Chapter 4:1–5:2

After presenting the mysterious economy of God, the apostle moves to the second part - how to live practically in answer to that God’s economy (chapters 4–6).

4:1–6 - unity

4:1–3

4:1 - Paul again presents himself as a prisoner “in the Lord” (3:1). The Ephesians were called to the household of God. Now they should live according to this calling. What does it entail?

  1. Humility; - tapeinophrosyne - phroneo - think; tapeinos - low, insignificant; See Is 40:6–7; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5.
  2. Meekness;
  3. Long-suffering;
  4. Bearing one another in love;
  5. Keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The virtues resemble Christ’s Beaititudes (Matt 5:1–12). They also point to Christ’s own example (Phil 2:6–11).

Notice also the reference to the Spirit (2:18) and peace (2:14).

4:4–6 - How the unity is being realized?

  1. One Body is the Church understood as Christ - Head, and the faithful - as her members. We should always look at the church from this perspective - and not as an institution;
  2. One Spirit - This Spirit was given to us at the moment of our baptism as the pledge of our heavenly inheritance, the gift of the Father (John 14:16; 20:22);
  3. One hope - of fulfillment the promise that God has give to us in Christ - the final [eschatological] fulfillment (see Rev 21:1–4);
  4. One Lord - Christ (Rom 10:9; 1 Cor 12:3; Phil 2:11). On Greek Old Testament [LXX] Kyrious referred to God. The first Christians applied this title to Christ - offering to Him prayers and petitions;
  5. One faith - apostolic preaching that builds the Church. This is the proclamation of the death and the resurrection of Christ, and the great consequences of this event;
  6. One baptism - all have to experience baptism - immersion in Christ’s death and resurrection (Rom 6:3–8; Gal 3:27–28; Co; 2:12–13);
  7. One God and Father of all. The “all” can be understood as all people or all adopted children - both of Jewish and Gentile origin united in the Church as God’s family;

The ending formula resembles Acts 17:28 and points to the reality that God is above everything and embraces everything.

4:7–16 - Gifts given for the building of the body (see Rom 12:5–8; 1 Cor 12:10–11)

4:7–10 - grace and gift of Christ. Christ decides on this aspect, not us.

Descended and ascended. Descended probably refers to the incarnation, the crucifixion and Christ’s death. Ascended refers to the resurrection and ascension on the right hand of the Father. As a proof text, Paul uses Psalm 68:19. This psalm speaks about God coming from Sinai to Jerusalem. In the psalm, it is God who receives the gifts from people. Here, it is Christ that gives His gifts to the people.

4:11–13

We have here five gifts-services for building the body of Christ.

Apostles - foundation of the Church (Eph 2:20) and presenting God’s plan of salvation (Eph 3:5);

Prophets - preaching the Word of God (Acts 15:32; 1 Cor 14:3–4) and proclaiming the future events (Acts 11:27–28; 21:10–11)

Evangelists - proclaiming the kerygma that calls to conversion (Acts 21:8; 2 Tim 4:2–5).

Pastors and teachers - presided over the community and cared about the orthodoxy (John 21:15–17; 1 Peter 5:1–4).

The aim of these services is to prepare everyone for the service (diakonia) in order to build the Church. Building the Church aims for:
1. Unity of faith;
2. The knowledge of Christ;
3. Perfect man;
4. The measure of the fullness of Christ.

Christ is the measure of our humanity. He is the perfect man, the second or new Adam, and we suppose to strive to reach that perfect Adam.

4:14–16

Contrast between immature and mature Christians. Immature have no stability (James 1:6; 3:4), but the mature ones build their lives on love. It is love that makes the Church grow and unites us closer with Christ (1 Cor 12:15–21).

4:17–24 - Christian is a new man

4:17–19 - pagan way of life

The contrast between the Gentiles’ lifestyle and that of Christian is stated very clearly here.

A Christian should make a clear cut from the pagan way of thinking and life. The description of pagan way of life is very negative.

  1. Futility of their thinking - What is immediately noteworthy is the apostle’s emphasis on the intellectual factor in everybody’s way of life [cf. Rom. 12:2]… . Scripture bears an unwavering testimony to the power of ignorance and error to corrupt, and the power of truth to liberate, ennoble and refine;

  2. Darkened in their understanding - a reference to polytheism and worshiping idols (see Rom 1:22–23; Is 44:9–20); This in turn results from separation from the life that comes from God (cf. 2:12). Separation arises from natural ignorance of God (cf. 1 Pet. 1:14). That in turn rests on insensitivity to God and His ways (cf. Rom. 1).

  3. From worshiping idols comes also the hardening of heart (again see Rom 1:24–32); 19As a result of this condition, unsaved Gentiles typically give themselves over to lives of sensual self-indulgence (cf. Rom. 1:24–28). The Greek word aselgeia, translated “sensuality,” contains the idea of wanton violence.[178] Greediness (pleonexia) refers to an increasing desire for more.

4:20–24 - Christian transformation

Proclamation of the Gospel underscores the necessity of leaving behind the old man - the pagan way of life just described above.

Pattern of transformation:

  1. Deceitful desires - have to be put away;
  2. Renewal in thinking
  3. Put on a new self - man - created in the image of God. Here we have a reference to Genesis. God created man in His own image and likeness. Here, this image is qualified as “in true righteousness and holiness”.

This teaching refers to the sacrament of baptism, which renews us or recreates us into that former image lost by sin.

4:25–5:2 - virtues instead of vices

New way of life springs from this transformation focusing on virtues.

  1. Falsehood or lying is the first mentioned among the vices - it should be replaced with truth (see Zach 8:16);

  2. Anger is the second (Ps 4:5) - even if we are tempted to burst into anger, we should control ourselves. Moreover, anger should not last long - a Sun should not set over our anger. Forgiveness and reconciliation is the way (see Mt 5:25; 18:15; Lk 17:3–4) In this way, we do not give the devil a foothold in our lives (see John 8:44).

  3. Stealing is another vice - work with one’s own hand is a virtue. Work is presented not just as a mean of supporting one’s own family, but also as a mean to help others, who are in need (Acts 20:35). Here, a Christian is transformed into a “rich” and generous person.

  4. The sins of tongue (see James 3:1–12) - should be replaced with speech that builds up.

  5. Grieving the Holy Spirit (Is 63:10) - here we notice that the Holy Spirit is also Person - has feelings and can be grieved. In Eph 1:13 - we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit - which means we belong to God. We have been sealed for the day of Christ’s coming - the day of redemption.

  6. Next six vices affect relationship within community, among brothers and sisters. We should replaced them with three virtues: kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.

Our pattern is God Himself. God has forgives us in Christ, and Christ has loved us. Thus, forgiveness and love are the fundamental virtues for Christians. If we follow Christ in this way, we shall also be a pleasing sacrifice to God.

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