My interpretation of this part of The New Testament starts with transcribing and copying down key parts of each chapter of the Scriptures. These notes, listed by chapter, are found at the very end at the bottom of this post.
Word and phases that are highlighted and in bold (like this) are the narrative I have woven to tell the story of how the Scriptures impacted me and/or expanded my biblical knowledge and spirit.
With gratitude that the Spirit of the Living God is in our hearts and impacting our world, here is my interpretation for Ephesians, Chapters 4-6 (END):
New Men Spiritually Sealed for the Day of Redemption!
Once saved, we are all ‘Prisoners of the Lord’ with unlimited spiritual freedom in life to become our True Selves doing the Will of God with our lives!
…”with all humility and meekness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, careful to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: one holy and one Spirit, even as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and throughout all, and in us all.”
One for all and all for one- Unity!
No longer children in the flesh are we but living and practicing ‘truth in love!’
Free of the ‘futility of our minds’ and ‘the blindness of our hearts!’
Wherefore, put away lying and speak truth each one with his neighbor, because we are members of one another.
“Let no ill speech proceed from your mouth, but whatever is good for supplying what fits the current necessity, that it may give grace to the hearers.”
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Sealed in the Holy Spirit of God until the day of our redemption! Al-le-lu-ia!
“Husbands, love your wives… as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife, loves himself… and let the wife respect her husband.”
“For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.”
“Honor thy father and thy mother”—such is the first commandment with a promise—“that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest be long-lived upon the earth.”
“This is a great mystery—I mean in reference to Christ and to the Church.”
Indeed life is a great mystery, getting married and having children is a great mystery!
We are pioneers!
New Men Spiritually Sealed for the Day of Redemption!
Ephesians Chapter 4: Unity in the Mystical Body; Diversity of Graces; Change of Self; Vices to be avoided.
Unity in the Mystical Body:
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all humility and meekness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, careful to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: one holy and one Spirit, even as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and throughout all, and in us all.
Diversity of Graces
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s bestowal. Thus it says, “Ascending on high, he led away captives; he gave gifts to man.”
Now this, “he ascended,” what does it mean but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended, he it is who ascended also above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
And this he has done that we may be now no longer children, tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine devised in the wickedness of men, in craftiness, according to the wiles of error.
Rather are we to practice the truth in love, and so grow up in all things in him who is the head, Christ. For from him the whole body (being closely joined and knit together through every joint of the system according to the functioning in due measure of each single part) derives its increase in the building up of itself in love.
Change of Self:
This, therefore, I say and testify in the Lord, that henceforward you are not to walk as the Gentiles walk in the futility of their mind, having their understanding clouded in darkness, estranged from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.
For they have given themselves up in despair in sensuality, greedily practicing every kind of uncleanness. But you have not so learned Christ—for surely you have heard of him and have been taught in him (as truth is in Jesus) that as regards your former manner of life you are to put off the old man, which is being corrupted through its deceptive lusts.
But be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, which has been created according to God in justice and holiness of truth.
Vices to be avoided:
Wherefore, put away lying and speak truth each one with his neighbor, because we are members of one another.
“Be angry and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down upon your anger: do not give place to the devil.
He who was wont to steal, let him steal no longer, but rather let him labour, working with his hands at what is good, that he may have something to share with him who suffers need.
Let no ill speech proceed from your mouth, but whatever is good for supplying what fits the current necessity, that it may give grace to the hearers.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and indignation, and clamor, and reviling, be removed from you, along with all malice.
On the contrary, be kind to one another, and merciful, generously forgiving one another, as also God in Christ has generously forgiven you.
Ephesians Chapter 5: Walk in Love; Further Vices to be Avoided; Wife subject to her Husband; Husbands to Love their Wives.
Walk in Love:
Be you, therefore, imitators of God, as very dear children walk in love, as Christ also loved us and delivered himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God to ascend in fragrant odor.
Further Vices to be Avoided:
But immorality and every uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becomes saints; or obscenity or foolish talk or scurrility, which are out of place; but rather thanksgiving.
Scurrility—grossly or obscenely abusive; characterized by or using low buffoonery; coarsely jocular or derisive.
For know this and understand, that no fornicator, or unclean person, or covetous one (for that is idolatry) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let no one lead you astray with empty works; for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience. Do not, then, become partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Walk, then, as children of light (for the fruit of light is in all goodness and justice and truth), testing what is well pleasing to God; and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
For of the things that are done by them in secret it is shameful to even speak; but all the things that are exposed are made manifest by the light: for all that is made manifest is light.
Thus it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from among the dead, and Christ will enlighten thee.”
See to it therefore, brethren, that you walk with care: not as unwise but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not become foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
And do not be drunk with wine, for in that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
Wife subject to her Husband:
Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Let wives be subject to their husbands as to the Lord; because a husband is head of the wife, just as Christ is head of the Church, being himself savior of the body. But just as the Church is subject to Christ, so also let wives be to their husbands in all things.
Husbands to Love their Wives:
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church, and delivered himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, cleansing her in the bath of water by means of the word; in order that he might present to himself the Church in all her glory, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she might be holy and without blemish.
Even thus ought husbands also to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife, loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh; on the contrary he nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ also does the Church (because we are members of his body, made from his flesh and from his bones).
“For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.”
This is a great mystery—I mean in reference to Christ and to the Church.
However, let each one of you also love his wife just as he loves himself; and let the wife respect her husband.
Ephesians Chapter 6: Duties of Children and Parents; Duties of Slaves and Masters; The Armor of God; Assiduous Prayer; Conclusion; Blessing.
Duties of Children and Parents:
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for that is right.
“Honor thy father and thy mother”—such is the first commandment with a promise—“that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest be long-lived upon the earth.”
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but rear them in discipline and admonition of the Lord.
Duties of Slaves and Masters:
Slaves, obey your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling in the sincerity of your heart, as you would Christ: not serving to the eyes as pleasers of men, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart, giving your service with good will as to the Lord and not to men, in the knowledge that whatever good each does, the same he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is slave or freeman.
And you masters, do the same towards them, and give up threatening, knowing that their Lord who is also your Lord is in heaven, and that with him there is no respect of persons.
The Armor of God:
For the rest, brethren, be strengthened in the Lord and in the might of his power. Put on the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For our wrestling is not against the flesh and blood, but against the Principalities and the Powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness on high.
Therefore take up the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and stand in all things perfect. Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of justice, and having your feet shod with the readiness of the gospel of peace, in all things taking up the shield of faith, with which you may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the most wicked one.
And take unto you the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, that is, the word of God.
Assiduous Prayer:
With all prayer and supplication pray at all times in the Spirit, and therein be vigilant in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that when I open my mouth, utterance may be granted to me fearlessly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; so that therein I may dare to speak as I ought.
Conclusion:
But that you too may know my circumstances and what I am doing, Tychicus, our dearest brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will tell you everything. Him I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may learn our circumstances, and that he may comfort your hearts.
Blessing:
Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who have a love unfailing for our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Day 174: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; New Men Spiritually Sealed for the Day of Redemption!
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Epistle of Saint Paul to the Ephesians, Chapters 4-6 (END).
Bible Notes:
Saint Paul, a prisoner at Rome, wrote this letter to his Christian converts at Ephesus. After thanking God for their faith and praying that they may persevere, he exhorted them to lead a Christian life, enumerating the duties of husbands and wives, of children and their parents, of slaves and their masters.
Ephesians Chapter 4: Unity in the Mystical Body; Diversity of Graces; Change of Self; Vices to be avoided.
Unity in the Mystical Body:
I THERFORE, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all humility and meekness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, careful to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: one holy and one Spirit, even as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and throughout all, and in us all.
Diversity of Graces
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s bestowal. Thus it says, “Ascending on high, he led away captives; he gave gifts to man.”
Now this, “he ascended,” what does it mean but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended, he it is who ascended also above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
And he himself gave some men as apostles, and some as prophets, others again as evangelists, and others as pastors and teachers, in order to perfect the saints for a work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and of the deep knowledge of the Son of God, to perfect manhood, in the mature measure of the fullness of Christ.
And this he has done that we may be now no longer children, tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine devised in the wickedness of men, in craftiness, according to the wiles of error.
Rather are we to practice the truth in love, and so grow up in all things in him who is the head, Christ. For from him the whole body (being closely joined and knit together through every joint of the system according to the functioning in due measure of each single part) derives its increase in the building up of itself in love.
Change of Self:
This, therefore, I say and testify in the Lord, that henceforward you are not to walk as the Gentiles walk in the futility of their mind, having their understanding clouded in darkness, estranged from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.
For they have given themselves up in despair in sensuality, greedily practicing every kind of uncleanness. But you have not so learned Christ—for surely you have heard of him and have been taught in him (as truth is in Jesus) that as regards your former manner of life you are to put off the old man, which is being corrupted through its deceptive lusts.
But be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, which has been created according to God in justice and holiness of truth.
Vices to be avoided:
Wherefore, put away lying and speak truth each one with his neighbor, because we are members of one another.
“Be angry and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down upon your anger: do not give place to the devil.
He who was wont to steal, let him steal no longer, but rather let him labour, working with his hands at what is good, that he may have something to share with him who suffers need.
Let no ill speech proceed from your mouth, but whatever is good for supplying what fits the current necessity, that it may give grace to the hearers.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and indignation, and clamor, and reviling, be removed from you, along with all malice.
On the contrary, be kind to one another, and merciful, generously forgiving one another, as also God in Christ has generously forgiven you.
Ephesians Chapter 5: Walk in Love; Further Vices to be Avoided; Wife subject to her Husband; Husbands to Love their Wives.
Walk in Love:
Be you, therefore, imitators of God, as very dear children walk in love, as Christ also loved us and delivered himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God to ascend in fragrant odor.
Further Vices to be Avoided:
But immorality and every uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becomes saints; or obscenity or foolish talk or scurrility, which are out of place; but rather thanksgiving.
Scurrility—grossly or obscenely abusive; characterized by or using low buffoonery; coarsely jocular or derisive.
For know this and understand, that no fornicator, or unclean person, or covetous one (for that is idolatry) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let no one lead you astray with empty works; for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience. Do not, then, become partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Walk, then, as children of light (for the fruit of light is in all goodness and justice and truth), testing what is well pleasing to God; and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
For of the things that are done by them in secret it is shameful to even speak; but all the things that are exposed are made manifest by the light: for all that is made manifest is light.
Thus it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from among the dead, and Christ will enlighten thee.”
See to it therefore, brethren, that you walk with care: not as unwise but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not become foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
And do not be drunk with wine, for in that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
Wife subject to her Husband:
Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Let wives be subject to their husbands as to the Lord; because a husband is head of the wife, just as Christ is head of the Church, being himself savior of the body. But just as the Church is subject to Christ, so also let wives be to their husbands in all things.
Husbands to Love their Wives:
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church, and delivered himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, cleansing her in the bath of water by means of the word; in order that he might present to himself the Church in all her glory, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she might be holy and without blemish.
Even thus ought husbands also to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife, loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh; on the contrary he nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ also does the Church (because we are members of his body, made from his flesh and from his bones).
“For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.”
This is a great mystery—I mean in reference to Christ and to the Church.
However, let each one of you also love his wife just as he loves himself; and let the wife respect her husband.
Ephesians Chapter 6: Duties of Children and Parents; Duties of Slaves and Masters; The Armor of God; Assiduous Prayer; Conclusion; Blessing.
Duties of Children and Parents:
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for that is right.
“Honor thy father and thy mother”—such is the first commandment with a promise—“that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest be long-lived upon the earth.”
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but rear them in discipline and admonition of the Lord.
Duties of Slaves and Masters:
Slaves, obey your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling in the sincerity of your heart, as you would Christ: not serving to the eyes as pleasers of men, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart, giving your service with good will as to the Lord and not to men, in the knowledge that whatever good each does, the same he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is slave or freeman.
And you masters, do the same towards them, and give up threatening, knowing that their Lord who is also your Lord is in heaven, and that with him there is no respect of persons.
The Armor of God:
For the rest, brethren, be strengthened in the Lord and in the might of his power. Put on the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For our wrestling is not against the flesh and blood, but against the Principalities and the Powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness on high.
Principalities and the Powers—“The phrase principalities and powers occurs six times in the Bible, always in the King James Version and its derivatives (NKJV, MKJV). Other versions translate it variously as “rulers and authorities,” “forces and authorities,” and “rulers and powers.” In most places where the phrase appears, the contexts make it clear that it refers to the vast array of evil and malicious spirits who make war against the people of God. The principalities and powers of Satan are usually in view here, beings that wield power in the unseen realms to oppose everything and everyone that is of God.
Therefore take up the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and stand in all things perfect. Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of justice, and having your feet shod with the readiness of the gospel of peace, in all things taking up the shield of faith, with which you may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the most wicked one.
And take unto you the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, that is, the word of God.
Assiduous Prayer:
Assiduous—constant; unremitting—constant in application or effort; working diligently at a task; persevering; industrious; attentive.
With all prayer and supplication pray at all times in the Spirit, and therein be vigilant in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that when I open my mouth, utterance may be granted to me fearlessly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; so that therein I may dare to speak as I ought.
Conclusion:
But that you too may know my circumstances and what I am doing, Tychicus, our dearest brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will tell you everything. Him I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may learn our circumstances, and that he may comfort your hearts.
Blessing:
Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who have a love unfailing for our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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