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Ephesians 4:1-6 Paul exhorteth to those virtues which become the

Christian calling, particularly to unity,

Ephesians 4:7-16 declaring that Christ gave his gifts differently,

that his body the church might be built up and

perfected in the true faith by the co-operation of

the several members with one another, and with him

their Head.

Ephesians 4:17-21 He calleth men off from the vain and impure

conversation of the heathen world,

Ephesians 4:22-24 to renounce the old, and to put on the new, man,

Ephesians 4:25 to discard lying,

Ephesians 4:26,27 and sinful anger.

Ephesians 4:28 To leave off dishonest practices, and to gain by

honest labour what they have occasion for,

Ephesians 4:29 to use no corrupt talk,

Ephesians 4:30 nor grieve God’s Spirit.

Ephesians 4:31,32 To put away all expressions of ill-will, and to

practise mutual kindness and forgiveness.

The prisoner of the Lord; in the Lord, a Hebraism: it is as much as, for the Lord: see Ephesians 3:1.

Beseech you that ye walk worthy; proceed constantly and perseveringly in such ways as suit with and become your calling, 1 Thessalonians 4:7 1 Peter 1:15: see the like expression, Romans 16:2.

Of the vocation wherewith ye are called; both your general calling, whereby ye are called to be saints, and your particular callings, to which ye are severally called, as Ephesians 5:1-33 and Ephesians 6:1-24.

With all lowliness, or humility; submissiveness of mind, whereby we esteem others better than ourselves, Philippians 2:3. A virtue peculiar to Christians, unknown to philosophers: see Acts 20:19 Colossians 3:12,13.

And meekness; whereby we are not easily provoked, or offended with the infirmities of others: this is opposed to peevishness, as the former to pride.

With long-suffering; whereby we bear with greater or repeated injuries, 2 Corinthians 6:6.

Forbearing one another; or supporting, i.e. bearing with the infirmities, frowardness, or moroseness of others, so as not to cease to love them, and do them good.

In love; not out of any carnal affection, or for our own advantage, but out of love, which is wont to make men patient and long-suffering, 1 Corinthians 13:4.

The unity of the Spirit; either unity of mind, or spiritual unity, as being wrought by the Spirit, and then he means that unity he spoke of, Ephesians 2:14-16, and Ephesians 3:6, whereby is intended the mystical body of Christ.

In the bond of peace; i.e. in peace as the bond which keeps the members or parts of the church together, which by dissensions are dissipated and scattered. The first step to this unity is humility, for where that is not, there will be no meekness nor forbearance, without which unity cannot be maintained.

There is one body; i.e. the church of Christ, Ephesians 1:23: see Colossians 3:15.

And one Spirit; the self-same Spirit of Christ in that body by which all the members live and act, 1 Corinthians 12:11,13.

Even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one inheritance in heaven, to the hope of which ye are called, Colossians 1:12.

Hope, for the thing hoped for, as Colossians 1:5: see 1 Peter 1:3,4.

One Lord; Christ, viz. as Redeemer, Head, and Husband of the church, to whom, by God’s appointment, she is immediately subject, 1 Corinthians 8:6 John 13:13 Acts 2:36.

One faith; i.e. one object of the faith of all believers, viz. the doctrine of salvation, which is but one.

One baptism; both as to the outward symbol, and the thing signified by it.

One God; God is here taken personally for the Father, the other two Persons being before mentioned, Ephesians 4:4,5.

And Father of all; of all believers.

Who is above all; not only in the excellencies of his nature, but especially in his sovereign dominion over the church.

And through all; by his special providence, through all the members of the church.

And in you all; by inhabitation, and the conjunction of believers with him. Though the former two may be applied to God’s universal dominion and providence over all the creatures, yet, the apostle speaking of the conjunction of believers in one Father, they are both to be restrained according to this last clause.

But unto every one of us is given grace; either by grace he means gifts which are not common to all believers, but proper to some, according to their various functions and places in the church, Romans 12:6 1 Corinthians 12:11. Or rather, more generally, it comprehends also those graces which are common to all believers as such, faith, hope, love, zeal, &c.; which though they are of the same kind in all, and have the same object, yet they are received in different degrees and measures.

According to the measure of the gift of Christ; in that measure in which it pleaseth Christ to give them, who gives to some one gift, to some another; to some one degree of grace to some another: all have not the same, but need the help of those that have what they want.

Wherefore he saith; the psalmist.

When he; Christ, God manifested in the flesh: and then what was spoken by the psalmist prophetically in the second person, is spoken by the apostle historically in the third.

Ascended up on high; Christ ascended up on high after his death, both as to place, in his human nature, into heaven; and chiefly as to his state, in his being glorified.

He led captivity captive; either led those captive who had taken us captive, or rather led them captive whom he had taken captive;

captivity being here put for captives, as elsewhere poverty for poor, 2 Kings 24:14. This Christ did when, having conquered sin, death, Satan, he triumphed gloriously over them in his ascension, Colossians 2:15. It is spoken with allusion to conquering princes or generals, who in their triumphs had their captives attending upon their chariots.

And gave gifts unto men; he alludes in this likewise to the custom of conquerors casting money among the people that were the spectators of their triumphs, or giving largesses to their soldiers. Christ upon his ascension sent the Holy Ghost on the disciples, Acts 2:1-47, and continues ever since to furnish his church with gifts and graces: see on Psalm 68:18.