Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Combined Bible Commentary

Ephesians 4:1

(4:1,2) Paul declares himself to be "a prisoner in (in the sphere of) the Lord". This is a locative word that places him entirely within the life of the Lord Jesus. He has died to all that he is naturally and is only alive in the life of the Lord Jesus. From that position, he pleads with believers to "live" consistent with "the calling" they have received from God. He goes on to describe some of the elements of that calling--"humble, gentle...patient, longsuffering".

Continues after advertising

See also Ephesians 4:1 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    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 of...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    I, THEREFORE - In view of the great and glorious truths which God has revealed, and of the grace which he has manifested toward you who are Gentiles. See the previous chapters. The sense of the word “...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    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. Keeping the unity of th...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GOD'S CALLING INVOLVES A UNITY OF LIFE. The writer, appealing to his imprisonment, beseeches his readers to walk in a fashion worthy of their calling, _i.e._ in humility, gentleness, and forbearance,...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Ephesians 4:1-32 INTRODUCTION (Ephesians 4:1-10) With this chapter the second part of the letter begins. In Ephesians 1:1-23;...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    So then, I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to behave yourselves in a way that is worthy of the calling with which you are called. I urge you to behave with all humility, and gentleness, and patien...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    So then, I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to behave yourselves in a way that is worthy of the calling with which you are called. I urge you to behave with all humility, and gentleness, and patien...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    I THEREFORE. Resuming his teaching after the parenthesis of Ephesians 3:1. PRISONER. See Ephesians 3:1. LORD. App-98. BESEECH. Greek. _parakaleo._ App-134. Compare 1 Thessalonia

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Ephesians 4:1-16. Practical results: spiritual Unity in Diversity of Gifts 1. _I therefore_ Here begins what may be called the Second Part of the Epistle. Hitherto the Apostle has dealt with the etern...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    B. Ephesians 4:1 to Ephesians 6:20. THE FRUITS OF SONSHIP TO BE LOOKED FOR FROM THE NATIONS The foundation for the exhortations that follow is now securely laid in the vision of truth unfolded both by...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΠΑΡΑΚΑΛΏ _praes. ind. act. от_ ПАРАΚΑΛΈΩ (G3870) молить, просить, ободрять. Это слово выражает теплое, личное, но в то же время срочное пожелание автора (Barth; TDNT; NTW). ΟΎΝ (G3767) следовательно....

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2106 A CONSISTENT WALK ENJOINED Ephesians 4:1. _I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekn...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    I THEREFORE THE PRISONER OF THE LORD, &C.— St. Paul having concluded the special part of his Epistle with the foregoing chapter, comes in this, as his manner is, to practical exhortations. He begins w...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _PREVIEWING IN OUTLINE FORM_ (EPHESIANS 4:1-16) II. Duties. Ephesians 4:1-32; Ephesians 5:1-33; E

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, The practical portion begins here. Greek order, 'I exhort [ parakaloo (G3870)] you,...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    __ Summary of the Present Grace 2 The present secret administration of which there is no hint in any Scriptures before this epistle was penned, consists essentially of three separate items, all of w...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    4:1 wherewith (b-16) Or 'according to which.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    UNITY OF THE NEW LIFE. RULES FOR THE NEW LIFE The Apostle passes, as usual, from doctrinal statements to practical exhortations; but doctrine is here and there introduced to support exhortation. 1-6...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    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, meekness was a se...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    CHRISTIAN BELIEF AND BEHAVIOUR EPHESIANS _LES PAINTER (BIBLE TEXT BY CYNTHIA GREEN)_ CHAPTER 4 What Paul taught in Chapter s 1-3 was first about God and his Son Jesus Christ. Then it was about th...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WORTHY OF THE VOCATION WHEREWITH YE ARE CALLED. — This “being worthy of the Christian calling” may obviously show itself in any of the graces of regenerate humanity, all being features of the image of...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (1) Ephesians 4:1, 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...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 16 THE EXHORTATION ON CHURCH LIFE. CHAPTER 4:1-16 THE FUNDAMENTAL UNITIES Ephesians 4:1 This Encyclical of St. Paul to the Churches of Asia is the most formal and deliberate of his writings...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    With the fourth chapter begins the second main division of the Epistle. As in others of Paul's Epistles the doctrinal statement is followed by the practical enforcement of duty. Doctrinal consideratio...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ ὁ δέσμιος ἐν Κυρίῳ : _I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech_ (or, exhort) _you_. In more exact accordance with the _order_ of the words “I beseech you, therefore, I the...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    KEEPING THE “UNITY OF THE SPIRIT” Ephesians 4:1 Paul here admonishes lowliness in the presence of another's excellence; meekness in suffering injury; long-suffering under provocation; forbearance tow...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The apostle at once proceeded to apply this great doctrine to the present life of the Church. From the heavenly calling he passed to the earthly conduct. The matter of first importance is maintenance...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Walking Worthily Means Walking In Unity Because God had given such great blessings to those in the church and could provide even above what we might ask or think, Paul pleaded with the brethren at Eph...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    I therefore, (1) the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the (a) vocation wherewith ye are called, (1) Another part of the epistle, containing precepts of the Christian life, the...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Here begins the second part of this epistle, in which he exhorts them to the practice of Christian virtues. (Witham)...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (1) В¶ I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (2) В¶ With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one anothe...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS In this Chapter the Apostle considereth the Oneness and Unity of the Church in Christ. He sweetly sheweth how, as one Body, the Church is supplied with every suited Grace to each Member. He...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    In this epistle we have the unfolding of the grace of God in all its fulness, not merely the application of His righteousness to man's need on His part, but God from out of Himself, and for Himself, a...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _VOCATION_ ‘I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.’ Ephesians 4:1 The vocation or calling here referred to was the _ name_,...

  • John Brown Commentaries Selected Books of the Bible

    I. INTRODUCTION A. Last week as we studies Chapter 3 of the book of Galatians, Paul told the Gentiles that they were equal with the Jews in Christ! 1. In fact we are all equal at the Cross! B. In C...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    The three remaining chapters consist entirely of practical exhortations. Mutual agreement is the first subject, in the course of which a discussion is introduced respecting the government of the churc...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The faithful were to seek in the dispositions mentioned above to maintain this unity of the Spirit by the bond of peace. There are three things in this exhortation: first, to walk worthy of their call...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    I THEREFORE, THE PRISONER OF THE LORD, BESEECH YOU,.... Or "in the Lord"; that is, for the Lord's sake; Ephesians 3:1. Some connect this phrase, "in the Lord", with the following word, "beseech": as i...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Ver. 1. _Worthy of the vocation_] There is a το πρεπον, a seemliness appertaining to ea...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord_ Imprisoned for his sake and for yours; for the sake of the gospel which he had preached to them and other Gentiles: see note on Ephesians 3:1: this was therefor...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    THEREFORE; on account of the glorious truths revealed in the gospel. WALK WORTHY OF THE VOCATION WHEREWITH YE ARE CALLED; in a manner corresponding with its high and holy nature....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    I, THEREFORE, THE PRISONER OF THE LORD, BESEECH YOU THAT YE WALK WORTHY OF THE VOCATION WHEREWITH YE ARE CALLED,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    APOSTOLIC ADMONITIONS TO UNITY, TO PERFECTION IN KNOWLEDGE, TO HOLINESS, AND TO PEACE. Ephesians 4:1 Paul exhorts to unity:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    RESPONSE IN PRACTICAL UNITY (vs.1-6) In this letter to the Ephesian saints, Paul first presented the basic truth so essential for individual saints (Ch.1:1- 2:10) and for the Church, the body of Chri...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    CHAPTER 4 Even though Paul is a ______________, he still urges us to walk in our __________. This walk must be a ____________ one. What does it mean to walk worthy? Paul gives us some words to consi...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    OF THE LORD: Or, in the Lord...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    “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 a...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-6 Nothing is pressed more earnestly in the Scriptures, than to walk as becomes those called to Christ's kingdom and glory. By lowliness, understand humility, which is opposed to pride. By meekness,...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4 EPHESIANS 4:1 Paul exhorteth to those virtues which become the Christian calling, particularly to unity, EPHESIANS 4:7 declaring that Christ gave his gifts differently, that his bo...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Epistle of Ignatius to the Antiochians beseech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,"[3] Tertullian On the Veiling of Virgins They and we have one faith, one God, the sa...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ephesians 4:1 I G1473 therefore G3767 prisoner G1198 of G1722 Lord G2962 beseech G3870 (G5719) you G5209 walk...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    EXHORTATION TO ONENESS (4:1-16). Paul calls on them therefore now to be as one, and walk worthily of their calling....

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you have been called. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. Gi...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Ephesians 4:1. I EXHORT YOU THEREFORE. The emphasis in the original rests on ‘exhort,' as indicated in the order given above. The word means first to call hither (corresponding with ‘calling' and ‘cal...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    I. WALK WORTHY OF THE CALLING IN HUMILITY AND UNITY. This brief section contains the practical theme, exhorting the readers to a walk worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1), naming three attendant vi...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    WHEREWITH YE WERE CALLED (ης εκληθητε). Attraction of the relative ης to the genitive of the antecedent κλησεως (calling) from the cognate accusative ην with εκληθητε (first aorist passive indicativ...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Ephesians 4:1. _I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one anot...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Ephesians 4:1. _I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,-_ «You are called to be sons of God, you are called to be one with Chri...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Ephesians 4:1. _I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you-_ Paul puts force into the argument by his manner of speaking; you can hear in his words the rattle of his chains. Here is a man who...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Walk and service of the believer in Christ. Ministry of gifts of Christ to His Body. CHARACTERS: Christ, Holy Spirit, God, Paul. CONCLUSION: Considering to what state and condition God has...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ephesians 4:1. _I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you_ a pathetic argument, for if I hear of discords among you it will add affliction to my bonds; _that ye walk worthy of the vocation wh...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    I URGE YOU, THEN. "I have showed you the secret Plan of God and the glory of Christ and his church to make you aware of _who you are!!!_ What I am about to say is based on the fact of _who you are_ in...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 4:1 Unity of the Body of Christ. Paul shows how to apply the truths he has been teaching. There are three subsections: vv. Ephesians 4:1,...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Ephesians 4:1. WALK WORTHY OF THE VOCATION.—They had been called to life in the Spirit, and they must also “walk in the Spirit.” Ephesians 4:2. WITH ALL LOWLINESS.—Th...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION PRACTICAL PORTION OF THE EPISTLE. EPHESIANS 4:1 CHURCH PRINCIPLE OF GROWTH AND PROGRESS; THE CHURCH A BODY

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now Paul begins the fourth chapter again with the reminder that he is a prisoner of the Lord, and I beseech you, [I beg you, I implore you] that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are call...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 3:9; 1 Peter 5:10;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    In the Lord. See on Philippians 1:14....

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE HIGHER CHRISTIAN LIFE Ephesians 4:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. A prisoner of the Lord. One would hardly expect to find a prisoner in a Roman jail, the author of such a remarkable letter. We are accus...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord — Imprisoned for his sake and for your sakes; for the sake of the gospel which he had preached amongst them. This was therefore a powerful motive to them to comfo...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    As if he had said, "Seeing the riches of God's grace in Christ have so abounded towards you, who were once Ephesian idolaters, but now converted Gentiles,. Paul, who am. prisoner for preaching the gos...

Continues after advertising

Old Testament