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Outline and Comments on Chapter 4 I. Paul beseeches the Ephesians Christians, that they
walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they were
called. 4:1
A. Walking worthy of the vocation of a Christian
involves:
1. Walking with all lowliness and meekness. 4:2
2. Walking with longsuffering. 4:2
3. Forbearing one another. 4:2
4. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace. 4:2 II. Paul sets forth the unity of the Spirit. 4:4-6
A. The Spirit reveals that there is only:
1. One body, 4:4; Cf. Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians
1:18
2. One Spirit. 4:4
3. One hope. 4:4
4. One Lord. 4:5
5. One Faith. 4:5
6. One baptism. 4:5
7. One God. 4:6
a. One can no more truthfully say that there are
many bodies (churches – Ephesians 1:22-23)
than they can say that there are many Gods.
b. One can no more truthfully say that there are
many faiths than they can say that there are
many Gods.
c. The unity of the Spirit as set forth by Paul
stood in opposition to the idolatrous worship
of his day and many religious doctrines of
today.III. When Christ ascended, he gave gifts to men. 4:7-8, Cf.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
A. Christ gave some to be:
1. Apostles. 4:11
2. Prophets. 4:11
3. Evangelists. 4:11
4. Pastors. 4:11
5. Teachers. 4:11
B. These miraculous offices were given for:
1. The perfecting of the saints. 4:12
2. The work of the ministry. 4:12
3. The edifying of the body of Christ. 4:12
C. These miraculous offices were given for:
1. We all come in the unity of the faith. 4:13
2. We all come in the unity of the knowledge of the
Son of God. 4:13
3. We all come unto a perfect man. 4:13
4. We all come unto the measure of the stature of
the fullness of Christ. 4:13
a. The word “till” in the text marks duration of
time.
b. These miraculous gifts and offices were
needed until the complete revelation of God’s
will was made known.
c. Paul did not say, “till we all see the Bible
alike.”
(1) What Paul said was “till we all come in
the unity of the faith” or doctrine.
That is the complete revelation of the
mystery of God’s will.
d. Unity of the knowledge of the Son of God
indicates oneness, completeness of the
gospel.
e. A perfect man comes only through the complete
revelation of God’s will. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
f. The measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ indicates the complete example and
teaching of Christ.
g. When the complete example and teaching of
God’s will was made known then these
miraculous gifts would cease, fail and vanish
away. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13
D. Paul states the reason that these miraculous gifts
were needed until the revelation of God’s will was
complete. 4:14-16
1. That they would be no more children. 4:14
a. Not carried about by every wind of doctrine.
4:14
b. Not carried about by the sleight of men and
cunning craftiness. 4:14
c. That they might speak the truth in love and
grow up into Christ in all things. 4:14
d. That every member might work to the
compacting of the body. 4:16 IV. Paul admonishes them not to walk as other Gentiles
walk. 4:17
A. Other Gentiles walked:
1. In the vanity of their mind. 4:17
2. Having their understanding darkened. 4:18
3. Being alienated from the life of God. 4:18
a. Through the ignorance that is in them.
b. Because of the blindness of their heart.
4. Being past felling. 4:19
a. Hence, given of to lasciviousness. 4:19
b. Hence, work all uncleanness with greediness.
4:19
B. If they have heard Christ and been taught him
according to that which is truth, they have not so
learned Christ. 4:20-21
1. To live according to the truth in Christ they
were to:
a. Put off concerning their former life the old
man of sin and corruption. 4:22
b. Be renewed in the spirit of their mind. 4:23,
Cf. Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 4:16
c. Put on the new man which after God is created
to righteousness and true holiness. 4:24, Cf.
2 Corinthians 5:17
d. Put away lying. 4:25
e. Speak every man truth with his neighbor. 4:25
f. Be angry and sin not. 4:26
g. Let not the sun go down on their wrath. 4:26
h. Not give place to the devil. 4:27
i. Steal no more. 4:28
j. Labour, working with their hands the thing
that is good, that he may have to give to him
that needeth. 4:28
k. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of
their mouth. 4:29
l. Speak that which is good to the use of
edifying. 4:29
m. Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God. 4:30
n. Let all bitterness, wrath anger, clamour,
evil speaking and malice be put away from
you. 4:31
o. Be kind one to another. 4:32
p. Be tenderhearted. 4:32
q. Forgive one another. 4:32
Howard I. See © 1970
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