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And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

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That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

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But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

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From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

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This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as ° other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

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Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

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Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

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But ye have not so learned Christ;

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If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

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That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

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And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

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And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

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Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

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Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

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Neither give place to the devil.

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Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

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Let no ° corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Ephesians 4:11

4:11 he gave. Continuing the analogy with returning human conquerors, who gave gifts to their countrymen, the ascended Christ, by His Spirit, has given spiritual gifts to His subjects individually, to be exercised for the benefit of the “one body,” corporately. Many of these gifts of the Spirit are listed in Romans 12:4-8, and I Corinthians 12:4-12,27-30. Only four (or five) of the more essential gifts are listed here. As noted before, however, the gifts of apostles and prophets to the body ceased with the completion of the New Testament and the death of John, the last of the apostles (see notes on Ephesians 3:5-6).

Ephesians 4:11

4:11 pastors and teachers. The Greek here may be read “pastors-teachers,” suggesting that this may be one gift, rather than two. However, the gift of teaching is also mentioned in the other two lists of gifts (Romans 12:7; I Corinthians 12:28), so must be a distinct gift not necessarily combined with the pastoral (or “shepherding”) gift. The only other gift mentioned in all the three lists is that of prophecy, but this gift has ceased.

Ephesians 4:12

4:12 edifying. The gifts are all to be used for “edifying”—that is, “building up”—the body of Christ, both individually and corporately, adding stones to the building, as it were (Ephesians 2:22) and also strengthening the individual members.

Ephesians 4:13

4:13 unity of the faith. See note on Ephesians 4:3. Also note Romans 16:17-18.

Ephesians 4:13

4:13 and. “And” could better be rendered “even.” That is, the unity of the faith is essentially synonymous with “the knowledge of the Son of God.”

Ephesians 4:14

4:14 wind of doctrine. If this characteristic was true in the apostolic age, it is far more so today. The word “children” actually means “babes” (note Hebrews 5:13). The number of cults and heresies and compromises has multiplied almost without number, and vigilance against the crafty “deceiver,” Satan is needed more than ever (see note on Revelation 12:9).

Ephesians 4:15

4:15 truth in love. This is almost the antidote to false doctrine and even rank unbelief. “Speaking the truth” is actually one word in the Greek—“truth-speaking.” We should speak only if we speak the truth, remembering that “thy Word is truth” (John 17:17), and we should do so only in love (i.e., Christian charity, unselfish concern for those to whom we speak).

Ephesians 4:18

4:18 understanding darkened. Pagan unbelievers may be intellectual, “in the vanity of their mind” (Ephesians 4:17), but their “understanding [is] darkened.” Despite their worldly learning, they are ignorant and blind to real truth. Therefore we are to “walk not as other Gentiles walk,” trying to please them.

Ephesians 4:22

4:22 conversation. See note on II Corinthians 1:12.

Ephesians 4:24

4:24 created. The “new man” is an actual new creation (II Corinthians 5:17), a miracle of regeneration performed by the Holy Spirit on a heart and mind receiving Christ by faith as personal Savior and Lord.

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