Ephesians 4:1-16
Q.1. What was to distinguish the Ephesians individually and collectively? What oneness were they to exemplify? – (Eph.4:1-6)
Paul was writing from prison and called himself – the prisoner of the Lord (Eph.4:1). Moreover, he knew he was there – for the sake of you Gentiles (Eph.3:1). Just as he suffered because of his calling, Paul pleaded for believers to strive for oneness, for the unity that the Spirit has sealed (Eph.4:3) However, that is easier said than done. It demands that we apply ourselves – with all humility and gentleness with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love (Eph.4:2). Paul then summarized this unity that Christ has purchased for us and reminded the Ephesians – 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all, and in all (Eph.4:4-6). We started out very different from each other, yet through the atonement we were engrafted into one body. We are one with Him, and one with each other.
Q.2. Why did Christ give us gifts? How do these gifts differ? How should they be exercised? What should they produce? – (Eph.4:7-16)
As he did whenever he explained about spiritual gifts, Paul warned against abuse and competitiveness that would bring disunity (Eph.4:7, 14-16 c.f. Rom.12:3; 1 Cor.12:14-25). Each person’s gifts depend upon – the measure of Christ’s gift (Eph.4:7). Paul quoted from Psalm 68:18 in the Septuagint Version of the Old Testament (also known as the LXX because of the seventy Hebrew scholars who translated it into Greek – the dominant language of the Empire). The Psalm speaks about God’s ultimate triumph, and the taking of prisoners who surrender their gifts to Him. The LXX gives the rendering – When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men (Eph:4:8). Like Paul, we should see ourselves as the Lord’s captives, and use the gifts that He has bestowed, for His glory. Since He ascended to a place of triumph – far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things – it stands to reason, Paul argued, that – He also descended into the lower parts of the earth (Eph.4:10 & 9). This truth is corroborated by Peter (1 Pet.3:18-19). As the all-conquering Lord of Glory, God has all rights to both distribute and demand the use of these gifts for His glory. As in Ephesians 2:20, Paul identified certain leadership roles that were needed to oversee the growth of the body of Christ – He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers (Eph.4:11). These people are not so much chosen to do the bulk of the ministry but have the role of recruiting, teaching and – 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ (Eph.4:12-13). The gifts are given to unite us, not divide us. They are given so that we might grow strong in doctrine. This will protect us from being tossed around (Eph.4:14-17).