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Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4 is the fourth chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. Traditionally, it is believed to have been written by Apostle Paul while he was in prison in Rome (around AD 62), but more recently, it has been suggested that it was written between AD 80 and 100 by another writer using Paul's name and style.[1][2] This chapter is a part of Paul's exhortation (Ephesians 4–6), with the particular section about the mutual interdependence of the Christians as the church (verses 1–16) and how they should live in the world (4:17–5:20).[3]

Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 32 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

Old Testament references

The Church in its Calling and Confession (4:1–6)

Paul exhorts the church about its "calling", to live the whole life as a response to God's summons, while maintaining the unity in the Spirit; this a common calling for every believer, regardless of rank or ability, focusing on one common Lord, Jesus.[3]

Verse 1

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,[9]

Verse 3

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.[12]

Verses 4–6

⁴There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.[13]

The "triadic" confession  – one Spirit… one Lord… one God  – in the verses 4–6 recalls the scope of the unity in the church.[3]

The Character and Purpose of Ministry in the Body of Christ (4:7–16)

This section can be seen as an elaboration of Romans 12:4–8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4–31, emphasizing that the church as Christ's body can only function effectively with the recognition of each church member's function within the body, and each individual function is appointed and made to work effectively by the enabling from Christ.[14]

Verse 8

Therefore He says:

"When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men."[15]

Psalm 68:18 reads:

You have ascended on high,
You have led captivity captive;
You have received gifts among men,
Even from the rebellious,
That the Lord God might dwell there.[16]

Verse 11

— And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,[17]
Nonetheless, it should be seen as one and the same office, that the term "teachers" is only explanative of the figurative word "pastors" or shepherds.[18]

Verse 13

till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;[19]

To Live as the Church in the World (4:17–32)

Stretching to 5:20, this part gives a general all-purpose set of instruction, with the classic "put off (vices) and put on (virtues)" in verses 22–32, using the familiar imagery of changing clothes for changing the character and lifestyle.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bruce, F. F. (1988). The Canon of Scripture. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. pp. 142, 158–60. ISBN 978-0-83081258-5.
  2. ^ Attridge, Harold W.; Meeks, Wayne A., eds. (2006). Study Bible (rev. ed.). New York: HarperCollins. pp. 1982–83. ISBN 978-0-06122840-7.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Dunn 2007, p. 1173.
  4. ^ Aland, Kurt; Aland, Barbara (1995). The Text of the New Testament: An Introduction to the Critical Editions and to the Theory and Practice of Modern Textual Criticism. Erroll F. Rhodes (trans.). Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-8028-4098-1.
  5. ^ "Liste Handschriften" [List of manuscripts]. Münster: Institute for New Testament Textual Research, University of Munster. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  6. ^ Kirkpatrick 1901, p. 839.
  7. ^ "Biblical concordances of Ephesians 4 in the 1611 King James Version".
  8. ^ Kirkpatrick 1901, p. 838.
  9. ^ Ephesians 4:1 KJV
  10. ^ Note [a] on Ephesians 4:1 in NKJV
  11. ^ Note [b] on Ephesians 4:1 in NKJV
  12. ^ Ephesians 4:3 KJV
  13. ^ Ephesians 4:4–6 NKJV
  14. ^ Dunn 2007, p. 1174.
  15. ^ Ephesians 4:8 NKJV
  16. ^ Psalms 68:18
  17. ^ Ephesians 4:11 NKJV
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible Ephesians 4:11
  19. ^ Ephesians 4:13 NKJV
  20. ^ Note on Ephesians 4:13 in ESV
  21. ^ Dunn 2007, p. 1175.

Bibliography

External links