Éphésiens 4

1 Je vous exhorte donc, moi le prisonnier du Seigneur, à vous conduire d'une manière digne de la vocation qui vous a été adressée,

2 En toute humilité et douceur, avec un esprit patient, vous supportant les uns les autres avec charité;

3 Vous appliquant à conserver l'unité de l'esprit, par le lien de la paix.

4 Il y a un seul corps et un seul Esprit, comme aussi vous êtes appelés à une seule espérance, par votre vocation.

5 Un seul Seigneur, une seule foi, un seul baptême;

6 Un seul Dieu et Père de tous, qui est au-dessus de tous, et par tous, et en vous tous.

7 Mais la grâce est donnée à chacun de nous, selon la mesure du don de Christ.

8 C'est pourquoi, il est dit: Étant monté en haut, il a emmené captive une multitude de captifs, et il a distribué des dons aux hommes.

9 Or, que signifie: Il est monté, si ce n'est qu'auparavant il était descendu dans les parties basses de la terre?

10 Celui qui est descendu, c'est le même qui est monté au-dessus de tous les cieux, afin qu'il remplît toutes choses.

11 C'est aussi lui qui a établi les uns apôtres, les autres prophètes, les autres évangélistes, et les autres pasteurs et docteurs;

12 Pour le perfectionnement des saints, pour l'œuvre du ministère, pour l'édification du corps de Christ;

13 Jusqu'à ce que nous soyons tous parvenus à l'unité de la foi et de la connaissance du Fils de Dieu, à l'état d'homme fait, à la mesure de la stature parfaite de Christ;

14 Pour que nous ne soyons plus des petits enfants, flottants et emportés çà et là à tous vents de doctrine, par la tromperie des hommes, et par leur adresse à séduire artificieusement;

15 Mais que, professant la vérité dans la charité, nous croissions en toutes choses dans celui qui est le chef, Christ;

16 De qui tout le corps, bien coordonné et étroitement uni, par le concours de toutes les jointures, tire son accroissement, selon la force assignée à chaque membre, afin qu'il soit édifié lui-même dans la charité.

17 Voici donc ce que je dis et que j'atteste de la part du Seigneur: Ne vous conduisez plus comme le reste des Gentils, qui suivent la vanité de leur esprit;

18 Ayant leur intelligence obscurcie, étant éloignés de la vie de Dieu, à cause de l'ignorance qui est en eux, à cause de l'endurcissement de leur cœur;

19 Ayant perdu tout sentiment, ils se sont abandonnés à la dissolution, pour commettre toutes sortes d'impuretés, avec une ardeur insatiable.

20 Mais vous, ce n'est pas ainsi que vous avez appris à connaître Christ;

21 Au moins, si vous l'avez écouté, et si, selon la vérité qui est en Jésus, vous avez été instruits en lui,

22 A vous dépouiller, pour ce qui est de votre conduite précédente, du vieil homme, qui se corrompt par les convoitises trompeuses;

23 A vous renouveler par l'Esprit dans votre entendement;

24 Et à vous revêtir du nouvel homme, créé à l'image de Dieu, dans la justice et la sainteté de la vérité.

25 C'est pourquoi, ayant dépouillé le mensonge, que chacun parle selon la vérité à son prochain, car nous sommes membres les uns des autres.

26 Si vous vous mettez en colère, ne péchez point; que le soleil ne se couche point sur votre colère;

27 Et ne donnez point accès au diable.

28 Que celui qui dérobait ne dérobe plus; mais qu'il travaille plutôt de ses mains à quelque chose de bon, afin qu'il ait de quoi donner à celui qui est dans le besoin.

29 Qu'il ne sorte de votre bouche aucune mauvaise parole; mais que vos paroles soient propres à édifier utilement, et qu'elles fassent du bien à ceux qui les entendent.

30 Et ne contristez point le Saint-Esprit de Dieu, par lequel vous avez été scellés pour le jour de la rédemption.

31 Que toute amertume, toute animosité, toute colère, toute crierie, toute médisance soient bannies du milieu de vous, ainsi que toute méchanceté.

32 Mais soyez, les uns envers les autres, bons, miséricordieux, vous pardonnant les uns aux autres, comme Dieu vous a aussi pardonné en Christ.

Éphésiens 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

Exhortations to mutual forbearance and union. (1-6) To a due use of spiritual gifts and graces. (7-16) To purity and holiness. (17-24) And to take heed of the sins practised among the heathen. (25-32)

Verses 1-6 Nothing is pressed more earnestly in the Scriptures, than to walk as becomes those called to Christ's kingdom and glory. By lowliness, understand humility, which is opposed to pride. By meekness, that excellent disposition of soul, which makes men unwilling to provoke, and not easily to be provoked or offended. We find much in ourselves for which we can hardly forgive ourselves; therefore we must not be surprised if we find in others that which we think it hard to forgive. There is one Christ in whom all believers hope, and one heaven they are all hoping for; therefore they should be of one heart. They had all one faith, as to its object, Author, nature, and power. They all believed the same as to the great truths of religion; they had all been admitted into the church by one baptism, with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, as the sign of regeneration. In all believers God the Father dwells, as in his holy temple, by his Spirit and special grace.

Verses 7-16 Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. There is a fulness in Christ, and a measure of that fulness given in the counsel of God to every believer; but we never come to the perfect measure till we come to heaven. God's children are growing, as long as they are in this world; and the Christian's growth tends to the glory of Christ. The more a man finds himself drawn out to improve in his station, and according to his measure, all that he has received, to the spiritual good of others, he may the more certainly believe that he has the grace of sincere love and charity rooted in his heart.

Verses 17-24 The apostle charged the Ephesians in the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus, that having professed the gospel, they should not be as the unconverted Gentiles, who walked in vain fancies and carnal affections. Do not men, on every side, walk in the vanity of their minds? Must not we then urge the distinction between real and nominal Christians? They were void of all saving knowledge; they sat in darkness, and loved it rather than light. They had a dislike and hatred to a life of holiness, which is not only the way of life God requires and approves, and by which we live to him, but which has some likeness to God himself in his purity, righteousness, truth, and goodness. The truth of Christ appears in its beauty and power, when it appears as in Jesus. The corrupt nature is called a man; like the human body, it is of divers parts, supporting and strengthening one another. Sinful desires are deceitful lusts; they promise men happiness, but render them more miserable; and bring them to destruction, if not subdued and mortified. These therefore must be put off, as an old garment, a filthy garment; they must be subdued and mortified. But it is not enough to shake off corrupt principles; we must have gracious ones. By the new man, is meant the new nature, the new creature, directed by a new principle, even regenerating grace, enabling a man to lead a new life of righteousness and holiness. This is created, or brought forth by God's almighty power.

Verses 25-28 Notice the particulars wherewith we should adorn our Christian profession. Take heed of every thing contrary to truth. No longer flatter or deceive others. God's people are children who will not lie, who dare not lie, who hate and abhor lying. Take heed of anger and ungoverned passions. If there is just occasion to express displeasure at what is wrong, and to reprove, see that it be without sin. We give place to the devil, when the first motions of sin are not grievous to our souls; when we consent to them; and when we repeat an evil deed. This teaches that as sin, if yielded unto, lets in the devil upon us, we are to resist it, keeping from all appearance of evil. Idleness makes thieves. Those who will not work, expose themselves to temptations to steal. Men ought to be industrious, that they may do some good, and that they may be kept from temptation. They must labour, not only that they may live honestly, but that they may have to give to the wants of others. What then must we think of those called Christians, who grow rich by fraud, oppression, and deceitful practices! Alms, to be accepted of God, must not be gained by unrighteousness and robbery, but by honesty and industry. God hates robbery for burnt-offerings.

Verses 29-32 Filthy words proceed from corruption in the speaker, and they corrupt the minds and manners of those who hear them: Christians should beware of all such discourse. It is the duty of Christians to seek, by the blessing of God, to bring persons to think seriously, and to encourage and warn believers by their conversation. Be ye kind one to another. This sets forth the principle of love in the heart, and the outward expression of it, in a humble, courteous behaviour. Mark how God's forgiveness causes us to forgive. God forgives us, though we had no cause to sin against him. We must forgive, as he has forgiven us. All lying, and corrupt communications, that stir up evil desires and lusts, grieve the Spirit of God. Corrupt passions of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil-speaking, and malice, grieve the Holy Spirit. Provoke not the holy, blessed Spirit of God to withdraw his presence and his gracious influences. The body will be redeemed from the power of the grave at the resurrection day. Wherever that blessed Spirit dwells as a Sanctifier, he is the earnest of all the joys and glories of that redemption day; and we should be undone, should God take away his Holy Spirit from us.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EPHESIANS 4

The apostle having in the three former chapters treated of the doctrines of grace, and explained and established them, proceeds in the three following to exhort to the duties of religion; and in this advises to a becoming conversation in general, and to brotherly concord and unity in particular; and dehorts from several vices, and encourages to the contrary virtues. And inasmuch as these Ephesians were called with an holy calling, he entreats them, if they had any regard for him as a prisoner of Christ, that they would walk worthy of it, Eph 4:1, and directs to the manner in which they should act becoming it, with all humility, patience, forbearance, and love; seeking to preserve a spiritual harmony, unity, and peace, one among another, Eph 4:2,3, for the encouragement of which, he makes use of various arguments, taken from the unity of the body, of which they were members; from their being quickened and influenced by one and the same Spirit; from having the same hope of eternal happiness, to which they were called; from their having one Lord over them, who is Christ; from their having the same like precious faith in him; from their being baptized with the same baptism in him; and from their having one, and the same God and Father, Eph 4:4-6, and from all of them having gifts, though different, for mutual usefulness; which gifts are described by the author and donor of them, Christ, Eph 4:7, which is proved Eph 4:8, out of a passage in Ps 68:18, which is explained of the humiliation and exaltation of Christ, of his descent from heaven, and ascension thither; the end of which latter was to fill all things, or persons, with gifts, Eph 4:9,10, of which a particular enumeration is given, Eph 4:11, the design of which is, to fit men for the work of the ministry, and by them to convert sinners, and edify saints, Eph 4:12, which ministry is to be continued, until all the saints arrive to a perfection of spiritual knowledge, and make up one perfect man, or body of men in Christ, Eph 4:13, for the use and end of the Gospel ministry is not, that such who are converted by it should continue children, be in suspense about truth, and under the deceptions of men, Eph 4:14, but that through speaking the truth in love, they should grow up into Christ their head; from whom supplies of grace are communicated, for the increase and edification of every member of the body, Eph 4:15,16, and seeing these Ephesians to whom the apostle writes were separated in the effectual calling from the rest of the Gentiles, they ought not to walk as the others did; whose minds were vain, their understandings darkened, and their hearts blinded, hardened, and ignorant; and had no sense of things, but were given up to all manner of wickedness, Eph 4:17-19, whereas they had learned Christ, and through hearing had been taught the truth of the Gospel, as it was in him, Eph 4:20,21, wherefore it became them in their conversation, not to follow the dictates of corrupt nature, called the old man, that being full of lusts, corrupt, and deceitful, but to act becoming the renewing work of the Spirit upon their souls, and agreeably to the new principles of the grace of God created in them, in order to righteousness and holiness, Eph 4:22-24, and in particular it became them to avoid lying, and on the contrary to speak truth to one another; and that for this reason, because they were members of the same body, and of one another, Eph 4:25, and likewise to abstain from sinful anger, and not continue a wrathful disposition, Eph 4:26, nor was it advisable to yield to the suggestions, solicitations, and temptations of Satan, Eph 4:27, nor to commit theft, but on the other hand give themselves to manual labour at some commendable calling, that they might have for their own use, and others too, Eph 4:28, and it was also right to be careful not to suffer corrupt and unchaste words to come out of their mouths, but such as would be grateful and useful to others, Eph 4:29, and the rather this, and all the rest of the things mentioned, and likewise what follows, should be attended to; since by such evil lusts, words, and actions, the Holy Spirit of God is grieved, who should not, since he is the sealer of the saints unto the day of redemption, Eph 4:30. And the chapter is concluded with a dehortation from several vices of the mind and tongue, respecting wrath and revenge; and an exhortation to the contrary virtues, kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness; to which encouragement is given, by the example of God, who forgives for Christ's sake, Eph 4:31,32.