EPHESIANS Chapter Ephesians 4:1-16 OUTLINE: I. The unity of the Spirit: A. Attitudes necessary for Unity: Ephesians 4:1-3 B. Doctrines necessary for Unity: Ephesians 4:4-6 C. Gifts given to promote Unity: Ephesians 4:7-11 D. The purpose and desired results of such gifts: Ephesians 4:12-16 I.... [ Continue Reading ]
“I THEREFORE, THE PRISONER IN THE LORD, BESEECH YOU TO WALK WORTHILY OF THE CALLING WHEREWITH YE WERE CALLED” “Therefore”: “This conjunction makes. transition, denoting that what follows is. logical and necessary result from what has preceded” _(Boles p. 263)._ “In view of the grace revealed in Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
“WITH ALL LOWLINESS AND MEEKNESS, WITH LONGSUFFERING, FORBEARING ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE” “With”: This is. “statement of moral dispositions which should attend their walk conveying the idea of accompaniment” _(Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 320). _“All”: “All possible lowliness, or every kind of lowliness” _(Gr. Ex.... [ Continue Reading ]
“GIVING DILIGENCE TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE” “Giving diligence”: “Earnestly striving” (Alf). “Eager to maintain” (RSV). Every member of the church is under this obligation, for unity does not just happen by accident, and congregations that stay united are not merely lucky.... [ Continue Reading ]
“THERE IS ONE BODY, AND ONE SPIRIT, EVEN AS ALSO YE WERE CALLED IN ONE HOPE OF YOUR CALLING” “There is”: “One may leave this great basis, it remains nonetheless what it is. One may rest on it wholeheartedly or weakly, that, too, does not change it in the least” _(Lenski p. 510). _“One body”: This is... [ Continue Reading ]
“ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM” “One Lord”: Jesus Christ. “This phrase indicates unity of authority and leadership. The term _Lord_ means more than simple acceptance of Christ's exalted position. It means accepting His word and establishing our personal allegiance upon His every command and wish... [ Continue Reading ]
“ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, WHO IS OVER ALL, AND THROUGH ALL, AND IN ALL” “One God and Father”: Implying. unity of worship. Nothing has really changed from the first century. Even today we must persuade people that only one true God exists (Acts 17:21 ff; 1 Corinthians 8:6). “AND FATHER”: The One t... [ Continue Reading ]
“BUT UNTO EACH ONE OF US WAS THE GRACE GIVEN ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE GIFT OF CHRIST” “Unto each one of us”: While Paul will mention specific areas of service (Ephesians 4:11), it is also true that very Christian possesses. talent or gift that they must use (Matthew 25:14; Romans 12:4). “With... [ Continue Reading ]
“WHEREFORE HE SAITH, ‘WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND GAVE GIFTS UNTO MEN'” “Wherefore He saith”: “That is why it is said” (TCNT). “Concerning this the Scripture says” (Wms). Paul quotes from the Old Testament to prove that Christ did in fact give "gifts" to men. “HE SAITH”:... [ Continue Reading ]
“NOW THIS, HE ASCENDED, WHAT IS IT BUT THAT HE ALSO DESCENDED INTO THE LOWER PARTS OF THE EARTH?” “What is it”: “Must imply that He had already gone down” (TCNT). “What does it mean but that He had first descended” (Wey) “Furthermore, to emphasize this triumph, Paul pauses to dwell on the word ‘asce... [ Continue Reading ]
“HE THAT DESCENDED IS THE SAME ALSO THAT ASCENDED FAR ABOVE ALL THE HEAVENS, THAT HE MIGHT FILL ALL THINGS”. “Far above all the heavens”: Even beyond the atmospheric and celestial heavens, to the right hand of the very throne of the Father Himself (Ephesians 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 7:26 “exal... [ Continue Reading ]
“AND HE GAVE SOME TO BE APOSTLES; AND SOME, PROPHETS; AND SOME, EVANGELISTS; AND SOME, PASTORS AND TEACHERS” “And He gave some”: Here are "some" of the gifts that Christ has given to the Church. “It is not suggested that such gifts are restricted to those that are specifically named; those that are... [ Continue Reading ]
“FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, UNTO THE WORK OF MINISTERING, UNTO THE BUILDING UP OF THE BODY OF CHRIST” “For”: “With. view to” (Rhm). “THE PERFECTING”: To complete or finish. “Fully to equip” (Wey). “In order to get His holy people ready to serve as workers” (Beck). “Preparing, furnishing, equi... [ Continue Reading ]
“TILL WE ALL ATTAIN UNTO THE UNITY OF THE FAITH, AND OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD, UNTO. FULL-GROWN MAN, UNTO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST” “Till”: “This points to goals or results constantly sought, rather than to some specific duration which would end at. certain expe... [ Continue Reading ]
“THAT WE MAY BE NO LONGER CHILDREN, TOSSED TO AND FRO AND CARRIED ABOUT WITH EVERY WIND OF DOCTRINE, BY THE SLEIGHT OF MEN, IN CRAFTINESS, AFTER THE WILES OF ERROR” “That”: All the sermons, classes, instruction and encouragement that is presented by preachers, elders and teachers is to protect Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
“BUT SPEAKING TRUTH IN LOVE, WE MAY GROW UP IN ALL THINGS INTO HIM, WHO IS THE HEAD, EVEN CHRIST” “Speaking truth in love”: “But we shall lovingly hold to the truth” (Wey). “Dealing truly or cherishing truth” _(Erdman p. 92)._ It is not enough for the church to believe the truth, it must speak it (1... [ Continue Reading ]
“FROM WHOM ALL THE BODY FITLY FRAMED AND KNIT TOGETHER THROUGH THAT WHICH EVERY JOINT SUPPLIETH, ACCORDING TO THE WORKING IN DUE MEASURE OF EACH SEVERAL PART, MAKETH THE INCREASE OF THE BODY UNTO THE BUILDING UP OF ITSELF IN LOVE”. “From whom”: From the head, Christ. “ALL THE BODY”: Every member of... [ Continue Reading ]
“This. say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind” “THIS. SAY THEREFORE”: Resuming the exhortation found in Ephesians 4:1-3. “TESTIFY”: “A solemn declaration, protest, or injunction” _(Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 338)._ “So what. mean an... [ Continue Reading ]
“BEING DARKENED IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING, ALIENATED FROM THE LIFE OF GOD, BECAUSE OF THE IGNORANCE THAT IS IN THEM, BECAUSE OF THE HARDENING OF THEIR HEART” “Being darkened”: “With their powers of discernment darkened” (TCNT). “They live blindfolded” (Phi). “IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING”: Imagination, mind.... [ Continue Reading ]
“who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness”. “PAST FEELING”: To grieve out, become apathetic. “Lost to all sense of shame” (TCNT). “They have stifled their consciences” (Phi). “Dead to all feeling” (NEB). “Lit., the verb means to cease from... [ Continue Reading ]
“BUT YE DID NOT SO LEARN CHRIST”: “Far different is the lesson you learnt from the Christ” (TCNT). “But that isn't the way Christ taught you!” (Tay). “BUT”: This repudiates everything about the lifestyle described in Ephesians 4:17-19. The process of spiritual change is started by learning about Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
“if so be that ye heard Him, and were taught in Him, even as truth is in Jesus”. “IF SO BE”: “This condition of reality does not intend to raise. doubt; it does, however, intend to remind Paul's readers of the unquestionable fact that they heard and were taught so that if any one of them did not lea... [ Continue Reading ]
“THAT YE PUT AWAY, AS CONCERNING YOUR FORMER MANNER OF LIFE, THE OLD MAN, THAT WAXETH CORRUPT AFTER THE LUSTS OF DECEIT” “That”: “What you learned was” (Phi). "_ Learning about Jesus_ includes learning to remove the sin in your life. Often we hear people arguing, “Just preach Jesus”. This section of... [ Continue Reading ]
“AND THAT YE BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND” “Renewed”: To reform. “ The present passive infinitive suggests continual action. Literally the command requires that we ‘continue to be renewed' _(Caldwell p. 203). _“In the spirit of your mind”: “You must adopt. new attitude of mind” (Gspd). “Is... [ Continue Reading ]
“AND PUT ON THE NEW MAN, THAT AFTER GOD HATH BEEN CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS OF TRUTH” “And put on”: The Christian life contains much more than just "negative" instructions. We are not finished with serving God merely at the point of getting rid of. sinful habit. The void left by discard... [ Continue Reading ]
“WHEREFORE, PUTTING AWAY FALSEHOOD, SPEAK YE TRUTH EACH ONE WITH HIS NEIGHBOR: FOR WE ARE MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER”. “Falsehood”: “Finish then with lying” (Phi). “SPEAK YE TRUTH”: See Zechariah 2:16. “The continuous present, has the force of ‘speak truth and speak it continually'” _(Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 3... [ Continue Reading ]
“BE YE ANGRY, AND SIN NOT: LET NOT THE SUN GO DOWN UPON YOUR WRATH”. “Be ye angry”: Psalms 4:4 “Permissive imperative, not. command to be angry” _(Robertson p. 540)._ “It seems clear that this form of words is. Hebrew idiom which permits and then restricts anger, rather than actually commanding it”... [ Continue Reading ]
“neither give place to the devil” “GIVE PLACE”: “Give no opportunity to the Devil” (TCNT). “Leave no loop-hole for the devil” (NEB). “Opportunity for action, which you would do by continuing in. state of irritation” _(Alford p. 1236)._ Whatever foothold the Devil has in the life of. Christian, is. ... [ Continue Reading ]
“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need”. “STEAL NO MORE”: “Stealing is here intended to include all forms of getting something wrongfully, theft, cheating, and overreaching. Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
“LET NO CORRUPT SPEECH PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, BUT SUCH AS IS GOOD FOR EDIFYING AS THE NEED MAY BE, THAT IT MAY GIVE GRACE TO THEM THAT HEAR” “Let”: We can use our tongues wisely, if we so choose. “This could be well translated ‘Stop it from going on'” _(Boles p. 292). _“No”: All corrupt speech... [ Continue Reading ]
“AND GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, IN WHOM YE WERE SEALED UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION”. “Grieve not: “Don't cause the Holy Spirit sorrow” (Tay). If the Holy Spirit can be grieved, then obviously the Spirit is. "personal" being and not some impersonal force (Acts 5:1; Isaiah 2:10). “Since He is t... [ Continue Reading ]
“LET ALL BITTERNESS, AND WRATH, AND ANGER, AND CLAMOR, AND RAILING, BE PUT AWAY FROM YOU, WITH ALL MALICE”. “All”: GOD HAS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR THESE QUALITIES. “ALL MANNER OF, HARSHNESS IN ALL ITS FORMS WHETHER IN SPEECH OR IN FEELING” _(GR. EX. N.T. P. 348)._ “THE SINS ENUMERATED IN THIS VERSE OFT... [ Continue Reading ]
“AND BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING EACH OTHER, EVEN AS GOD ALSO IN CHRIST FORGAVE YOU”. “And”: IN THE PLACE OF THE HORRIBLE ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS JUST MENTIONED. “Be ye”: “THE PRESENT IMPERATIVE--EVER CONTINUE TO BE” _(LENSKI P. 587)._ NOTICE THE CONTRAST, PUT AWAY ONCE FOR ALL... [ Continue Reading ]