Eph 4:1-3 Therefore, therefore…

Nov 21, 2021 // By:Dave // No Comment

Eph. 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

Eph. 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,

Eph. 4:3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Therefore

because of
in response to
expected result or effect
logical conclusion

the equal sign in a mathematical equation

all the facts and variables lined up on the left side of the “=“

the result or conclusion is on the other side

“what does all this equal ?”

God says all this equals this … “therefore”

all the variables on the left are the spiritual blessings (which can also be considered “callings”:

you see, the word called in verse 1

called (520x) G2564 (149x)

καλέω, kaleō, v. to call, invite, summon.

invite is the most common usage in gospels

summoned (referring to believers) is most common usage in epistles

The authority of the speaker dictates the nature of the calling (friends invite; kings summon).

This is also translated “to name,” the giving of attribution to someone or something

We, as believers don’t tend to think of ourselves as “called”

We’ll accept pastors and ministry leaders being called , maybe missionaries …

But we seem to treat ourselves as random generations of nature that God chooses to save and then let us go on with our lives with some Jesus sprinkled on top !

Just go on with the pre-existing purpose of life which is to make oneself happy

(Pursue creature comforts)

But a calling includes a purpose for the calling

So a calling on each believers life means God has a purpose foe that called life

Truth is …

Every believer is called

(Generally and personally)

How does God define calling ?

this ephesian call uses both sides of the definition:

the believers are

invited by the loving Father
given access to the invitation by the work of the Son
empowered to accept the invitation by the Spirit
Sealed by the Spirit (mark of being called by the authority of the “caller”)
Set apart and called out by the authority of the Father
given a new name as sons and daughters of the King
given gifts, positionally and experientially, as proof of the relationship
accepted by the older brother as an heir and brother to the inheritance (one body)

We see the calling in

chapter 1
- 3–14 where we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in that
  - the Father selected us,
  - the Son redeemed us,
  - and the Spirit sealed us .
- 15–23 Because of these blessings Paul prays that the believers might know
  - God
  - the hope of their calling,
  - God’s inheritance to the saints,
  - and God’s power toward (or in) the believers.
chapter 2
- 2:1–10 This calling is further seen
  - in the salvation of the unregenerate by God’s grace
  - and their placement in the heavenlies in Christ.
- 2:11–21 This calling proceeds from the individual to the union of the Jews and Gentiles into one body, called the church.
chapter 3
- 1-14 the mystery of the ages, now revealed,
  - - which is preached to the gentiles
    - revealing God’s plan to make them equal heirs
- 14–21 Because of this call of Jews and Gentiles into one body,
  - Paul prays for Christ’s strengthening love in order that the union would
    - not only be true theologically
    - but also experientially among the believers.
chapter 4
- 1 Because of this calling
  - to individual salvation
  - and to a corporate body of believers,
  - Paul draws the inference that we should walk worthy of that calling.

so , in light of all that we have been called with, and called into,

God says, “walk worthy of this call I have given to each of you.

I have called you individually

I have called you corporately

the walk is therefore

individual and corporal

this walk is specified , expected to be “worthy”

worthy ἀξίως, axiōs, adv. [545]. in a worthy manner, suitably, appropriate

A believer is considered “worthy,” not on the basis of talent or position,

but by how well his or her actions display Christian character.

Our goal as Christians should be to “live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory” (1 Th 2:12).

To let the cat out of the bag

We are called to be Christlike

Rom. 8:28 ¶ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Rom. 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

let’s look at how God defines worthy character (as appropriate to His calling) here in Eph 4

Eph. 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,

Eph. 4:3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

I want to stop at those first two words … humility and gentleness. they are the key to this “walking worthy”

Jesus used the same words in Matt 11:29 (speaking of Himself after stating “all things have been handed over to Him by His Father)

Matt. 11:27 “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

Matt. 11:28 ¶ “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Matt. 11:29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.

Now we come to the meat of the walk, the calling, the how

this is both the why we are called, and the what we are called into

(not to mention the what we are transformed into)

with humility and gentleness

4:2. μετὰ πάσης ταπεινοφροσύνης καὶ πραΰτητος,

meta pasnas tapenophrosnay and prautés

“with all humility and gentleness.” Rather than using imperatives, Paul employs two prepositional phrases followed by two participial clauses which function as imperatives. The quality of this walk or lifestyle is clearly delineated by these two prepositional phrases.

μετά (a little mysterious greek word that is simply translated as “with” in my NASB translation)

denotes close association or attendant circumstances = together, among, between

πάσης pasnas = all meaning whole, always, completely

ταπεινοφροσύνη tapenophrosnay

does not occur before NT times. (mainly because it was never considered a virtue until then)

It appears seven times in the NT (Acts 20:19; Eph 4:2; Phil 2:3; Col 2:18, 23; 3:12; 1 Pet 5:5). In Phil 2:3 it is in contrast to “self-seeking” (ἐριθεία) and “vainglorious boasting” (κενοδοξία) and in 1 Pet 5:5 it is in contrast to the proud (ὑπερήφανος). It conveys “lowliness of mind” or, better, “humility.”⁷

opposite of pride.

Pride says “I am better because of my skills, abilities, or intellect” “I deserve preferential treatment”

humility says “I will use what I have to better serve and encourage others” “i chose to offer others preferential treatment”

pride focuses on self (and how self can benefit in some way from gifts, abilities, or talents)

humility focuses on others (and how others can benefit in some way from gifts, abilities, or talents)

humility is not saying “I am less” or “i have nothing to offer in comparison to that person”

humility is saying “God made me unique, therefore I I am called to use my glory to bless another and glorify God”

if humility is thinking less of oneself in ability or character, then that would make Jesus the most unhumble person in history and the greatest liar in history.

Since humility is not considered a virtue by human beings, it [p. 506] is understandable why this word did not exist before NT times.¹ In fact, Epictetus (A.D. 50–130) listed ταπεινοφροσύνη first among the qualities not to be commended.² On the other hand, Paul used this term when he mentioned to the Ephesian elders that he had served the Lord in Asia with all “humility” (Acts 20:19). He was their example. In other Scripture passages it should be noted that believers are warned to avoid false humility, but rather to be cognizant of who they are in God’s program (cf. John 3:30; Rom 12:3). It is significant that this virtue is listed first. There are two possible reasons for this. First, Paul has emphasized unity—pride provokes disunity whereas humility engenders unity. Second, he was aware of their past pride and wished to encourage obedience to and dependence on God. Christ is the supreme example of humility (Phil 2:6–8).

gentleness

πραΰτης prautés

this idea of gentleness,” means the opposite of “roughness.”³

(being considerate of the fact that one is holding back their strength to avoid injuring the other)

this is not weakness, rather control of strength

(think of a father boxing with his young son to either just play or teach him)

(think of the Creator of the universe, becoming a human to talk with us after 400 years of silence)

In the NT it appears eleven times and only in the epistles (1 Cor 4:21; 2 Cor 10:1; Gal 5:23; 6:1; Eph 4:2; Col 3:12; 2 Tim 2:25; Titus 3:2; Jas 1:21; 3:13; 1 Pet 3:16). It is mentioned as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:23). Throughout the NT it has the idea of “gentleness.”

with Patience

μετὰ μακροθυμίας,

macroothumia (internal and external control)

compound word

macro