Ephesians 4:1

CHAPTER IV.

The apostle exhorts them to walk worthy of their vocation, and

to live in peace and unity, 1-6.

Shows that God has distributed a variety of gifts, and

instituted a variety of offices in his Church, for the building

up and perfecting of the body of Christ, 7-13.

Teaches them the necessity of being well instructed and steady

in Divine things, 14.

Teaches how the body or Church of Christ is constituted, 15, 16.

Warns them against acting like the Gentiles, of whose conduct he

gives a lamentable description, 17-19.

Points out how they had been changed, in consequence of their

conversion to Christianity, 20, 21.

Gives various exhortations relative to the purification of their

minds, their conduct to each other, and to the poor, 22-28.

Shows them that their conversation should be chaste and holy,

that they might not grieve the Spirit of God; that they should

avoid all bad tempers, be kindly affectioned one to another,

and be of a forgiving spirit, 29-32.

NOTES ON CHAP. IV.

Verse Ephesians 4:1. I therefore] Therefore, because God has provided for you such an abundant salvation, and ye have his testimonies among you, and have full liberty to use all the means of grace;

The prisoner of the Lord] Who am deprived of my liberty for the Lord's sake.

Beseech you that ye walk] Ye have your liberty, and may walk; I am deprived of mine, and cannot. This is a fine stroke, and wrought up into a strong argument. You who are at large can show forth the virtues of him who called you into his marvellous light; I am in bondage, and can only exhort others by my writing, and show my submission to God by my patient suffering.

The vocation wherewith ye are called] The calling, κλησις, is the free invitation they have had from God to receive the privileges of the Gospel, and become his sons and daughters, without being obliged to observe Jewish rites and ceremonies. Their vocation, or calling, took in their Christian profession, with all the doctrines, precepts, privileges, duties, c., of the Christian religion.

Among us, a man's calling signifies his trade, or occupation in life that at which he works, and by which he gets his bread; and it is termed his calling, because it is supposed that God, in the course of his providence, calls the person to be thus employed, and thus to acquire his livelihood. Now, as it is a very poor calling by which a man cannot live, so it is a poor religion by which a man cannot get his soul saved. If, however, a man have an honest and useful trade, and employ himself diligently in labouring at it, he will surely be able to maintain himself by it; but without care, attention, and industry, he is not likely to get, even by this providential calling, the necessaries of life. In like manner, if a man do not walk worthy of his heavenly calling, i.e. suitable to its prescriptions, spirit, and design, he is not likely to get his soul saved unto eternal life. The best trade, unpractised, will not support any man; the most pure and holy religion of the Lord Jesus, unapplied, will save no soul. Many suppose, because they have a sound faith, that all is safe and well: as well might the mechanic, who knows he has a good trade, and that he understands the principles of it well, suppose it will maintain him, though he brings none of its principles into action by honest, assiduous, and well-directed labour.

Some suppose that the calling refers to the epithets usually given to the Christians; such as children of Abraham, children of God, true Israel of God, heirs of God, saints, fellow citizens with the saints, c., c. and that these honourable appellations must be a strong excitement to the Ephesians to walk worthy of these exalted characters But I do not find that the word κλησις, calling, is taken in this sense any where in the New Testament but that it has the meaning which I have given it above is evident from 1 Corinthians 7:20: Εκαστος εν τη κλησει ᾑ εκληθη, εν ταυτῃ μενετω· Let every man abide in the calling to which he hath been called. The context shows that condition, employment, or business of life, is that to which the apostle refers.