This is our Absolute Beginner Bible Study for Ephesians 4

Introduction

As we did for chapters 1–3, we will follow the section headings in the Christian Standard Bible (CSB). They are as follows:

• Unity And Diversity In The Body Of Christ (4:1–16)
• Living The New Life (4:17–32)

Chapter 4 begins the second literary unit in Ephesians. This unit runs through the end of the book (chapter 6). A literary unit is a section of text that has a clear beginning and end. The author makes the first point, and then he/she develops the subsequent plot points until the logical conclusion is reached. Chapters 4–6 heavily depend on chapters 1–3. As we will see, the instructions in this second literary unit are in response to the truths presented in the first literary unit. Ideas from chapters 1–3 will spill over into chapters 4–6. Likewise, ideas in chapter 4 will continue to be developed in chapters 5–6.

Let’s gooooooooo!

Side note / helpful tip: You will notice Scripture references in parentheses with the letters “cf.” preceding the reference. The book of the Bible is often abbreviated. The letters “cf.” mean compare / confer with. It tells the reader that the writer has those verses in mind while making his / her point. Here is an example: “God created the earth (cf. Gen. 1:1).”

Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ (4:1–16)

The CSB breaks this section into two paragraphs, and we will follow that structure here. The first paragraph is verses 1–6. The second paragraph is verses 7–16.

Eph. 4:1–6

1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope^, at your calling—⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:1–6

Once again, Paul begins a paragraph with the word “therefore.” Because of the truths in chapters 1–3, Paul says Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received (4:1). This is Paul’s thesis statement to begin his second literary unit. The Ephesians must realize that they now need to walk worthy of the calling they received in Christ, which is based on the truths of chapters 1–3.

Verses 2–3 characterize how they ought to walk:

• With all humility and gentleness
• With patience
• Bearing with one another in love
• Making every effort to to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace

In other words, Paul instructs them that walking worthy of the calling looks like and is fulfilled by the contents of verses 2–3. The Ephesians could ask themselves “how do we know we are walking worthy of the calling?” The answer would be “are your lives characterized by humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another in love, and making every effort to to keep the unity of the Spirit?”

The same is true for us.

Verses 4–6 reiterate why keeping the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace matters:

• There is one Christ
• There is only one faith in the one Christ
• There is one body of Christ
• There is one Spirit who unites that one body.
• There is one profession of faith and baptism into the faith.

Earlier in his letter, Paul told the Ephesians in him [Christ] the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him [Christ] you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit (Eph. 2:21–22). Believers in Christ are brought into the household of God (cf. Eph. 2:19), and that household is being built as a dwelling place for God. It should not be fractured against itself. As Jesus pointed out to His critics, if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand (Mark 3:25). Therefore, unity is one of the most important aspects of Christianity, and it should characterize the body of Christ (the Church).

Eph. 4:7–10

Verses 7–16 build and pivot from Verses 1–6. They build in that they flow out of the imagery of unity in verses 4–6. They pivot in that they discuss (1) what Christ has done for His unified body, and (2) the purpose behind what He’s done.

⁷ Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ For it says: 

When he ascended on high, 

he took the captives captive; 

he gave gifts to people.^, 

⁹ But what does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth?^{, 10} The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things.

Ephesians 4:7–10

Verses 7–10 are… difficult. Pages upon pages upon pages have been written in an attempt to work through what exactly Paul means. We are not going to dive into those weeds here. Instead, we will focus on the simple framework Paul uses:

• Christ gave gifts to us
• Those gifts are received in association with grace
• Christ has both descended and ascended
• His ascension places Him above the heavens
• His descension and ascension are for the purpose of Him filling all things.

The focus is on Christ’s ascension, descension, and His giving of gifts. The gifts that He gave are the next topic Paul addresses.

Eph. 4:11–16

¹¹ And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Ephesians 4:11–16

Let’s look at verses 11–16 in the following way: 1). The gifts Christ gave; 2). The purpose of the gifts; 3). The intended results; 4). Our approach to those results.

First, Paul details the gifts themselves. They are:

• Apostles
• Prophets
• Evangelists
• Pastors and teachers

A couple things are important to recognize. Christ himself gave these gifts. Paul’s choice of words here are emphatic– Christ does the giving. Also, each gift is distributed to some. Not all are apostles; not all are prophets; not all are evangelists; not all are pastors; not all are teachers.

Second, Paul explains the purpose for the gifts. They are given to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ (4:12).

Third, the building up of the body of Christ is working towards the following results: until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit (4:13–14).

The intended results include:

• Unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son
• Growing into maturity
• No longer being little children in the faith

The imagery is strong. Those who are within God’s household are not to be vulnerable to the elements of confusion that lead to idolatry and debauchery– which harkens back to the contrasting imagery of Ephesians 2:1–10.

Fourth, our approach to this whole process should be characterized by speaking the truth in love (4:15). We must always remember that we are to grow in the direction of Christ, and the mystery is that the body’s growth through the exercising of our gifts is from him [Christ] (4:16).

Christ is both the goal of our growth and the source of it.

Living The New Life (Ephesians 4:17–32)

Eph. 4:17–24

This second section continues the trend of beginning with a transitional phrase that links ‘section 2’ with ‘section 1’. Paul provides a visionary statement in verse 17– Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts. This statement leans heavily on the contrasts Paul provided in chapter 2:1–22, and Paul briefly reminds them of these contrasts in verses 4:17–24. Those within the household of God should live lives that are characterized by a renewed mindset from the resultant growth of their faith and the faith/faithfulness of those who build them up. This renewed mindset is the strongest possible contrast to that of the spiritual Gentiles– those who are outside the household of God.

Eph. 4:25–32

Verses 25–32 are the ‘do’s and don’ts’ that ought to accompany life in God’s household. These actions do not provide access to God’s household– someone outside of God’s household cannot gain entry by doing these actions apart from faith. Instead, these actions are the expected manner of life for those within God’s household. The reality of Christ in one’s life produces a new mindset through the exercising of Christ’s gifts to build up the body; this new mindset desires to honor Christ by living a life that walks worthy of the calling you have received (cf. Eph. 4:1).

Here is what this new life looks like:

• Instead of lying, speak the truth
• Do not sin while angry
• Resolve your anger before the sun sets
• Don’t give the devil an opportunity to re-influence your life
• Thieves: steal no more; instead… do honest work with his own hands so that he has something to share
• Speak what builds up instead of what is foul
• Don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit
• Let go of bitterness, anger & wrath, shouting & slander, along with malice
• Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving towards one another

Such a life is completely distinct from the Gentiles/the world (cf. Eph. 2:1–3). This is the call of Christ.

Concluding Thoughts

That’s chapter 4! Only two more chapters to go!

Ephesians 4 is where Paul transitions from what to believe to how to live. This gives us much to meditate on and implement.

Here are some concluding thoughts:

• The call to be part of the Church (Christ’s body) requires me to live a life that “walks worthy” of that calling.
• Christ has given gifts to His followers for the purpose of building and growing His body– the Church
• Members of God’s household must seek to understand how they are to participate in this process– how am I supposed to be built up? How am I supposed to build others up?
• Christ is the goal of our growth, and He is also the source of our growth. We need Him to be present in our process of building and being built.
• The purpose of being built up through Christ’s gifts is to attain unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness (Eph. 4:13).
• The goal of being built up is not for individuals to resemble monoliths; instead, each individual should resemble a functioning part of a healthy body/structure that peacefully and harmoniously aligns, supports, and contributes to the whole body/structure.
• The lives of God’s people should look completely differently from those living outside of Christ.
• The new mindset that distinguishes God’s people is one of peace– peace with God, peace within themselves, peace with creation, peace with one another.

Keep working through Ephesians on your own. Read and re-read. Observe and ask questions. Meditate and reflect on what tugs at your heart.

We’ll see you for chapter 5.

Until then,

Happy Bibleing!