4 There is one G1520 body, G4983 and G2532 one G1520 Spirit, G4151 even as G2531 G2532 ye are called G2564 in G1722 one G3391 hope G1680 of your G5216 calling; G2821
Now G1161 there are G1526 diversities G1243 of gifts, G5486 but G1161 the same G846 Spirit. G4151 And G2532 there are G1526 differences G1243 of administrations, G1248 but G2532 the same G846 Lord. G2962 And G2532 there are G1526 diversities G1243 of operations, G1755 but G1161 it is G2076 the same G846 God G2316 which G3588 worketh G1754 all G3956 in G1722 all. G3956 But G1161 the manifestation G5321 of the Spirit G4151 is given G1325 to every man G1538 to G4314 profit withal. G4851 For G1063 to one G3739 G3303 is given G1325 by G1223 the Spirit G4151 the word G3056 of wisdom; G4678 G1161 to another G243 the word G3056 of knowledge G1108 by G2596 the same G846 Spirit; G4151 G1161 To another G2087 faith G4102 by G1722 the same G846 Spirit; G4151 G1161 to another G243 the gifts G5486 of healing G2386 by G1722 the same G846 Spirit; G4151 G1161 To another G243 the working G1755 of miracles; G1411 G1161 to another G243 prophecy; G4394 G1161 to another G243 discerning G1253 of spirits; G4151 G1161 to another G2087 divers kinds G1085 of tongues; G1100 G1161 to another G243 the interpretation G2058 of tongues: G1100 But G1161 all G3956 these G5023 worketh G1754 that one G1520 and G2532 the selfsame G846 Spirit, G4151 dividing G1244 to every man G1538 severally G2398 as G2531 he will. G1014 For G1063 as G2509 the body G4983 is G2076 one, G1520 and G2532 hath G2192 many G4183 members, G3196 and G1161 all G3956 the members G3196 of that one G1520 body, G4983 being G5607 many, G4183 are G2076 one G1520 body: G4983 so G3779 also G2532 is Christ. G5547 For G1063 G2532 by G1722 one G1520 Spirit G4151 are G907 we G2249 all G3956 baptized G907 into G1519 one G1520 body, G4983 whether G1535 we be Jews G2453 or G1535 Gentiles, G1672 whether G1535 we be bond G1401 or G1535 free; G1658 and G2532 have been G4222 all G3956 made to drink G4222 into G1519 one G1520 Spirit. G4151
For G1063 as G2509 we have G2192 many G4183 members G3196 in G1722 one G1520 body, G4983 and G1161 all G3956 members G3196 have G2192 not G3756 the same G846 office: G4234 So G3779 we, G2070 being many, G4183 are G2070 one G1520 body G4983 in G1722 Christ, G5547 and G1161 every G2596 one G1520 members G3196 one of another. G240
That G2443 by G1223 two G1417 immutable G276 things, G4229 in G1722 which G3739 it was impossible G102 for God G2316 to lie, G5574 we might have G2192 a strong G2478 consolation, G3874 who G3588 have fled for refuge G2703 to lay hold G2902 upon the hope G1680 set before us: G4295 Which G3739 hope we have G2192 as G5613 an anchor G45 of the soul, G5590 both G5037 sure G804 and G2532 stedfast, G949 and G2532 which entereth G1525 into G1519 that within G2082 the veil; G2665
Blessed G2128 be the God G2316 and G2532 Father G3962 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 which G3588 according to G2596 his G846 abundant G4183 mercy G1656 hath begotten G313 us G2248 again G313 unto G1519 a lively G2198 hope G1680 by G1223 the resurrection G386 of Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 from G1537 the dead, G3498 To G1519 an inheritance G2817 incorruptible, G862 and G2532 undefiled, G283 and G2532 that fadeth not away, G263 reserved G5083 in G1722 heaven G3772 for G1519 you, G5209
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ephesians 4
Commentary on Ephesians 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
We have gone through the former part of this epistle, which consists of several important doctrinal truths, contained in the three preceding chapters. We enter now on the latter part of it, in which we have the most weighty and serious exhortations that can be given. We may observe that in this, as in most others of Paul's epistles, the former part is doctrinal, and fitted to inform the minds of men in the great truths and doctrines of the gospel, the latter is practical, and designed for the direction of their lives and manners, all Christians being bound to endeavour after soundness in the faith, and regularity in life and practice. In what has gone before we have heard of Christian privileges, which are the matter of our comfort. In what follows we shall hear of Christian duties, and what the Lord our God requires of us in consideration of such privileges vouchsafed to us. The best way to understand the mysteries and partake of the privileges of which we have read before is conscientiously to practise the duties prescribed to us in what follows: as, on the other hand, a serious consideration and belief of the doctrines that have been taught us in the foregoing chapters will be a good foundation on which to build the practice of the duties prescribed in those which are yet before us. Christian faith and Christian practice mutually befriend each other. In this chapter we have divers exhortations to important duties.
Eph 4:1
This is a general exhortation to walk as becomes our Christian profession. Paul was now a prisoner at Rome; and he was the prisoner of the Lord, or in the Lord, which signifies as much as for the Lord. See of this, ch. 3:1. He mentions this once and again, to show that he was not ashamed of his bonds, well knowing that he suffered not as an evil doer: and likewise to recommend what he wrote to them with the greater tenderness and with some special advantage. It was a doctrine he thought worth suffering for, and therefore surely they should think it worthy their serious regards and their dutiful observance. We have here the petition of a poor prisoner, one of Christ's prisoners: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you,' etc. Considering what God has done for you, and to what a state and condition he has called you, as has been discoursed before, I now come with an earnest request to you (not to send me relief, nor to use your interest for the obtaining of my liberty, the first thing which poor prisoners are wont to solicit from their friends, but) that you would approve yourselves good Christians, and live up to your profession and calling; That you walk worthily, agreeably, suitably, and congruously to those happy circumstances into which the grace of God has brought you, whom he has converted from heathenism to Christianity. Observe, Christians ought to accommodate themselves to the gospel by which they are called, and to the glory to which they are called; both are their vocation. We are called Christians; we must answer that name, and live like Christians. We are called to God's kingdom and glory; that kingdom and glory therefore we must mind, and walk as becomes the heirs of them.
Eph 4:2-16
Here the apostle proceeds to more particular exhortations. Two he enlarges upon in this chapter:-To unity an love, purity and holiness, which Christians should very much study. We do not walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called if we be not faithful friends to all Christians, and sworn enemies to all sin.
This section contains the exhortation to mutual love, unity, and concord, with the proper means and motives to promote them. Nothing is pressed upon us more earnestly in the scriptures than this. Love is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of his school, the livery of his family. Observe,
Eph 4:17-32
The apostle having gone through his exhortation to mutual love, unity, and concord, in the foregoing verses, there follows in these an exhortation to Christian purity and holiness of heart and life, and that both more general (v. 17-24) and in several particular instances, v. 25-32. This is solemnly introduced: "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord; that is, seeing the matter is as above described, seeing you are members of Christ's body and partakers of such gifts, this I urge upon your consciences, and bear witness to as your duty in the Lord's name, and by virtue of the authority I have derived from him.' Consider,
In the midst of these exhortations and cautions the apostle interposes that general one, And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, v. 30. By looking to what precedes, and to what follows, we may see what it is that grieves the Spirit of God. In the previous verses it is intimated that all lewdness and filthiness, lying, and corrupt communications that stir up filthy appetites and lusts, grieve the Spirit of God. In what follows it is intimated that those corrupt passions of bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, and malice, grieve this good Spirit. By this we are not to understand that this blessed Being could properly be grieved or vexed as we are; but the design of the exhortation is that we act not towards him in such a manner as is wont to be grievous and disquieting to our fellow-creatures: we must not do that which is contrary to his holy nature and his will; we must not refuse to hearken to his counsels, nor rebel against his government, which things would provoke him to act towards us as men are wont to do towards those with whom they are displeased and grieved, withdrawing themselves and their wonted kindness from such, and abandoning them to their enemies. O provoke not the blessed Spirit of God to withdraw his presence and his gracious influences from you! It is a good reason why we should not grieve him that by him we are sealed unto the day of redemption. There is to be a day of redemption; the body is to be redeemed from the power of the grave at the resurrection-day, and then God's people will be delivered from all the effects of sin, as well as from all sin and misery, which they are not till rescued out of the grave: and then their full and complete happiness commences. All true believers are sealed to that day. God has distinguished them from others, having set his mark upon them; and he gives them the earnest and assurance of a joyful and glorious resurrection; and the Spirit of God is the seal. Wherever that blessed Spirit is as a sanctifier, he is the earnest of all the joys and glories of the redemption-day; and we should be undone should God take away his Holy Spirit from us.