Eph. 4:1 prisoner. Paul has been jailed because of his commitment to Christ.

Eph. 4:2 The pagan culture of Paul’s day did not consider humility an admirable quality.

Eph. 4:3 Peace is a bond that unites believers in Christ. They do not create this unity, however; they merely preserve the unity already established by the Lord.

Eph. 4:4 Spirit. Just as a human body has one spirit that gives it life, so Christ’s body, the church, is given life by one Holy Spirit. one hope. Christians will live with God forever. This hope unites them. On the church as a body, see Rom. 12:4–8; 1 Cor. 12:12–31.

Eph. 4:5 one Lord. Jesus Christ. one faith. The spiritual truths Christians believe. One baptism may refer to the baptism of all believers into one body (see 1 Cor. 12:13) or it may refer to water baptism as such. Verses 4–6 of Ephesians 4 seem to make a special point of mentioning the three members of the Trinity: “One Spirit” (v. 4), “one Lord [Christ]” (v. 5), and “one God and Father” (v. 6).

Eph. 4:6 over all . . . through all . . . in all. God is present everywhere (see Ps. 139:7–12; Isa. 66:1).

Eph. 4:7 grace . . . according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Gifts given by God’s choosing to serve the church.

Eph. 4:8 it says. Paul cites Ps. 68:18 to show that Christ gave gifts to his people from what he had taken from his enemies. The “gifts” are the church leaders described in Eph. 4:11. The captives over whom Christ triumphed are most likely demons (compare 1:19–22).

Eph. 4:9 lower regions, the earth. In the incarnation, Christ descended from the highest heavens to the lowest regions (that is, to the earth). He then ascended (Acts 1:9) 40 days after his resurrection to the highest heavens at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33).

Eph. 4:11 For apostles, see note on 1:1. prophets. A reference to the gift of prophecy in the NT church. evangelists. People who proclaim the gospel to unbelievers (see Acts 21:8; 2 Tim. 4:5). shepherds (or “pastors” [ESV footnote]) and teachers. People who teach and guide those who become believers. There is some uncertainty whether these terms refer to two different ministry roles or functions (see 1 Tim. 5:17) or a single “shepherd-teacher” ministry role (see ESV footnote).

Eph. 4:12 Church leaders are to equip the saints (all Christians) to do the work of ministry (1 Cor. 12:7, 11; 1 Pet. 4:10).

Eph. 4:13 The variety of gifts serves to bring about the unity of Christ’s people. Mature manhood contrasts with “children” in the next verse (see Heb. 5:11–14). knowledge of the Son of God. Knowing Christ personally and understanding all that he did and taught brings about “mature manhood.” measure. Christ Jesus is the standard of maturity. Christ’s fullness is the expression of his divine and human perfection (see Eph. 1:23; 3:19; Col. 1:19).

Eph. 4:14 deceitful schemes. Compare 1 John 4:1–3; Jude 4; Rev. 2:2.

Eph. 4:15 The truth must always be presented in love. As head, Christ leads, directs, and guides the body (see 5:23; 1 Cor. 11:3).

Eph. 4:1–16 Unity of the Body of Christ. Paul shows how to apply the truths he has been teaching. There are three subsections: vv. 1–6, 7–10, and 11–16.

Eph. 4:16 As part of Christ’s body, every believer has an important role in the church’s growth. in love. See 1 Corinthians 13.

Eph. 4:17–18 ignorance. Not having saving knowledge of Christ. hardness of heart. Unwillingness to turn from sin and accept Christ (see Matt. 13:14–15).

Eph. 4:22 put off your old self. See Col. 3:9–10. As the ESV footnote indicates, “self” translates the generic Greek term for “man” or “human.” The “old self” refused to trust and serve Christ. corrupt. Human hearts are “deceitful above all things, and desperately sick” (Jer. 17:9).

Eph. 4:23 renewed. The “renewal” or “transformation” of the mind (Rom. 12:2) occurs as believers study and apply God’s Word and begin to think in new and right ways.

Eph. 4:17–24 Paul’s Testimony. Paul explains the new life in Christ that the Ephesians have experienced.

Eph. 4:24 put on the new self (literally, “man”; see note on v. 22). Believers are created anew after the likeness of God. Compare Gen. 1:27; 1 Cor. 15:49.

Eph. 4:26–27 Be angry. Not all anger is sin, but believers should not remain angry. This will only give an opportunity to the devil to do evil.

Eph. 4:29 Christians are to avoid corrupting talk. They must speak in ways that are good for building up and giving grace, that is, what they say should benefit others rather than corrupting them.

Eph. 4:30 To grieve the Holy Spirit means to cause him sorrow by one’s sin. sealed. See note on 1:13. The day of redemption is the day of Christ’s return (see Luke 21:28; Rom. 8:23).

Eph. 4:31 All modifies every item in the list. Bitterness may be listed first because it often leads to the other sins Paul names.

Eph. 4:25–32 Encouragement for a Holy Lifestyle. Paul gives practical examples of how church members strengthen Christ’s body (compare vv. 13–16).

Eph. 5:1–2 Paul’s discussion of love introduces further instructions on holy living (vv. 3–20). When Christ gave himself up for us, it was the supreme act of his love (see John 15:13).

Eph. 5:3 The term sexual immorality covers all sexual sins, including adultery, sex outside of marriage, and homosexuality. Covetousness is a jealous desire for what others possess (Ex. 20:17). It amounts to idolatry (Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:5). saints. See note on Eph. 1:1.

Eph. 5:4 Thanksgiving, in contrast to crude joking and foolish talk, is the positive way to speak. Thanksgiving can also be a cure for covetousness (see v. 3).

Eph. 5:5 idolater. See Col. 3:5. inheritance. See Eph. 1:13–14; 4:30. kingdom. Paul speaks of Christ ruling now from the right hand of God (see 1:20–22; compare Rom. 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:24–27; Col. 3:1; etc.). Believers have already been brought into his redemptive kingdom (see Eph. 2:6; Col. 1:13–14), although his rule will be complete only at his second coming (1 Cor. 15:20–24; 2 Tim. 4:1).

Eph. 5:6 deceive you . . . because of these things. Only a false teacher would claim that Christians can lead unrepentant, sinful lives (see 2 Tim. 3:1–9; 2 Pet. 2:1–3; Rev. 2:14, 20) and not suffer any consequences. These practices lead to the wrath of God in judgment (Rev. 2:21–23). sons of disobedience. See note on Eph. 2:2; compare John 8:44; 17:12; 1 John 3:10.

Eph. 5:7 become partners. Christians must not join unbelievers in their sin.

Eph. 5:8 Walk as children of light. See 1 John 1:5–7. See also Isa. 9:2; 42:6; John 9:5.

Eph. 5:9 Fruit of light is similar to fruit of the Spirit (compare Gal. 5:22–23).

Eph. 5:10 The Bible gives general principles for life. Christians must also seek the wisdom to discern how to apply those principles to their daily lives.

Eph. 5:11 Expose means either to correct or to convince through argument and discussion (also v. 13). Those who expose sin must not gossip or slander others in the process.

Eph. 5:14 it says. The quotation combines the thought of several verses, including Isa. 60:1 (see also Isa. 9:2; 26:19).

Eph. 5:17 The will of the Lord means God’s general guidelines for life as found in the Bible (his “revealed will”; see Deut. 29:29).

Eph. 5:18 be filled with the Spirit. Compare Gal. 5:22–23. The command describes a regular pattern of life, rather than a onetime event.

Eph. 5:19 Being filled with the Spirit results in joyful praise through singing and making melody. psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Paul probably has in mind the OT Psalms along with other songs of praise (compare Col. 3:16). “Spiritual” points to the influence of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18) in the believer’s acts of praise.

Eph. 5:1–20 New Life in Love. Paul gives general instructions for holy living. Purity of life comes from avoiding evil deeds and relationships and adopting holy practices.

Eph. 5:20 To pray in the name of Jesus means to pray in faith, trusting in him as the one who represents his people before God the Father (John 14:6; Heb. 4:16; see also note on John 14:13).

Eph. 5:21 Although this verse begins a new section (5:21–6:9), submitting is actually the last item in the list of ways in which believers are to “Look carefully . . . how you walk” (5:15). The previous items in this list are “making” (v. 16), “addressing” (v. 19), and “giving” (v. 20). Submitting to one another means “submitting to others according to the authority and order established by God.” This can be seen in the examples Paul gives in the following verses.

Eph. 5:22 submit. Paul begins with the right ordering of the marriage relationship (see also Col. 3:18; 1 Pet. 3:1–7). The submission of wives is not like the obedience of children, nor does this text command all women to submit to all men (to your own husbands). Both genders are equally created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26–28) and heirs together of eternal life (Gal. 3:28–29). The submission described here is to the husband’s leadership for the health of the marriage relationship.

Eph. 5:23–24 the husband is the head of the wife. The wife’s submission to her husband is modeled on Christ’s position as head of the church and its Savior. “Head” here clearly refers to a husband’s authority over his wife. See note on 1 Cor. 11:3.

Eph. 5:25 love. Paul now turns to the duty of husbands. Paul tells the husband to give himself up for her. Husbands are to love their wives in a self-sacrificial manner, following the example of Christ with the church. This model is directly opposed to any kind of male tyranny or oppression. Notably, Paul gives three times more space to the subject of the husband’s duty (nine verses) than to the wife’s (three verses).

Eph. 5:26–27 The focus in these verses is on Christ, for husbands do not “sanctify” their wives or “wash” them of their sins. sanctify. Set aside for the Lord’s service through cleansing. washing of water. Perhaps baptism (see Rom. 6:3–4). There may also be a link here to Ezek. 16:1–13, where the Lord washes the infant Israel, raises her, and eventually makes her royalty and marries her. This would correspond to presenting the church to himself in splendor at his marriage supper (see also Ezek. 36:25; Rev. 19:7–9; 21:2, 9–11).

Eph. 5:28–30 The body for which Christ sacrificed himself was the church.

Eph. 5:31 God joins husbands and wives together to become one flesh (Gen. 2:24; see also Matt. 19:5; 1 Cor. 6:16).

Eph. 5:32 By mystery Paul means the hidden plan of God that has come to fulfillment in Christ Jesus (see 1:9; 3:3–4, 9; and 6:19). Paul interprets the original creation of the husband-and-wife union as being modeled on Christ’s forthcoming union with the church (see 5:23).

Eph. 6:1 Children. The second family relationship illustrating submission to proper authority (5:21) is that of children and parents. obey your parents. Obedience is due to both parents.

Eph. 6:2–3 Honor. Children obeying their parents (v. 1) is in part how they honor them. promise. This is the only one of the Ten Commandments that contains a promise (Ex. 20:12).

Eph. 6:4 Fathers. As earlier, Paul describes a negative action to avoid, then gives a positive action to develop (see note on 4:29). Paul addresses fathers in particular, though this does not lessen the mother’s contribution in these areas (see Proverbs 31). provoke . . . to anger. A domineering and thoughtless father discourages obedient children (Col. 3:21). bring them up. Parents play a crucial, God-ordained role in the discipleship of their children “in the Lord” (Eph. 6:1); see Deut. 6:1–9.

Eph. 6:5 Bondservants. See note on 1 Cor. 7:21. It is estimated that slaves (or bondservants) composed about one-third of the population of a city like Ephesus. They were considered part of a family, so Paul’s instructions for bondservants were a natural part of his dealing with family relationships. Paul does not endorse the existing system of servitude (see ESV Preface). Instead, he provides instructions to believing masters and bondservants regarding their relationship to each other in the Lord, and how this should be lived out within the bounds of their social and legal culture. The principles in this passage apply today in terms of submission to any lawful authority, unless it requires a believer to disobey God’s Word or to fundamentally compromise one’s commitment to Christ (see, e.g., Acts 4:19, 20). with a sincere heart. Fulfilling one’s obligations is service to the Lord (see Eph. 6:6–7).

Eph. 5:21–6:9 Submission to One Another. Ephesians 5:21 connects the previous section to what follows. Submission is illustrated in various family relationships in 5:22–33 (wives/husbands), 6:1–4 (children/parents), and 6:5–9 (bondservants/masters). See also Col. 3:18–25.

Eph. 6:9 Masters were not to take advantage of their authority by threatening their bondservants. There is no partiality with the Lord (see 2 Chron. 19:7; Rom. 2:11). He will fairly judge both masters and servants.

Eph. 6:10 be strong. Christians cannot stand on their own against superhuman evil powers. They must rely upon the strength of the Lord’s might (see 1:19). He supplies this power primarily through prayer (6:18).

Eph. 6:11 whole armor. The complete equipment of a fully armed soldier, consisting of shields and weapons like those described in vv. 14, 16–17. Paul draws primarily on OT passages, yet the terms also overlap with Roman weapons. schemes. The “deceitful schemes” of those teaching false doctrine come from Satan (4:14; see also 1 John 4:3).

Eph. 6:13 Therefore. Because their enemies are superhuman spiritual forces, Christians cannot rely on human resources. They must take up the whole armor of God (see note on v. 11). withstand. Along with “stand” in v. 11 and stand firm later in v. 13, Paul portrays Christians as soldiers not retreating from the enemy’s charge. evil day. In 5:16 Paul identifies this whole age as “evil days.” Satan’s attacks against Christ’s people will continue until Christ comes again (Luke 21:27) to rescue his people forever.

Eph. 6:14–17 Christians have God’s armor from head to foot. These items are metaphors for the spiritual resources given to them in Christ: the truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and the Word of God.

Eph. 6:16–17 flaming darts. Burning arrows designed to destroy wooden shields and other defenses. The shield of faith is able to extinguish the devil’s attacks. the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. God’s Word is the only offensive weapon in this list (see Heb. 4:12).

Eph. 6:18 praying. The weapons for warfare are spiritual because they are rooted in prayer, the Christian’s most powerful resource. Prayer in the Spirit is a form of worship (John 4:23–24) enabled by the Spirit of God, who intercedes on behalf of the person who prays (Rom. 8:26–27).

Eph. 6:10–20 The Whole Armor of God. Paul concludes with instructions for all Christians. He portrays the Christian life as a spiritual warfare. There are three subsections: vv. 10–13, 14–17, and 18–20.

Eph. 6:21–22 Tychicus the beloved brother had served Paul faithfully (see Acts 20:4; Col. 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:12; Titus 3:12). He probably carried this letter to Ephesus.

Eph. 6:21–24 Conclusion. Paul concludes his letter (vv. 21–22) and gives a final blessing (vv. 23–24).

Eph. 6:23–24 Paul closes his letter the way he began it (1:2): with a benediction of peace, love, faith, and grace upon the church. He mentions “love” three times. This is fitting for a letter where the love of God, the love of Christ, and Christian love have been prominent themes.