भाष्य सध्या फक्त इंग्रजीत उपलब्ध आहे. मराठी भाषांतर प्रगतीपथावर आहे.
Ephesians 4 — Walk Worthy of the Vocation
Paul pivots from doctrine to walking. Walk worthy of your calling, with lowliness, meekness, and forbearance, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit. He lists seven unities — one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. He sets out the ascended Christ's gifts to the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers — for the equipping of the saints. He calls for maturity, for truth-speaking in love, for the putting off of the old man and putting on of the new, with specific applications: lying, anger, theft, corrupt speech, bitterness, all gone; kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness, all put on.
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”
— Ephesians 4:1
- v.1-6 Walk worthy — seven ones of unity
- v.7-10 The ascended Christ gave gifts unto men
- v.11-16 Five gifts; the body building itself in love
- v.17-24 Put off the old man, put on the new
- v.25-32 Specific commands: speech, anger, work, forgiveness
Endeavouring — diligently working at it. Unity does not maintain itself; it requires effort.
Notice: we keep the unity, not create it. The Spirit has already made the church one; our job is not to break what He has joined.
The unity-list begins. Body, Spirit, hope — first three.
Fourth, fifth, sixth. The triple naming of one across three lines accumulates in the ear.
The seventh — the unifying One Himself. The other sixes are the unities He gives; He is the source of them all.
Three prepositions describing His relation: above (transcendent), through (immanent in providence), in (indwelling in His people).
Paul quotes Psalm 68:18 — a conqueror returning from battle with prisoners and spoils, distributing gifts to his people. The ascended Christ is that conqueror, and the gifts He distributes are the men who lead His church.
The risen Christ's gifts to the church are not first things but persons. He gives leaders.
Apostles and prophets — foundational, especially in the apostolic generation (2:20). Evangelists, pastors, teachers — continuing. Pastors and teachers may be one office (shepherd-teacher) or two; either way, the work is the same flock.
A massive principle. The five-fold leadership exists not to do the ministry while the saints watch — but to equip the saints for the ministry.
Where pastors do all the ministering and the people pay them to do it, this verse has been quietly inverted.
The standard for maturity is not personality-formation or even moral progress; it is Christ Himself. Each believer is being grown toward His stature.
Speaking the truth in love — both halves are commanded. Truth without love wounds; love without truth deceives. The verse forbids the modern choice between the two.
Christian growth happens between believers who say true things tenderly to each other.
The believer takes off the old self the way one takes off filthy clothes. Sanctification has the practical shape of a wardrobe change.
The new self has already been created in Christ (cf. 2 Cor 5:17). The command is to put it on — to live what you already are.
Not all anger is sin. Righteous indignation at injustice is a Christian responsibility. The verse forbids anger that turns into sin and anger nursed overnight.
Sun going down — the time-limit on the working through of any anger. Deal with it that day; do not let it gather interest.
A high standard: every sentence is to be useful for building up and ministering grace. Most of our speech does neither; the verse calls us higher.
The Holy Spirit can be grieved. He is a Person, not a force. Sin in the believer's life pains the very One whose seal we bear.
The chapter's last word. Our forgiveness of one another is to match the forgiveness God has given us for Christ's sake. The model is total, costly, free.
Take verses 25-32 as a personal audit. Lying, sinful anger, theft, corrupt speech, bitterness, unkindness — name where each one shows up in you. Then turn the verse over: truth-telling, working with the hands, edifying speech, kindness, tenderness, forgiveness — choose one to deliberately put on this week, as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Christ is named as the giver of gifts (v.8), the head of the body (v.15), the standard of maturity (v.13), and the cause of God's forgiveness (v.32). The unity of the church rests on His one body; the growth of the church rests on His one stature; the practice of the church rests on His one cross.
Therefore — pivot from doctrine to duty. The first three chapters are the riches; the last three are the response.
Walk worthy — Greek axiōs peripatēsai. The image is balance scales: let your walk balance the weight of your calling.