Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:1-32 . EXHORTATIONS TO CHRISTIAN DUTIES RESTING ON OUR CHRISTIAN PRIVILEGES, AS UNITED IN ONE BODY, THOUGH VARYING IN THE GRACES GIVEN TO THE SEVERAL MEMBERS, THAT WE MAY COME UNTO A PERFECT MAN IN CHRIST.

1. Translate, according to the Greek order, "I beseech you, therefore (seeing that such is your calling of grace, the first through third chapters) I the prisoner in the Lord (that is, imprisoned in the Lord's cause)." What the world counted ignominy, he counts the highest honor, and he glories in his bonds for Christ, more than a king in his diadem [THEODORET]. His bonds, too, are an argument which should enforce his exhortation.
vocation--Translate, "calling" to accord, as the Greek does, with "called" ( Ephesians 4:4 , Ephesians 1:18 , Romans 8:28 Romans 8:30 ). Colossians 3:15 similarly grounds Christian duties on our Christian "calling." The exhortations of this part of the Epistle are built on the conscious enjoyment of the privileges mentioned in the former part. Compare Ephesians 4:32 with Ephesians 1:7 ; Ephesians 5:1 with Ephesians 1:5 ; Ephesians 4:30 , with Ephesians 1:13 ; Ephesians 5:15 , with Ephesians 1:8 .

2, 3. lowliness--In classic Greek, the meaning is meanness of spirit: the Gospel has elevated the word to express a Christian grace, namely, the esteeming of ourselves small, inasmuch as we are so; the thinking truly, and because truly, therefore lowlily, of ourselves [TRENCH].
meekness--that spirit in which we accept God's dealings with us without disputing and resisting; and also the accepting patiently of the injuries done us by men, out of the thought that they are permitted by compare Galatians 6:1 , 2 Timothy 2:25 , Titus 3:2 ). It is only the lowly, humble heart that is also meek ( Colossians 3:12 ). As "lowliness and meekness" answer to "forbearing one another in love" (compare "love," Ephesians 4:15 Ephesians 4:16 ), so "long-suffering" answers to ( Ephesians 4:4 ) "endeavoring (Greek, 'earnestly' or 'zealously giving diligence') to keep (maintain) the unity of the Spirit (the unity between men of different tempers, which flows from the presence of the Spirit, who is Himself 'one,' Ephesians 4:4 ) in (united in) the bond of peace" (the "bond" by which "peace" is maintained, namely, "love," Colossians 3:14 Colossians 3:15 [BENGEL]; or, "peace" itself is the "bond" meant, uniting the members of the Church [ALFORD]).