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Time after Pentecost · Proper 13 · Year B

Ephesians 4:1-16

Unity in the Body of Christ

August 1, 2027

The Apostle Paul in Prison, Rembrandt van Rijn
The Apostle Paul in Prison, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1627Staatsgalerie Stuttgart
An old man sitting on the floor of a cell with the books open across his knees and the sword behind him, stopped mid-sentence with the pen still in his hand.I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.Rembrandt van RijnRembrandt at twenty-one, painting the thinking rather than the writing.Staatsgalerie StuttgartThe Staatsgalerie Stuttgart.Staatsgalerie Stuttgart
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelJohn 6:22-35Jn 6:22-35
EpistleEph. 4:1-16Eph 4:1-16
Old TestamentExod. 16:2-15Ex 16:2-15
PsalterPs. 145:10-21Ps 145:10-21

Overview & Insights

“There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:4–5)

Chapter 4 begins what often is referred to as the ethical or practical section of the epistle. If chapters 1–3 provide the theological basis for Christian unity, then chapters 4–6 contain the practical instruction for its maintenance. Unity has been established (the indicative); now it becomes the duty of the believers to strengthen and maintain unity in their fellowship (the imperative).

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Commentary

Working Preacher: Commentary on Ephesians 4:1-16Working Preacher: Commentary on Eph 4:1-16 Working Preacher

Lutheran lectionary commentary on the unity and gifts of the one body.

Enduring Word: Ephesians 4Enduring Word: Eph 4 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the whole chapter.

CEP: Ephesians 4:1-16 CommentaryCEP: Eph 4:1-16 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on keeping the unity of the Spirit.

BibleHub: Commentaries on Ephesians 4:1BibleHub: Commentaries on Eph 4:1 BibleHub

Parallel classic commentaries keyed to the call to walk worthy.

StudyLight: Ephesians 4 CommentariesStudyLight: Eph 4 Commentaries StudyLight

Many complete commentaries on Ephesians 4 gathered on one passage page.

Background & Word Study

BibleProject: Ephesians OverviewBibleProject: Eph Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of the argument and themes of Ephesians.

BibleHub: Ephesians 4 InterlinearBibleHub: Eph 4 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek-English interlinear for word-level study of the chapter.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Ephesians 4Catena: Eph 4 Catena

Patristic comments gathered verse by verse on Ephesians 4.

Questions preachers ask

What is the unity of the Spirit?

Paul urges the church to walk worthily with humility and patience, eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, for there is one body, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.

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