Ephesians 4:1-6 "I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy..."

 "I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:1-6 RSV).

Comment:

Although this letter of Paul's was apparently collected from the church in Ephesus, the fact that there is no mention of that specific church anywhere in the body of the letter leads scholars to think that it was probably a pastoral letter, written by Paul during one of his imprisonments (see verse 1 above), and intended to be disseminated to the various churches he had founded in the course of his ministerial travels. He beautifully describes, not just the impact of Jesus' teachings and example on individual lives, but the powerful and loving community that is created when believers join together. In this passage he calls readers to "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Later in this same chapter Paul discusses the fact that the gifts of Christ awareness may express in many different ways—"some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers" (4:11)—but that the underlying unity is the most important element. Apparently early Christians had been arguing about whose spiritual gifts were the most important, and Paul is urging them to recognize the spiritual unity that is the source of all spiritual gifts.   It is no less important for us today to remember that there is "one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all" (4:6). Instead of arguing about differences, it is more powerful and important to begin by affirming a unity of Source, and a shared energy of Love.   Blessings!

Rev. Ed