Ephesians:4:1-16

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rwp @Ephesians:4:1 @{Wherewith ye were called } (\h s ekl th te \). Attraction of the relative \h s \ to the genitive of the antecedent \kl se s \ (calling ) from the cognate accusative \h n \ with \ekl th te \ (first aorist passive indicative of \kale \, to call . For the list of virtues here see strkjv @Colossians:3:12 |. To \anechomenoi all l n \ (Colossians:3:13 |) Paul here adds "in love " (\en agap i \), singled out in strkjv @Colossians:3:14 |. rwp @Ephesians:4:3 @{The unity } (\t n henot ta \). Late and rare word (from \heis \, one ), in Aristotle and Plutarch , though in N .T . only here and verse 13 |. {In the bond of peace } (\en t i sundesm i t s eir n s \). In strkjv @Colossians:3:14 | \agap \ (love ) is the \sundesmos \ (bond ). But there is no peace without love (verse 2 |). rwp @Ephesians:4:4 @{One body } (\hen s ma \). One mystical body of Christ (the spiritual church or kingdom , cf . strkjv @1:23 ; strkjv @2:16 |). {One Spirit } (\hen pneuma \). One Holy Spirit , grammatical neuter gender (not to be referred to by "it ," but by "he "). {In one hope } (\en mi i elpidi \). The same hope as a result of their calling for both Jew and Greek as shown in chapter 2 |. rwp @Ephesians:4:5 @{One Lord } (\heis Kurios \). The Lord Jesus Christ and he alone (no series of aeons ). {One faith } (\mia pistis \). One act of trust in Christ , the same for all (Jew or Gentile ), one way of being saved . {One baptism } (\hen baptisma \). The result of baptizing (\baptisma \), while \baptismos \ is the act . Only in the N .T . (\baptismos \ in Josephus ) and ecclesiastical writers naturally . See strkjv @Mark:10:38 |. There is only one act of baptism for all (Jews and Gentiles ) who confess Christ by means of this symbol , not that they are made disciples by this one act , but merely so profess him , put Christ on publicly by this ordinance . rwp @Ephesians:4:6 @{One God and Father of all } (\heis theos kai pat r pant n \). Not a separate God for each nation or religion . One God for all men . See here the Trinity again (Father , Jesus , Holy Spirit ). {Who is over all } (\ho epi pant n \), {and through all } (\kai dia pant n \), {and in all } (\kai en p sin \). Thus by three prepositions (\epi , dia , en \) Paul has endeavoured to express the universal sweep and power of God in men 's lives . The pronouns (\pant n , pant n , p sin \) can be all masculine , all neuter , or part one or the other . The last "in all " is certainly masculine and probably all are . rwp @Ephesians:4:7 @{According to the measure of the gifts of Christ } (\kata to metron t s d reas tou Christou \). Each gets the gift that Christ has to bestow for his special case . See strkjv @1Corinthians:12:4ff .; strkjv @Romans:12:4-6 |. rwp @Ephesians:4:8 @{Wherefore he saith } (\dio legei \). As a confirmation of what Paul has said . No subject is expressed in the Greek and commentators argue whether it should be \ho theos \ (God ) or \h graph \ (Scripture ). But it comes to God after all . See strkjv @Acts:2:17 |. The quotation is from strkjv @Psalms:68:18 |, a Messianic Psalm of victory which Paul adapts and interprets for Christ 's triumph over death . {He led captivity captive } (\ichmal teusen aichmal sian \). Cognate accusative of \aichmal sian \, late word , in N .T . only here and strkjv @Revelation:13:10 |. The verb also (\aichmal teu \) is from the old word \aichmal tos \, captive in war (in N .T . only in strkjv @Luke:4:18 |), in LXX and only here in N .T . rwp @Ephesians:4:9 @{Now this } (\to de \). Paul picks out the verb \anabas \ (second aorist active participle of \anabain \, to go up ), changes its form to \aneb \ (second aorist indicative ), and points the article (\to \) at it . Then he concludes that it implied a previous \katabas \ (coming down ). {Into the lower parts of the earth } (\eis ta kat tera t s g s \). If the \anabas \ is the Ascension of Christ , then the \katabas \ would be the Descent (Incarnation ) to earth and \t s g s \ would be the genitive of apposition . What follows in verse 10 | argues for this view . Otherwise one must think of the death of Christ (the descent into Hades of strkjv @Acts:2:31 |). rwp @Ephesians:4:10 @{Is the same also } (\autos estin \). Rather , "the one who came down (\ho katabas \, the Incarnation ) is himself also the one who ascended (\ho anabas \, the Ascension )." {Far above } (\huperan \). See strkjv @1:21 |. {All the heavens } (\pant n t n ouran n \). Ablative case after \huperan \. For the plural used of Christ 's ascent see strkjv @Hebrews:4:14 ; strkjv @7:27 |. Whether Paul has in mind the Jewish notion of a graded heaven like the third heaven in strkjv @2Corinthians:12:2 | or the seven heavens idea one does not know . {That he might fill all things } (\hina pl r s i ta panta \). This purpose we can understand , the supremacy of Christ (Colossians:2:9f .|). rwp @Ephesians:4:11 @{And he gave } (\kai autos ed ken \). First aorist active indicative of \did mi \. In strkjv @1Corinthians:12:28 | Paul uses \etheto \ (more common verb , appointed ), but here repeats \ed ken \ from the quotation in verse 8 |. There are four groups (\tous men \, \tous de \ three times , as the direct object of \ed ken \). The titles are in the predicate accusative (\apostolous , proph tas , poimenas kai didaskalous \). Each of these words occurs in strkjv @1Corinthians:12:28 | (which see for discussion ) except \poimenas \ (shepherds ). This word \poim n \ is from a root meaning to protect . Jesus said the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John:10:11 |) and called himself the Good Shepherd . In strkjv @Hebrews:13:20 | Christ is the Great Shepherd (cf . strkjv @1Peter:2:25 |). Only here are preachers termed shepherds (Latin _pastores_ ) in the N .T . But the verb \poimain \, to shepherd , is employed by Jesus to Peter (John:21:16 |), by Peter to other ministers (1Peter:5:2 |), by Paul to the elders (bishops ) of Ephesus (Acts:20:28 |). Here Paul groups "shepherds and teachers " together . All these gifts can be found in one man , though not always . Some have only one . rwp @Ephesians:4:12 @{For the perfecting } (\pros ton katartismon \). Late and rare word (in Galen in medical sense , in papyri for house-furnishing ), only here in N .T ., though \katartisis \ in strkjv @2Corinthians:13:9 |, both from \katartiz \, to mend (Matthew:4:21 ; strkjv @Galatians:6:1 |). "For the mending (repair ) of the saints ." {Unto the building up } (\eis oikodom n \). See strkjv @2:21 |. This is the ultimate goal in all these varied gifts , "building up ." rwp @Ephesians:4:13 @{Till we all attain } (\mechri katant s men hoi pantes \). Temporal clause with purpose idea with \mechri \ and the first aorist active subjunctive of \katanta \, late verb , to come down to the goal (Phillipians:3:11 |). "The whole " including every individual . Hence the need of so many gifts . {Unto the unity of the faith } (\eis t n henot ta t s piste s \). "Unto oneness of faith " (of trust ) in Christ (verse 3 |) which the Gnostics were disturbing . {And of the knowledge of the Son of God } (\kai t s epign se s tou huiou tou theou \). Three genitives in a chain dependent also on \t n henot ta \, "the oneness of full (\epi -\) knowledge of the Son of God ," in opposition to the Gnostic vagaries . {Unto a full-grown man } (\eis andra teleion \). Same figure as in strkjv @2:15 | and \teleios \ in sense of adult as opposed to \n pioi \ (infants ) in 14 |. {Unto the measure of the stature } (\eis metron h likias \). Songs:apparently \h likia \ here as in strkjv @Luke:2:52 |, not age (John:9:21 |). Boys rejoice in gaining the height of a man . But Paul adds to this idea "the fulness of Christ " (\tou pl r matos tou Christou \), like "the fulness of God " in strkjv @3:19 |. And yet some actually profess to be "perfect " with a standard like this to measure by ! No pastor has finished his work when the sheep fall so far short of the goal . rwp @Ephesians:4:14 @{That we may be no longer children } (\hina m keti men n pioi \). Negative final clause with present subjunctive . Some Christians are quite content to remain "babes " in Christ and never cut their eye-teeth (Hebrews:5:11-14 |), the victims of every charlatan who comes along . {Tossed to and fro } (\klud nizomenoi \). Present passive participle of \klud nizomai \, late verb from \klud n \ (wave , strkjv @James:1:6 |), to be agitated by the waves , in LXX , only here in N .T . One example in Vettius Valens . {Carried about } (\peripheromenoi \). Present passive participle of \peripher \, old verb , to carry round , whirled round "by every wind (\anem i \, instrumental case ) of teaching ." In some it is all wind , even like a hurricane or a tornado . If not anchored by full knowledge of Christ , folks are at the mercy of these squalls . {By the sleight } (\en t i kubi i \). "In the deceit ," "in the throw of the dice " (\kubia \, from \kubos \, cube ), sometimes cheating . {In craftiness } (\en panourgi i \). Old word from \panourgos \ (\pan , ergon \, any deed , every deed ), cleverness , trickiness . {After the wiles of error } (\pros t n methodian t s plan s \). \Methodia \ is from \methodeu \ (\meta , hodos \) to follow after or up , to practise deceit , and occurs nowhere else (Ephesians:4:13 ; strkjv @6:11 |) save in late papyri in the sense of method . The word \plan s \ (wandering like our "planet ") adds to the evil idea in the word . Paul has covered the whole ground in this picture of Gnostic error . rwp @Ephesians:4:15 @{In love } (\en agap i \). If truth were always spoken only in love ! {May grow into him } (\aux s men eis auton \). Supply \hina \ and then note the final use of the first aorist active subjunctive . It is the metaphor of verse 13 | (the full-grown man ). We are the body and Christ is the Head . We are to grow up to his stature . rwp @Ephesians:4:16 @{From which } (\ex hou \). Out of which as the source of energy and direction . {Fitly framed } (\sunarmologoumenon \). See strkjv @2:21 | for this verb . {Through that which every joint supplieth } (\dia pas s haph s t s epichor gias \). Literally , "through every joint of the supply ." See strkjv @Colossians:2:19 | for \haph \ and strkjv @Phillipians:1:19 | for the late word \epichor gia \ (only two examples in N .T .) from \epichor ge \, to supply (Colossians:2:19 |). {In due measure } (\en metr i \). Just "in measure " in the Greek , but the assumption is that each part of the body functions properly in its own sphere . {Unto the building up of itself } (\eis oikodom n heautou \). Modern knowledge of cell life in the human body greatly strengthens the force of Paul 's metaphor . This is the way the body grows by cooperation under the control of the head and all "in love " (\en agap i \).

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