Ephesians 4:1

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, therefore (seeing that such is your calling of grace, Ephesians 1:1; Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 3:1; Ephesians 3:14); I, the prisoner in the Lord' (i:e., imprisoned in the Lord's cause: in Ephesians 3:1, "the prisoner of Jesus," the impris...

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 church, as having been framed by our Lord for the purpose of maintaining unity among Christians. 1._I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord. _His imprisonment, which might have been supposed more likely to render him despised, is appealed to, as we have already seen, for a confirmation of his authority. It was the seal of that embassy with which he had been honored. Whatever belongs to Christ, though in the eyes of men it may be attended by ignominy, ought to be viewed by us with the highest regard. The apostle’s prison is more truly venerable than the splendid retinue or triumphal chariot of kings. _That ye may walk worthy. _This is a general sentiment, a sort of preface, on which all the followi...

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, that excellent disposition of soul, which makes men unwilling to provoke, and not easily to be provoked or offended. We find much in ourselves for which we can hardly forgive ourselves; therefore we must not be surprised if we find in others that which we think it hard to forgive. There is one Christ in whom all believers hope, and one heaven they are all hoping for; therefore they should be of one heart. They had all one faith, as to its object, Author, nature, and power. They all believed the same as to the great truths of religion; they had all been admitted into the church by one baptism, with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, as the sign of regene...

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 descrip

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 “therefore” - οὖν oun - in this place, is, “Such being your exalted privileges; since God has done so much for you; since he has revealed for you such a glorious system; since he has bestowed on you the honor of calling you into his kingdom, and making you partakers of his mercy, I entreat you to live in accordance with these elevated privileges, and to show your sense of his goodness by devoting your all to his service.” The force of the word “I,” they would all feel. It was the appeal and exhortation of the founder of their church - of their spiritual father - of one who had endured much for them, and who was now in bonds on account of his devotion to the welfare of the Gentile world....

EXPOSITION PRACTICAL PORTION OF THE EPISTLE. EPHESIANS 4:1 CHURCH PRINCIPLE OF GROWTH AND PROGRESS; THE CHURCH A BODY. EPHESIANS 4:1 I THEREFORE. Inference not only from last chapter, but the whole Epistle. Paul's interest in the Ephesians led him to a double application of the great subject which he had expounded: (1) to ask God on their behalf that he would bestow on them the full measure of the blessing to which of his grace they were entitled ...

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 if the sense was, that the apostle entreated the believing Ephesians, in the name of the Lord, and for his sake, to take heed to their walk and conversation, that it be as became the calling by grace, and to glory, with which they were called: and this exhortation he enforces from the consideration of the state and condition in which he was, a prisoner, not for any wickedness he had been guilty of, but for the Lord's sake, which seems to be the true sense of the word; and that, if they would not add afflictions to his bonds, as some professors by their walk did, he beseeches them, as an ambassador in bonds, that they would attend to what he was about to say; and the rather, since such doctrin...

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 another in love;_ It is a loving call. Walk lovingly. It is the condescension of God that called you. Be, therefore, lowly. It is God in tenderness who has loved you. Be, therefore, meek, «forbearing one another in love.» Ephesians 4:3. _Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all._ Therefore, strive for unity. Woe unto those who divide believers that rob

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 the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3) “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye are called.” This marks the beginning of the second part of the epistle. it is obvious then, to walk worthy as a Christian, one has to know the calling wherewith God has called us. This calling, as we have seen, is revealed in the first three Chapter s. The first exhortation is to walk “with all lowliness and meekness.” He does not speak of doing some great work, or to seek special gifts and special power. Lowliness and meekness are to be manifested by t

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, putting up with one another in love. They must be careful to observe steadfastly the oneness of the Spirit (who is at work in them, and who holds them together) in a common bond of peace. The Spirit is one even as the Body is one, even as their calling involves one common hope, even as there is one Lord, one loyalty, one baptism, and one God, the supreme and ever-present Father. EPHESIANS 4:3. Literally to watch, to keep your eyes on, the oneness of the Spirit. Ephesians 4:4. The writer does not here, as in...