Spiritual Gifts
| << Ephesians 4:3 | Ephesians 4:5 >> |
What Does Ephesians 4:4 Mean?
Ephesians 4:1-6
The part we have to play is to walk worthy of our calling, and as the apostle goes on to say, our calling is to be one: one body, one spirit, one faith, one baptism, one hope, just as we have one Lord and one Father. We are to be one bride of Christ. He is not a polygamist; He will not marry many brides but one united bride.
We in the church can be disunified if we fail to practice verses 2 and 3: Without lowliness (humility), without gentleness (meekness), without longsuffering (forebearance or patient endurance), without love and peace, we will never have unity. As long as we are proud, easily angered and offended, jump on every little thing, lack patience, and treat each other hatefully—as long as we cause strife—there will never be unity. Even with all that God does (I Corinthians 1:4-9), it will not happen. He will not force unity upon us if we show that we do not want it. The natural order of things is that we will disunify further if we fail to show Him that we are working toward it. So, without these virtues, even with God deluging us with His Spirit, we will not have unity.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Psalm 133 (1998)
Ephesians 4:4
Paul clearly links our hope with our calling, which is God's summons into His presence so that we may have a relationship with Him. In the context of the first paragraph of Ephesians 4, the implication is that this hope is a factor that unites us into one body. Our calling is an end to pessimism, negativity, and despair and the beginning of a confident, bright, and optimistic life filled with endless possibilities because this unique hope gives positive expectancy to life here and now and beyond the grave as well.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Elements of Motivation (Part Three): Hope
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Ephesians 4:4:
Matthew 7:13-14
Matthew 13:7-8
Matthew 13:8
Matthew 13:22-23
Matthew 13:23
Matthew 13:45-46
Matthew 13:45-46
Matthew 25:1
Mark 4:18-20
Mark 4:20
Luke 8:14-15
Luke 8:15
1 Corinthians 13:13
Ephesians 2:14-22
Revelation 19:6-9
| << Ephesians 4:3 | Ephesians 4:5 >> |
Join 137,114+ readers
A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning
Consistent Bible study is hard to start.
The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.
Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.
Our hope links directly with our calling, God's summons into His presence for relationship with Him, ending pessimism and beginning a confident, optimistic life. This hope unites us into one body. Walking worthy of our calling means being one, and unity requires humility, meekness, longsuffering, love, and peace; God will not force unity upon us. The word "one" appears seven times, underscoring perfect oneness. The phrase "there is," though supplied by translators, clarifies that this unity already exists spiritually, certain and firm; Paul asks not to form it, but to safeguard it. The church, an analogy of one body, is a spiritual organism filled with Christ's life, solidly locked into a singular mind, wherever those sharing Christ's Spirit unite in common cause and purpose.