:10.) It shows that St. Paul here passes from the negative aspects of love, summed up in forbearance, to the more positive and energetic enthusiasm for unity and peace. Love is in both aspects, the “uniting bond” of peace. In the parallel passage of... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 4:3

(3) Ephesians 4:12-16 return from diversity of functions to singleness of object—viz., the perfecting individual souls in the likeness of Christ, and so building up of the whole Church in unity with Him. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 4:4

(4) There is one body, and one Spirit.—The words “There is” are not in the original, which starts with a striking abruption, and with that terse concentration of thought and word which marks out an embryo creed.The “one body” is the Body of Christ, “from whom it is fitly framed, joined together, and compacted,” so that in every part “it grows up into Him.” But this communion with God in Christ being “the life eternal,” the Holy Ghost, by making it effectual alike to the Church and to the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Ephesians 4:1-32

Ephesians 4:0 In the Memorials of Dr. McLeod Campbell (vol. I. p. 127), he observes, apropos of Edward living's dying conversations, 'I was finding no trace of the subject of the Church in anything she ( i.e. Mrs. Irving) was mentioning, until she said that in the course of that same last day he had asked her to read to him "the testament of the Lord to his Church the neglected testament"; when she read to him the fourth of Ephesians'. The Heavenly Calling Ephesians 4:1 When St. Paul bids us... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Ephesians 4:1-6

Chapter 16THE EXHORTATION ON CHURCH LIFE. CHAPTER 4:1-16THE FUNDAMENTAL UNITIESEphesians 4:1-6This Encyclical of St. Paul to the Churches of Asia is the most formal and deliberate of his writings since the great epistle to the Romans. In entering upon its hortatory and practical part we are reminded of the transition from doctrine to exhortation in that epistle. Here, as in Romans 11:1-36; Romans 12:1-21, the apostle’s theological teaching, brought with measured steps to its conclusion, has... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Ephesians 4:1-6

II. THE PRACTICAL MANIFESTATION IN THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER (4-6) 1. Walking worthy of the Calling CHAPTER 4:1-6 1. The walk in lowliness and meekness (Ephesians 4:1-2 ) 2. Keeping the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3-6 ) “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye are called.” This marks the beginning of the second part of the epistle. it is obvious then, to walk worthy as a Christian, one has to know the calling wherewith God has... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Ephesians 4:2

4:2 {2} With all lowliness and meekness, with {b} longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;(2) Secondly, he commends the meekness of the mind, which is demonstrated by bearing with one another.(b) See Matthew 18:25-27 . read more

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