Ephesians 4:28 The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need. NET The Jewish community has a high regard for labor. Everyone had a trade since work is something God created for good before the fall (Genesis 2:15). Although Paul tells the Thessalonians that they weren’t going to eat if they didn’t Read more…
Ephesians 4:20 But you did not learn Christ that way; 21 if indeed you heard Him, and were taught in Him, even as truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old self, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit; 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, who in the likeness of Read more…
Ephesians 4:11 And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ. 14 Read more…
Ephesians 4:11 He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; NHEB In Ephesians 2:20, Paul’s description of the church as being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (with Jesus as the cornerstone) was referring to the Old Testament prophets and the capital “A” apostles associated with Jesus. Their specific and unique roles ended with the death of the last Apostle however there is Read more…
Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8Therefore he says, “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to people.” 9 Now this, “He ascended,” what is it but that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that Read more…
Ephesians 4:6 and one God and Father of all, who rules over all, acts through all, and dwells in all. WEY The word “all” appears four times in this verse which in Greek is a method of emphatically making a point. Everyone has the same God, yet this is a church that is divided. Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, Israel: the LORD is our God, the LORD is one. 5 And you shall love the LORD your Read more…
Ephesians 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, NET Paul uses often uses “Lord” rather than “Christ” when referring to Jesus since the Greek word for Christ translates as “smeared with oil”. The Romans understand “Lord” because they are required to visit a temple once a year and proclaim Caesar as Lord. The use of this title puts the early Christians on a collision course with Rome since the Romans hear this as Jesus being Read more…
Ephesians 4: 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. NET These seven elements of unity sound poetic which causes some think of this as the first creed or affirmation of faith. Again, this unity is already there – Read more…
Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthily of the calling to which you were called BLB Paul usually starts his letters with theology and then moves into practical instruction of that theology. His use of “therefore” indicates that we are now transitioning from theology into moral instruction. If what Paul has been teaching in the first three chapters of Ephesians is true, then there are consequences in Read more…
Ephesians 3:16 I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner person, NET Glory is a reflection of God’s energy. (The Eastern Orthodox Church views God as having an essence, that we don’t have access to, and energy which we do have access to). Paul’s petition is that the abundance of God’s glory will dwell in you so that Read more…