(Read all of Ephesians Chapter 4)<\/a><\/p>\nVerse 1<\/p>\n
[1] I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,<\/p>\n
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord \u2013 Imprisoned for his sake and for your sakes; for the sake of the gospel which he had preached amongst them. This was therefore a powerful motive to them to comfort him under it by their obedience.
\nVerse 3<\/p>\n
[3] Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.<\/p>\n
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit \u2013 That mutual union and harmony, which is a fruit of the Spirit. The bond of peace is love.
\nVerse 4<\/p>\n
[4] There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;<\/p>\n
There is one body \u2013 The universal church, all believers throughout the world.<\/p>\n
One Spirit, one Lord, one God and Father \u2013 The ever-blessed Trinity.<\/p>\n
One hope \u2013 Of heaven.
\nVerse 5<\/p>\n
[5] One Lord, one faith, one baptism,<\/p>\n
One outward baptism.
\nVerse 6<\/p>\n
[6] One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.<\/p>\n
One God and Father of all \u2013 That believe.<\/p>\n
Who is above all \u2013 Presiding over all his children, operating through them all by Christ, and dwelling in all by his Spirit.
\nVerse 7<\/p>\n
[7] But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.<\/p>\n
According to the measure of the gift of Christ \u2013 According as Christ is pleased to give to each.
\nVerse 8<\/p>\n
[8] Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.<\/p>\n
Wherefore he saith \u2013 That is, in reference to which God saith by David, Having ascended on high, he led captivity captive – He triumphed over all his enemies, Satan, sin, and death, which had before enslaved all the world: alluding to the custom of ancient conquerors, who led those they had conquered in chains after them. And, as they also used to give donatives to the people, at their return from victory, so he gave gifts to men – Both the ordinary and extraordinary gifts of the Spirit. Psalms 68:18.
\nVerse 9<\/p>\n
[9] (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?<\/p>\n
Now this expression, He ascended, what is it, but that he descended \u2013 That is, does it not imply, that he descended first? Certainly it does, on the supposition of his being God. Otherwise it would not: since all the saints will ascend to heaven, though none of them descended thence.<\/p>\n
Into the lower parts of the earth \u2013 So the womb is called, Psalms 139:15; the grave, Psalms 63:9.
\nVerse 10<\/p>\n
[10] He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)<\/p>\n
He that descended \u2013 That thus amazingly humbled himself.<\/p>\n
Is the same that ascended \u2013 That was so highly exalted.<\/p>\n
That he might fill all things \u2013 The whole church, with his Spirit, presence, and operations.
\nVerse 11<\/p>\n
[11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;<\/p>\n
And, among other his free gifts, he gave some apostles – His chief ministers and special witnesses, as having seen him after his resurrection, and received their commission immediately from him.<\/p>\n
And same prophets, and some evangelists \u2013 A prophet testifies of things to come; an evangelist of things past: and that chiefly by preaching the gospel before or after any of the apostles. All these were extraordinary officers. The ordinary were.<\/p>\n
Some pastors \u2013 Watching over their several flocks.<\/p>\n
And some teachers \u2013 Whether of the same or a lower order, to assist them, as occasion might require.
\nVerse 12<\/p>\n
[12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:<\/p>\n
In this verse is noted the office of ministers; in the next, the aim of the saints; in the 14th, 15th, 16th, the way of growing in grace. And each of these has three parts, standing in the same order.<\/p>\n
For the perfecting the saints \u2013 The completing them both in number and their various gifts and graces.<\/p>\n
To the work of the ministry \u2013 The serving God and his church in their various ministrations.<\/p>\n
To the edifying of the body of Christ \u2013 The building up this his mystical body in faith, love, holiness.
\nVerse 13<\/p>\n
[13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:<\/p>\n
Till we all \u2013 And every one of us.<\/p>\n
Come to the unity of the faith, and knowledge of the Son of God \u2013 To both an exact agreement in the Christian doctrine, and an experimental knowledge of Christ as the Son of God.<\/p>\n
To a perfect man \u2013 To a state of spiritual manhood both in understanding and strength.<\/p>\n
To the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ \u2013 To that maturity of age and spiritual stature wherein we shall be filled with Christ, so that he will be all in all.
\nVerse 14<\/p>\n
[14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;<\/p>\n
Fluctuating to and fro \u2013 From within, even when there is no wind.<\/p>\n
And carried about with every wind \u2013 From without; when we are assaulted by others, who are unstable as the wind.<\/p>\n
By the sleight of men \u2013 By their “cogging the dice;” so the original word implies.
\nVerse 15<\/p>\n
[15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:<\/p>\n
Into him \u2013 Into his image and Spirit, and into a full union with him.
\nVerse 16<\/p>\n
[16] From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.<\/p>\n
From whom the whole mystical body fitly joined together – All the parts being fitted for and adapted to each other, and most exactly harmonizing with the whole.<\/p>\n
And compacted \u2013 Knit and cemented together with the utmost firmness.<\/p>\n
Maketh increase by that which every joint supplieth \u2013 Or by the mutual help of every joint.<\/p>\n
According to the effectual working in the measure of every member \u2013 According as every member in its measure effectually works for the support and growth of the whole. A beautiful allusion to the human body, composed of different joints and members, knit together by various ligaments, and furnished with vessels of communication from the head to every part.
\nVerse 17<\/p>\n
[17] This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,<\/p>\n
This therefore I say \u2013 He returns thither where he begun, Ephesians 4:1.<\/p>\n
And testify in the Lord \u2013 In the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus.<\/p>\n
In the vanity of their mind \u2013 Having lost the knowledge of the true God, Romans 1:21. This is the root of all evil walking.
\nVerse 18<\/p>\n
[18] Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:<\/p>\n
Having their understanding darkened, through the ignorance that is in them \u2013 So that they are totally void of the light of God, neither have they any knowledge of his will.<\/p>\n
Being alienated from the life of God \u2013 Utter strangers to the divine, the spiritual life.<\/p>\n
Through the hardness of their hearts \u2013 Callous and senseless. And where there is no sense, there can be no life.
\nVerse 19<\/p>\n
[19] Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.<\/p>\n
Who being past feeling \u2013 The original word is peculiarly significant. It properly means, past feeling pain. Pain urges the sick to seek a remedy, which, where there is no pain, is little thought of.<\/p>\n
Have given themselves up \u2013 Freely, of their own accord. Lasciviousness is but one branch of uncleanness, which implies impurity of every kind.
\nVerse 20<\/p>\n
[20] But ye have not so learned Christ;<\/p>\n
But ye have not so learned Christ \u2013 That is, ye cannot act thus, now ye know him, since you know the Christian dispensation allows of no sin.
\nVerse 21<\/p>\n
[21] If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:<\/p>\n
Seeing ye have heard him \u2013 Teaching you inwardly by his Spirit.<\/p>\n
As the truth is in Jesus \u2013 According to his own gospel.
\nVerse 22<\/p>\n
[22] That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;<\/p>\n
The old man \u2013 That is, the whole body of sin. All sinful desires are deceitful; promising the happiness which they cannot give.
\nVerse 23<\/p>\n
[23] And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;<\/p>\n
The spirit of your mind \u2013 The very ground of your heart.
\nVerse 24<\/p>\n
[24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.<\/p>\n
The new man \u2013 Universal holiness.<\/p>\n
After \u2013 In the very image of God.
\nVerse 25<\/p>\n
[25] Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.<\/p>\n
Wherefore \u2013 Seeing ye are thus created anew, walk accordingly, in every particular.<\/p>\n
For we are members one of another \u2013 To which intimate union all deceit is quite repugnant.
\nVerse 26<\/p>\n
[26] Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:<\/p>\n
Be ye angry, and sin not \u2013 That is, if ye are angry, take heed ye sin not. Anger at sin is not evil; but we should feel only pity to the sinner. If we are angry at the person, as well as the fault, we sin. And how hardly do we avoid it.<\/p>\n
Let not the sun go down upon your wrath \u2013 Reprove your brother, and be reconciled immediately. Lose not one day. A clear, express command. Reader, do you keep it?
\nVerse 27<\/p>\n
[27] Neither give place to the devil.<\/p>\n
Neither give place to the devil \u2013 By any delay.
\nVerse 28<\/p>\n
[28] Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.<\/p>\n
But rather let him labour \u2013 Lest idleness lead him to steal again. And whoever has sinned in any kind ought the more zealously to practise the opposite virtue.<\/p>\n
That he may have to give \u2013 And so be no longer a burden and nuisance, but a blessing, to his neighbours.
\nVerse 29<\/p>\n
[29] Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.<\/p>\n
But that which is good \u2013 Profitable to the speaker and hearers.<\/p>\n
To the use of edifying \u2013 To forward them in repentance, faith, or holiness.<\/p>\n
That it may minister grace \u2013 Be a means of conveying more grace into their hearts. Hence we learn, what discourse is corrupt, as it were stinking in the nostrils of God; namely, all that is not profitable, not edifying, not apt to minister grace to the hearers.
\nVerse 30<\/p>\n
[30] And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.<\/p>\n
Grieve not the Holy Spirit \u2013 By any disobedience. Particularly by corrupt discourse; or by any of the following sins. Do not force him to withdraw from you, as a friend does whom you grieve by unkind behaviour.<\/p>\n
The day of redemption \u2013 That is, the day of judgment, in which our redemption will be completed.
\nVerse 31<\/p>\n
[31] Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:<\/p>\n
Let all bitterness \u2013 The height of settled anger, opposite to kindness, verse 32.<\/p>\n
And wrath \u2013 Lasting displeasure toward the ignorant, and them that are out of the way, opposite to tenderheartedness.<\/p>\n
And anger \u2013 The very first risings of disgust at those that injure you, opposite to forgiving one another.<\/p>\n
And clamour \u2013 Or bawling. “I am not angry,” says one; “but it is my way to speak so.” Then unlearn that way: it is the way to hell.<\/p>\n
And evil speaking \u2013 Be it in ever so mild and soft a tone, or with ever such professions of kindness. Here is a beautiful retrogradation, beginning with the highest, and descending to the lowest, degree of the want of love.
\nVerse 32<\/p>\n
[32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.<\/p>\n
As God, showing himself kind and tenderhearted in the highest degree, hath forgiven you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bible Commentary > Wesley\u2019s Explanatory Notes > Ephesians > Ephesians 4 John Wesley\u2019s Explanatory Notes (Read all of Ephesians Chapter 4) Verse 1 [1] I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord \u2013 Imprisoned for his…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"twitterCardType":"","cardImageID":0,"cardImage":"","cardTitle":"","cardDesc":"","cardImageAlt":"","cardPlayer":"","cardPlayerWidth":0,"cardPlayerHeight":0,"cardPlayerStream":"","cardPlayerCodec":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9971"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9971\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}