EPHESIANS
CHAPTER 4
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism—Apostles and prophets essential to the Church—Saints exhorted to live righteously—They are sealed unto the day of redemption.
1 I THEREFORE, the
prisoner of the Lord, [ Paul
is in Rome at this time, a prisoner of Ceasar. When
Paul arrived in Rome, he was placed under house arrest for two years
(Acts 28:16, 23, 30). He lived in a “hired dwelling” (Acts 28:29), probably
an apartment in a Roman tenement, paid at “his own expense” (28:30),
and large enough to accommodate “great numbers” (28:23). Paul was under
the care of one “soldier” (Acts 26:16; cf. 12:6), and was chained to
his guard (28:20). He was probably near the Praetorian barracks beyond
the city walls northeast of Rome. This soldier, however, did not belong
to the higher ranked centurions who had guarded Paul at Jerusalem and
Caesarea (Acts 21:32; 22:25ff; 24:23). The change to a low ranking guard
was because Paul’s status as a Roman citizen was more common in Rome,
whereas it was rare in the provinces (22:25-29). Or
is this phrase symbolic of his relationship to the Savior? ] beseech
you that ye walk worthy of
the vocation wherewith ye are
called,
4 There is one body,
[ One body of saints - for as saints of God they are
united as one. If ye are not one ye are not mine. D&C 38:27 Why
does God's church need to be one? If everyone
is to be judged by him then the same standards must apply for consistent
judgement to occur. ] and
one Spirit, [ There is only
one Holy Ghost not many. ] even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, [One
Jesus Christ who atoned for all sin.] one faith,
[ Why can there not be
many faiths? What
is the definition of faith? It is a hope a belief
in something which is not seen, but is true -there can only be one trueth.
] one baptism,
[ Why? because
the Lord said so, because if there is only one truth, one right way it is the
Lord's way - not any way you want.]
6 One God and Father of
all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
[ What was Paul trying
to teach in these verses that say there is “one Lord, one faith, one
baptism”? .
Why is it important that we be unified in
our understanding and teaching of the basic doctrines of the Church? ]
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up
on high, he
led captivity captive, [ What Is the Meaning
of the Phrase “He Led Captivity Captive”? “He overcame
death; all men were the captives of death until Christ captured the captivator
and made death subject to him, or, as the Psalm from which Paul is quoting
continues to say, ‘He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God
the Lord belong the issues from death.’ (Ps. 68:20.)” (McConkie, DNTC, 2:509.)] and gave
gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
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;
[ patriarchs ] and some, pastors [bishops] and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of
the faith, [that we may all learn his laws, his
commandments, his doctrines and then live them is in every way a direct
opposition to what many today try to teach which is - a diversity of
understanding, to give acceptance to the lifestyles of all men (including
those who do not choose to keep the commands of God) they teach us to
tolerate and accept that diversity for its richness, but that is not
what the Lord himself said - he said that we must become as one - If
ye are not one ye are not mine - How
do we become One with him and the Father? by keeping
his every command.] and
of the knowledge of
the son of God, unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
[ note the use of the word measure - to compare us to
Christ, that is the standard that we are to compare ourselves to, not
our neighbor, not to our friends but our Savior]
14 That we henceforth be no
more children, [
What do we know about children? They
can be easily mislead, they are soaking up everything - good and bad,
children have little experience to compare to - we need to get experience
in the things of God. How do we get experience
in the things of God? What is the best way to get children to stop wanting
something? shift their attention to something
else ] 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; [“The authorities which the Lord has
placed in his Church constitute for the people of the Church a harbor,
a place of refuge, a hitching post, as it were. No one in this Church will
ever go far astray who ties himself securely to the Church Authorities whom
the Lord has placed in his Church. This Church will never go astray; the Quorum
of the Twelve will never lead you into bypaths; it never has and never will.
There could be individuals who would falter; there will never be a majority
of the Council of the Twelve on the wrong side at any time. The Lord has chosen
them; he has given them specific responsibilities. And those people who stand
close to them will be safe. And, conversely, whenever one begins to go his
own way in opposition to authority, he is in grave danger. I would not say
that those leaders whom the Lord chooses are necessarily the most brilliant,
nor the most highly trained, but they are the chosen, and when chosen of the
Lord they are his recognized authority, and the people who stay close to them
have safety.” (Spencer W. Kimball in CR, Apr. 1951, 104.)]
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.
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.
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
24 And that ye put on [ So this could be better translated as "And that ye be [endowed] the new man". The word endowed appears only once in the New Testament as the word endued in Luk 24:49. However, the greek word used is "endyō" which is translated as; put on, or had not on (18x), clothed with (2x), clothed in (2x), have on (2x), clothe with (1x), be endued (1x), arrayed in (1x), be clothed (1x), and is used with the nuance of 'being enveloped by' which is very much like "being encircled by" in the context of robes of righteousness. If you retranslate the word "endyo" to "endowed" gain some interesting perspectives as to how we might better understand our own temple experience where we put on, are clothed with, and endowed, or encircled by the robes of righteousness. ] 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.
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.