1.
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Verse 1
I therefore, &c. Here the apostle resumes what be had begun to say at the commencement of the last chapter.--The vocation; the calling.
2.
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3.
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Verse 3
The unity of the Spirit; spiritual union and harmony.
4.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Verse 4
One body; meaning the church, that is, the community of believers.
5.
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Verse 5
One Lord; one Savior.--One faith; one system of revealed truth.--One baptism; one Christian profession.
6.
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7.
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8.
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Verse 8
Psalms 68:18.
9.
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Verse 9
Into the lower parts of the earth; into the grave.
10.
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Verse 11
The meaning is, that he has endued his ministers with a diversity of talents and qualifications. We are not probably to understand these expressions as referring to so many distinct and specific offices. The powers exercised by the leading members of the early church, were not well defined, and marked, and systematically arranged, as official duties generally are in modern times. They varied with circumstances and with the personal character of the individuals who exercised them; as is every where implied in the different allusions to this subject which occur.
12.
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Verse 12
The body of Christ; the church.
13.
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:
14.
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;
Verse 14
The sleight; the skilfulness.
15.
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16.
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.
Verse 16
From whom; by whose power.--According to, &c.; that is, each part performing its own special and proper function.
17.
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18.
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:
19.
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20.
But ye have not so learned Christ;
21.
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22.
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Verse 22
The old man; the former evil character.
23.
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24.
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25.
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Verse 25
We are members, &c.; we are bound together as members of one body.
26.
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Verse 26
Be ye angry, &c.; never let the feeling of displeasure at sin or injustice become unholy anger.--Let not the sun, &c.; be always ready to pass over and forgive offences, instead of harboring lasting resentment.
27.
Neither give place to the devil.
Verse 27
That is, never yield to any temptation to sin.
28.
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.
29.
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.
Verse 29
Minister grace; be the means of promoting grace.
30.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Verse 30
Whereby ye are sealed; that is, which is the pledge and earnest of redemption.
31.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.