Ephesians 4:1-16

This passage from Ephesians is one of the better known among scriptures which deal with the unity and peace of the church.  It is a centerpiece of the central theme and plea in this letter.  That theme is established in chapter 1: “With all wisdom and insight God has made known to us the mystery of the divine will, according to God’s good pleasure which was set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth”  (1:8b-10). 

This quote is taken from the NRSV, and one of the changes that this version made from the earlier RSV was in verse 10.  I had cherished for decades the wording of the RSV: “. . . a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in him . . .”  I recently expressed my disappointment with the NRSV rendering to friends in a study group and was helped by the insight of a group member: “unite” is abstract, while “gather up” is active and graphic and invites us to imagine God extending a holy embrace to all persons and all creation, gathering us up together.  I like it either way, and whichever way it is read it states the central proposition of this letter: God’s holy purpose, revealed in Jesus of Nazareth, is unity, the loving embrace of all things in Christ.

If this is God’s ultimate purpose, it must also be ours.  That is what the rest of the letter is about.  In chapter 2 the author deals with the pain and strife that result from the many divisions in the human family, with the animosity between Jews and Gentiles as Exhibit A. The contention is that in Christ God has broken down that particular dividing wall of hostility and brought unity in the love of Christ and in the church where all are included and embraced.  Those who have experienced that miracle of God’s grace now live a new life together in and as the household of God.  In chapter 3, then, we see that it is our calling “to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God . . . so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities . . .” (3:9-10) .  The chapter ends with a soaring and poetic prayer of praise to God and intercession for the Ephesians, that they may “know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God...” (3:19).  They need that depth of spiritual strength and wisdom to enable them in the fulfilling of their calling.

In chapter 4, the text for this Sunday, having already stated the theological basis of the mission and life of Christian community, the author now deals with the painful reality.  The Ephesian Christians, like so many other Christian churches then and now, do not always reflect the mutual love and the witness to unity that is central to their life and faith.  Far from it.  The author therefore begs them to “lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (4:1) and describes the personal and inter-personal qualities which are necessary to “maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (4:3).  Next, they are reminded of the fundamentals of Christian faith and teaching: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all . . .” (4:4-5).  It’s all about unity!  They need to be gathered up into Christ.

Then the author makes a typically Pauline argument.  Your differences are the result of differing gifts and abilities and different perceptions of ministry.  They have all been given to you by God so that together you can fulfill all the roles necessary “for building up the body of Christ, until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity . . .” (4:11b-13).  Mature Christians are not prone to fighting over doctrine: they know that the unity of the church is more important.  Mature Christians are not misled by enthusiasm for some new prophet or program: they know that the unity of the church is paramount. 

Finally, the discipline by which mature Christians are able to negotiate their way through their different gifts, various perspectives, conflicting theologies and competing leaders is simple and yet profound.  “Speaking the truth in love, we grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (4:15).  To speak the truth, directly and in genuine love is frighteningly difficult, but utterly required for the Christian community to be faithful to Jesus Christ and to be fruitful in fulfilling His mission and our calling.

By Rev. Rollin Russell, former Conference Minister, Southern Conference, United Church of Christ