Ephesians 4:2

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.

These qualities of Christian character are the opposite of those sought and glorified by the non-Christian; and in the pagan culture that provided the setting for the Ephesian congregation, such qualities were actually despised.

Lowliness ... Barclay tells us that "In Greek there is no word for humility which has not some suggestion of meanness attached to it."[3] Humility is a becoming virtue in Christians because it reflects their evaluation, of themselves in respect of the infinitely righteous and holy God. It is the fountain from which are derived all of the Christian virtues. Conceit on the part of a child of God is a denial of the faith. There is also a very proper and necessary self-esteem which enters into Christian character (Romans 12:3).

Meekness ... Martin chose "gentleness" as a synonym for this word;[4] "It is closely connected with the spirit of submissiveness."[5] Moses was described as "meek" (Numbers 12:3); and perhaps in the character of the mighty lawgiver can be seen the true qualities which are indicated by this word. Certainly, "weakness" is not one of them. It does not mean docile, easy to handle or merely "cooperative." It refers to moral authority and power issuing in restraint as far as human temptations are concerned.

Longsuffering ... "This word is used of God's patience with men" (Romans 2:4; 9:22; 1 Timothy 1:16; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:15).[6] "If God had been a man, he would long since have wiped out the world for all its disobedience!"[7] Paul's use of the word here in the sense of a Christian virtue suggests that Christians should be tolerant, forgiving, and understanding of one another's mistakes and sins. A Christian who is always "up tight" about the mistakes of others can create a disaster in any congregation. He, in fact, is a disaster!

Forbearing one another in love ... In a word, this means that a Christian should accept his place with other Christians, having an attitude that grants to them the same "right to belong" which he claims for himself.

[3] Ibid., p. 159.

[4] Alfred Martin, Wycliffe Commentary, Ephesians (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971), p. 739.

[5] Francis Foulkes, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Ephesians (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1963), p. 109.

[6] Ibid.

[7] William Barclay, op. cit., p. 164.