Fuel for prayer (Eph. 4:1-6)

Here Paul speaks of our calling as one to live together in a way that embodies the cosmic unity God has installed and commenced.

This passage thus sets the tone for the remainder of the letter, and provides the link with what has gone before.

That link is made not only in the summarizing theme of unity in these verses but specifically in the ‘therefore’ of v 1 which (as at ) grounds the appeal in the earlier teaching.

The passage consists of two parts: the appeal to unity (vs 1–3, partly expanding ) and a seven-fold confession emphasizing it (4–6).

— Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received,

On the basis of God’s mighty salvation in Christ,

the readers are now admonished to lead lives

that are in keeping with their high destiny and calling.

He urges or exhorts them.

Although Paul expected his churches to accept his authority, he normally requests or exhorts his readers rather than commands them.

He exhorts them to live a live ‘worthy of the calling you have received”.

This covers every aspect of a believers life and stands as the ‘topic’ sentence over what follows.

— with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Here’s the clear explanation of what living a life worthy of the call of God upon our lives looks like.

It’s explained as a life characterized by the graces of humility, gentleness, patience, and loving forbearance,

as the readers make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Significantly, relationships within the body of Christ, especially conduct characterized by harmony, are the first issue Paul addresses.

So the exhortation in v1 continues in v2 “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love”

They lead in an ascending line to the goal to be aimed for — preserving unity (v3).

This first grace of humility. As we come to grips more and more with some of the blessings given freely in Christ Jesus in chapters 1-3,

blessings so great in their value,

it’s hard to even express in words,

it is altogether proper that the recipients be filled with the very basic virtue of humility.

Humility naturally leads into gentleness. The gentle individual is slow to insist on his rights.

He realizes that in the sight of God he has no rights at all, that are his by nature.

All his rights were secured by grace.

Patience. These believers faced misunderstandings, harshness, and cruelty from those who did not share their faith.

The life of a Christian woman married to an unbeliever is a beautiful illustration of this.

As long as her husband was willing to live with her in the marriage relationship,

the wife must remain with him and try,

by means of her God-fearing behavior,

by means of her God-fearing behavior,

to win him for Christ.

Plus, as we all think upon God’s patience with us, we ought to act in a similar manner towards others (; ).

Then the next phrase shows us what patience means, “bearing with one another in love”.

‘Patience’ is that long-suffering which makes allowance for others’ shortcomings and endures wrong rather than flying into a rage or desiring vengeance.

It is a fruit of the Spirit () and a necessary quality

O’Brien, P. T. (1999). The letter to the Ephesians (p. 278). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

for maintaining right relationships within the body of Christ (cf. ; ; ).

— And we exhort you, brothers and sisters: warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

— Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant,

The early church commended themselves — by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, ().

As believers bear with one another’s weaknesses and failures (cf. 4:32)

in the midst of tensions and conflicts,

they show a lifestyle that is consistent with their divine calling.

O’Brien, P. T. (1999). The letter to the Ephesians (p. 278). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

This kind of behaviour can spring only from God’s love—a point that is made plain by the additional words in love.

The apostle has just prayed to God that his readers might be rooted and established in love (3:17).

Now he addresses his urgent appeal to them to live accordingly.

— making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

The apostle has urged his readers to display

humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, and love

since they are necessary to achieve the aim of the exhortation:

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Without these graces (which are essential to their life together)

they would have no hope of maintaining the unity of the Spirit,

a unity in the body of Christ about which Paul is deeply concerned.

O’Brien, P. T. (1999). The letter to the Ephesians (p. 276). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.