Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Ephesians
Chapter 4: One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
Ephesians 4 turns from doctrine to the walk, and it begins with unity. Paul beseeches us to 'walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,' 'endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.' That unity rests on the great sevenfold oneness: 'There is one body, and one Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.' The ascended Christ 'gave gifts unto men', apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, 'for the perfecting of the saints... for the edifying of the body of Christ,' that we might 'grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.' Then Paul calls for a transformed life: 'put off... the old man' and 'put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness,' speaking truth, working honestly, 'grieve not the holy Spirit of God,' and 'be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.' The chapter shows us the oneness of God and His church, growth into Christ, and the new life of holiness and love.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Ephesians chapter 4. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Greek words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here Paul grounds the church's unity in the oneness of God, shows how Christ's gifts build the body to maturity, and calls believers to put off the old life and put on the new. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
One God and Father of All
The church's unity rests on the oneness of God.
He Gave Gifts Unto Men
The ascended Christ gives ministers to build His body.
Grow Up Into Him
The body matures into Christ, its head, in love.
Put On the New Man
Off with the old life, on with righteousness and holiness.
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism (Ephesians 4:1-6)
The unity of the church is grounded in the great oneness of God: one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father.
One God and Father of All
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
Word Study
"unity," Greek henotes (ἑνότης). The word means oneness, unity; it is built on heis, one. "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Paul does not tell us to create unity but to "keep" the unity the Spirit has already made, guarding it in peace. And he grounds that unity in a sevenfold oneness that rises to its climax in the oneness of God: "one body, and one Spirit... one hope... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all." This is the bedrock of the Apostolic faith: there is one God. The "one Lord" is Jesus, and the "one baptism" is the one Apostolic baptism in His name (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 19:5), for there is one Lord in whose name we are baptized. And the whole rests on "one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Not one God among many, not a Godhead of separate persons, but one God who is over all, works through all, and dwells in all His people. The unity of the church is not a fragile human alliance but the reflection of the very oneness of God: one God, one Lord, one Spirit, one body. To guard the unity of the Spirit, then, is to honor the oneness of the God we serve.
Explanation
The letter pivots from doctrine to duty: "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." And the first mark of that walk is unity, guarded by character — "lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" — "endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Paul grounds it in a sevenfold oneness: "one body, and one Spirit... one hope... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all." The unity of the church rests on the oneness of God Himself; because He is one, His people are to be one.
Gospel Focus
Having spent three chapters on the riches of grace, Paul now says "I therefore," and turns to how the saved should live: "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." And the first mark of that walk is unity, pursued through Christlike character: "all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love." Unity is kept not by force but by humility, patience, and love. So we are "endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace", diligently guarding the oneness the Spirit created, held together by peace. Then Paul gives the ground of that unity in a magnificent confession of oneness: "one body, and one Spirit... one hope... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all." Seven times "one," rising to the one God Himself. There is one body, the church; one Spirit who indwells it; one hope of our calling; one Lord, Jesus Christ; one faith in Him; one baptism in His name; and, crowning all, "one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." This is the heart of Apostolic truth: there is one God, and the church's unity flows from His oneness. We are baptized in the one name of the one Lord, we share one faith, one Spirit, one hope, because we serve one God. Division in the church is therefore a contradiction of the very oneness of God we confess. The God who is "above all, and through all, and in you all" has made His people one, and calls us to keep that unity in the bond of peace. To walk worthy of our calling is, first of all, to guard the oneness that mirrors the one God.
Grow Up Into Him in All Things (Ephesians 4:7-16)
The ascended Christ gives ministers to equip the saints, so the whole body grows up into Him, the head, in love.
Speaking the Truth in Love
"But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 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: 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; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 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."
Word Study
"grow up," Greek auxano (αὐξάνω). The word means to grow, to increase, as a living plant or child grows. "Speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." The church is a living body that is meant to grow, not merely in numbers but in maturity, "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." The direction of the growth is "into him," into Christ the head; we grow up toward our head as a child grows into adulthood, becoming more and more like Him. And the atmosphere of the growth is truth and love together: "speaking the truth in love." Truth without love is harsh, and love without truth is weak; healthy growth needs both. Immaturity leaves believers "children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine"; maturity is stability in the truth and Christlikeness of character. This auxano, this growing up, is the purpose of Christ's gifts to the church: ministers equip the saints so the whole body grows into Christ. The goal is a mature church, grown up into its head, each part working, "unto the edifying of itself in love."
Explanation
The ascended Christ "gave gifts unto men" — "apostles... prophets... evangelists... pastors and teachers." Their purpose is not to do all the ministry but "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry" — equipping the whole body to serve. The goal is maturity: "till we all come... unto a perfect man," no longer "tossed to and fro... with every wind of doctrine," but "speaking the truth in love," growing up "into him... which is the head, even Christ." From Him "the whole body... maketh increase... unto the edifying of itself in love." Every joint supplies; the body grows together.
Gospel Focus
Within the one body, there is also diversity of grace: "unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." The risen Christ distributes gifts, and Paul cites the psalm: "when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." He pauses to marvel at the One who gives: the ascended Christ is also the One who "descended first into the lower parts of the earth", He who came down in the incarnation and death is the same who "ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things." The Christ who stooped to the depths and rose to the heights is Lord over all and fills all, He is God in flesh, exalted and supreme. And He gives ministers to His church: "apostles... prophets... evangelists... pastors and teachers." Note their purpose: not to do all the work themselves, but "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Christ's gifted servants equip the whole church so that every member does the work of ministry and the body is built up. The goal is maturity: "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." A mature church is united in faith and knowledge, grown up to the full stature of Christ. Then we are "no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine" by deceivers, but stable, "speaking the truth in love," growing "up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." And the growth is mutual: "the whole body fitly joined together... by that which every joint supplieth... maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." Every member matters; as each part works, the whole body grows. So Christ gives gifts, ministers equip the saints, and the united body grows up into its head in love.
Put On the New Man (Ephesians 4:17-32)
Believers are to put off the old corrupt life and put on the new man, walking in truth, honest work, gracious speech, and forgiving love.
Be Ye Kind One to Another
"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 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: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. 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. 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. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Word Study
"put on," Greek enduo (ἐνδύω). The word means to put on, to clothe oneself, as one puts on a garment. Paul pictures conversion and the new life as a change of clothes: "put off... the old man" and "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." The old life, "the old man," is the corrupt self that belonged to our former way of living; it is to be taken off like a filthy garment. The new life, "the new man," is the self remade "after God," in His likeness, "in righteousness and true holiness"; it is to be put on like clean clothing. Between the two comes the renewing: "be renewed in the spirit of your mind." This is the daily work of the Christian: to strip off the old habits, attitudes, and sins, and to clothe ourselves with the new character God has created in us. We do not manufacture the new man, God created it "after" Himself; but we are to enduo, put it on, living out in practice what we are in Christ. The rest of the chapter is a wardrobe of the new man: truthful speech, righteous anger without sin, honest work, gracious words, kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness. Off with the old; on with the new.
Explanation
The new life demands a new walk: "walk not as other Gentiles," darkened and past feeling, but "put off... the old man" and "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness." Paul makes it concrete: put away lying, "speak every man truth"; "be ye angry, and sin not"; let the thief work honestly and give; "let no corrupt communication proceed"; and "grieve not the holy Spirit of God," by whom ye are sealed. The chapter ends on the sweetest note: "be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Gospel Focus
Paul now describes the new walk in sharp contrast to the old. Believers must "walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind," with "the understanding darkened," "alienated from the life of God," "past feeling" and given over to "lasciviousness" and "uncleanness." That is the old life, blind, hardened, and enslaved to sin. "But ye have not so learned Christ." To learn Christ, "as the truth is in Jesus," is to be transformed. And the transformation is a change of clothing: "put off... the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts," "be renewed in the spirit of your mind," and "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Then Paul unfolds what the new man looks like in daily life. In speech: "putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour," for we are "members one of another." In anger: "be ye angry, and sin not," do not let anger fester, "neither give place to the devil." In work: the thief must steal no more but "labour... that he may have to give to him that needeth", work transformed from taking to giving. In words: "let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers", speech that builds up and blesses. And a solemn word about the Spirit: "grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." The Holy Spirit is the seal of our redemption, and He is grieved by sin, unkindness, and division; because He is the Spirit of the holy God, to sin is to grieve God Himself who dwells in us. Finally, Paul reaches the crown of the new man, kindness and forgiveness: "let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." The measure of our forgiveness of others is God's forgiveness of us in Christ; having been forgiven so freely, we forgive freely. This is the new man: truthful, honest, gracious, kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, the very character of God formed in His people. Put off the old, put on the new, and let the forgiven be forgiving.
Chapter 4 in Review
Ephesians 4 calls the saved to walk worthy of their calling, and it begins with unity grounded in the oneness of God: "one body, and one Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all." The ascended Christ, who "descended first" and then "ascended up far above all heavens," gave gifts to His church, "apostles... prophets... evangelists... pastors and teachers," "for the perfecting of the saints... for the edifying of the body of Christ," that we might "grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." Then Paul calls for the new life: "put off... the old man" and "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness," speaking truth, working honestly, guarding our speech, "grieve not the holy Spirit of God," and "be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
For the Apostolic reader this chapter binds the oneness of God to the life of the church. The church's unity is no human arrangement but the reflection of the one God, one Lord, one Spirit, one faith, one baptism in the one saving name; division contradicts the very oneness we confess. That one body grows to maturity as the ascended Christ, God in flesh who fills all things, gives ministers to equip the saints, until we come to the full stature of Christ, stable in truth, speaking the truth in love, each member working for the building of the whole. And the calling is a transformed life: off with the corrupt old self, on with the new man created in God's likeness, truthful and honest and gracious, never grieving the Holy Spirit who seals us, and above all kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, as God in Christ forgave us. Keep the unity of the Spirit, grow up into Christ your head, and put on the new man in righteousness and true holiness.
- "Keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (4:3).
- "One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all" (4:5-6).
- Christ's ministers equip the saints "for the edifying of the body of Christ" (4:11-12).
- "Speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him... which is the head, even Christ" (4:15).
- "Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (4:24).
- "Be ye kind one to another... forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (4:32).
Questions for Reflection
- Are you diligently keeping "the unity of the Spirit," or contributing to division?
- How does the sevenfold "oneness," ending in one God, shape your view of the church?
- Are you growing up "into him," maturing in Christ, or still tossed about?
- What of "the old man" needs to be put off, and what of "the new man" put on?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. The unity of the Spirit; the oneness of God: Ephesians 4:1-6; John 17:20-23; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Acts 2:38. The ascended Christ and His gifts to the church: Ephesians 4:7-16; Psalm 68:18; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Romans 12:4-8; Colossians 2:19. Putting off the old man, putting on the new: Ephesians 4:17-24; Colossians 3:5-10; Romans 6:6; 12:2. The new life of truth, work, speech, and forgiveness: Ephesians 4:25-32; Colossians 3:12-13; Matthew 6:14-15; Zechariah 8:16. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- The unity of the Spirit; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God: Ephesians 4:1-6; John 17:20-23; Acts 2:38.
- The ascended Christ's gifts; growing up into Christ: Ephesians 4:7-16; Psalm 68:18; Colossians 2:19.
- Put off the old man, put on the new; kind and forgiving: Ephesians 4:17-32; Colossians 3:5-13.