Ephesians 4:1-32

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 4:3

Giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.Our holy Saviour prayed for unity among the believers in Christ; and here it appears that unity was a major concern of the most gifted of the apostles; and it may be inquired, in the light of this, why is there so much disunity in the world? In a word, we do not know. It is obvious to all who ever contemplated it that there are no magic devices available for bringing unity out of chaos. Furthermore, it appears in this verse... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 4:4

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism.One body ... This is the spiritual body of Christ, the church, made up of Jews, Gentiles, all people and even includes the saved who no longer live on earth.And one Spirit ... The reference to the third person of the Godhead seems to anticipate "Lord" (Ephesians 4:5) and "God" (Ephesians 4:6). In any case, the Spirit here is that being called "the Holy Spirit" in the New... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 4:6

One God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.The seventh of these great unities is God himself. The Pauline teaching that all people "live and move and have their being in God" is implicit in a verse like this. The very fact of the existence of life proves that God is.One God ... The unity of God, as reiterated in the first commandment of the Decalogue, was thus emphasized at a time when the world was steeped in polytheism. This great truth burst upon the pagan... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 4:7

But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.It is incorrect to construe this as a reference to supernatural gifts. Paul was not dealing with that kind of gift in this letter, because the thrust of its message was toward all future generations, and the age of miraculous gifts was rapidly passing. Some of these no doubt still existed, but they are not in focus here. What Paul said of all gifts coming from Christ, of course, applied to all kinds of... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 4:8

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men."This quotation is from Psalms 68:18; but Paul altered it, from Thou didst take gifts to He gave gifts!"[17] Wesley's explanation is the usual one; but it is perhaps better to understand this as a Scripture that Paul was here writing, not one that he was merely quoting. This would be to understand "wherefore he saith" as meaning "Thus saith the Lord," after the manner of Old Testament prophets. There... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 4:9

(Now this, he ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?Now this, he ascended ... Taylor paraphrased this clause as meaning "As to this matter of ascension.[20] Paul in this verse made an argument to the effect that the ascension of Christ proved that Christ had also descended to the earth. His argument was not that any ascension proves a descent. If he meant such a thing as that, it would not have been true. The ascension of Christians to be with the... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 4:10

He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)See under Ephesians 4:9 for the thrust of Paul's argument. These words counteract any thought that by his ascension to heaven Christ thereby, in any sense, deserted the earth. On the contrary, he fills the entire universe. As Barclay expressed it, "The ascension of Christ meant not a Christ-deserted, but a Christ-filled world."[22] The manner of Christ's "filling" all things, of course, is... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 4:11

And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers.This is a characteristic Pauline insertion, prompted by his mention a moment earlier of Christ "filling all things," which of necessity meant that he filled the church. How did Christ do such a thing? He did it in the manner in view here, through the faithful preaching of men in all generations who would declare the saving message.As Bruce observed, there are two pairs of offices in view... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 4:12

For the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ; till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full-grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.In these verses is set forth the purpose of the Lord in the sending forth of apostles, prophets, evangelists and elders, mentioned in the preceding verse, that purpose being the building up of the body of Christ, which is... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 4:14

That we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ.There are two things which contribute to the seduction of Christians away from the holy faith. These are: (1) the natural instability of many persons who are captivated by novelty, easily misled, swayed by popular fashion, etc. As Barclay said... read more

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