Ephesians 4:3

σπουδάζοντες τηρεῖν τὴν ἑνότητα τοῦ πνεύματος ἐν τῷ συνδέσμῳ τῆς εἰρήνης. The reference here to the unity described in Ephesians 2:14 ff. is unmistakeable. It is the condition of the growth and ultimate perfecting of the Church, and therefore needs to be guarded with zealous care, whether in the Church as a whole (as in Ephesians 2:18) or in any local congregation, as in 1 Corinthians 12:12 f.; Philippians 2:2. This implicit reference to chap. 2 makes it probable that ‘the unity of the Spirit’ is the unity in mind and heart and will which is characteristic of men who recognize each other as members of the same body, and is directly the gift of the Holy Spirit. The reference to peace in the same chapter makes it clear that ‘the bond of the peace’ is also specific. St Paul is not merely telling men to be at peace as a means of preserving unity, a form of expression not easy to defend from the charge of tautology. He is reminding them of the power (Ephesians 2:14 ff.) which, as it had in the first instance made them one, was able, if they would surrender themselves to its influence, to keep them one, cf. Colossians 3:15 ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ χριστοῦ βραβευέτω, and Philippians 4:7 ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ θεοῦ … φρουρήσει. ‘The unity’ it should be noticed is regarded as an already existent fact, something not needing to be created but simply to be ‘kept.’ From another point of view (as in Ephesians 4:13; cf. John 17:23) it is regarded as the ultimate goal which we must strive to attain.