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Trinity/After Pentecost · The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity

Ephesians 4:1-6

Unity in the Body of Christ

September 27, 2026

Paul and King Agrippa, Hendrick Bloemaert
Paul and King Agrippa, Hendrick Bloemaert, c. 1630sCentraal Museum, Utrecht
A Utrecht painting of Paul on trial, making his defence before Agrippa and Bernice with the court arranged around him in contemporary dress.These letters are written from custody or about it, and this is the hearing that sent Paul to Rome.Hendrick BloemaertA Utrecht painter, son and pupil of Abraham Bloemaert, who went to Italy and brought back a taste for strong, close lighting.Centraal Museum, UtrechtThe oldest municipal museum in the Netherlands, and the home of the Utrecht Caravaggisti who brought Italian night-lighting north.Centraal Museum, Utrecht
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 14:1-11Lk 14:1-11
EpistleEph. 4:1-6Eph 4:1-6
Old TestamentProv. 25:6-14Prv 25:6-14
PsalterPs. 2Ps 2

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

Enduring Word Bible Commentary Ephesians Chapter 4Enduring Word Bible Commentary Eph Chapter 4 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik on the worthy walk and the sevenfold unity of the Spirit in one body.

Ephesians 4:1 CommentariesEph 4:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators from the start of the reading on lowliness, meekness and bearing with one another.

Ephesians 4 ResourcesEph 4 Resources Precept Austin

A large gathering of verse studies and sermons on Ephesians 4.

Ephesians 4:1-16 CommentaryEph 4:1-16 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed preaching commentary on unity grounded in the unity of the triune God.

Background & Word Study

Overview: EphesiansOverview: Eph BibleProject

An animated overview of Ephesians and its vision of one new humanity.

Ephesians 4:1 InterlinearEph 4:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word by word for the reading, useful for the bond (syndesmos) of peace in verse 3.

The Church Fathers

Commentary on Ephesians 4 from the Church FathersCommentary on Eph 4 from the Church Fathers Catena

Patristic comment on the one body, one Spirit and one baptism.

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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