(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV]) Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I
command you.
(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV]) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
All of the studies, book or topical, found here, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, lexicons, concordances or commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, but they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and the New Testament for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc. There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:
(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!
Ephesians Chapter 4
(Ephesians 4:1) I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Interesting choice of words, since Paul was in prison
The implication of this word is huge, as he states he is not a prisoner to man (despite being in prison), but rather to the LORD Jesus Christ-and that would be ONLY to the LORD Jesus Christ
The vocation wherewith we are called is a prisoner of the LORD Jesus Christ
VOCA'TION, n. [L. vocatio, from voco, to call. See Voice.]
Among divines, a calling by the will of God; or the bestowment of God's distinguishing grace upon a person or nation, by which that person or nation is put in the way of salvation; as the vocation of the Jews under the old dispensation, and of the Gentiles under the gospel.
Summons; call; inducement. What can be urged for them who, not having the vocation of poverty to scribble, out of mere wantonness make themselves ridiculous!
Designation or destination to a particular state or profession. None is to enter the ecclesiastic or monastie state, without a particular vocation.
Employment; calling; occupation; trade; a word that includes professions as well as mechanical occupations. Let every divine, every physician, every lawyer, and every mechanic, be faithful and diligent in his vocation.
(Ephesians 4:2) With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
The above verse is the what; this is the howto
Longsuffering is, in actuality, suffering a long time
To forbear means "To spare; to treat with indulgence and patience"
FORBEAR, v.i. pret. forbore; pp. forborne.
To stop; to cease; to hold from proceeding; as, forbear to repeat these reproachful words.
To pause; to delay; as, forbear a while.
To abstain; to omit; to hold one's self from motion or entering on an affair. Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? 1 Ki 22.
To refuse; to decline. Whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. Ezek 2.
To be patient; to restrain from action or violence. Prov 25:15.
FORBEAR, v.t.
To avoid voluntarily; to decline. Forbear his presence.
To abstain from; to omit; to avoid doing. Learn from the scriptures what you ought to do and what to forbear. Have we not power to forbear working? 1 Cor 9.
To spare; to treat with indulgence and patience. Forbearing one another in love. Eph 4.
To withhold. Forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not. 2 Chr 35.
(Ephesians 4:3) Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Endeavoring is laboring, working, laboring, putting in an effort
The Spirit is what allows this through having peace towards the brethren
We do have common threads, even with different doctrines, behaviours, opinions, walks-that is Christ's salvation, the Spirit, the Father, the Word
(Ephesians 4:4) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
There is one Physical Body(the LORD Jesus Christ's), and one spiritual body (us, who are His)
This is made possible by the working of the One Holy Spirit
We all have the same hope-OF HEAVEN
(Ephesians 4:5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
This is the singularity and narrowness of the Gospel of Christianity
(Ephesians 4:6) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
The all is at the end of the verse, "YOU" all
This context means not all are children of God, but all are creations of God
In other words, God is not the father of all people, just all of the redeemed
(John 8:42) Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
(Ephesians 4:7) But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
This grace is unfathomably deep and immeasurable, because that is the gift of the LORD Jesus Christ
The measure is unlimited, so therefore the grace given to us is also
This means "every one of us", not some. To the lowly, to the least, to the greatest, because all of us need it
(Ephesians 4:8) Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
After the Ascension of Jesus Christ....then the Church
This is a quote from Psalm 68:18, shown below
He took us from the bondage of sin to bondage to Him
After that we receive rewards in Heaven which we do not deserve
(Acts 1:10) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
(Psalms 68:18) Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
(Matthew 12:29) Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
(Isaiah 49:24) ¶ Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
(2 Timothy 2:26) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
(Ephesians 4:9) (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
It is surmised the LORD went to tell the enemy that he lost
He went there to tell them, not to be judged in hell! That was done on the Cross(John 19:30)
This could also mean stepping out of Heaven to be on earth, which is the ultimate lowering. Would you want to leave Heaven after experiencing that and come to earth, knowing what that is like?
Jesus was also buried in a tomb, death being, by our standards, to be lower than life on earth
(John 19:30) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
(1 Peter 3:19) By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
PREACH, v.i. [L. proeco, a crier; precor.]
To pronounce a public discourse on a religious subject, or from a subject, or from a text of Scripture. The word is usually applied to such discourses as are formed from a text of Scripture. This is the modern sense of preach.
To discourse on the gospel way of salvation and exhort to repentance; to discourse on evangelical truths and exhort to a belief of them and acceptance of the terms of salvation. This was the extemporaneous manner of preaching pursued by Christ and his apostles. Mat 4:10. Acts 10:14.
PREACH, v.t. To proclaim; to publish in religious discourses.
What ye hear in the ear, that preach ye on the house-tops. Mat 10.
The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek. Isaiah 61.
To inculcate in public discourses. I have preached righteousness in the great congregations. Psa 40. He oft to them preach'd Conversion and repentance. To preach Christ or Christ crucified, to announce Christ as the only Savior, and his atonement as the only ground of acceptance with God. 1 Cor 1.
To preach up, to discourse in favor of. Can they preach up equality of birth?
PREACH, n. A religious discourse. [Not used.]
(Ephesians 4:10) He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
This is to our perspective for what we visibly experience
The Third Heaven is God's realm, His Throne, and the angelic realm
This is where we will be with Him when we die
The Three Heavens
Our atmosphere
Outer Space where
The home, throne of God and the angels
The Ascension is the culmination of the Plan of God and His Salvation
(2 Corinthians 12:2) I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
(Deuteronomy 10:14) Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
(1 Kings 8:27) But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
(2 Chronicles 2:6) But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
(2 Chronicles 6:18) But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!
(Nehemiah 9:6) Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
(Ephesians 4:11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
He gave......meaning it is by HIS choice, not ours by the laying on of hands
The apostles to plant churches
The prophets to preach the Word to the Jews
The evangelists to preach the Word to the Gentiles
The pastors and teachers disciple them
(Ephesians 4:12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
This is the purpose of spiritual gifts, not to edify oneself, not for signs and wonders
To help sanctify believers, to minister to them and to edify them
People who are into sign gifts, especially "prayer languages", like to say it is "OK to edify oneself"....and it is not, accordign to the context of the whole of Scripture
(Ephesians 4:13) 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:
When that is is not in this time at all, since there is disunity for 2,000 years straight now
This can happen locally, in a small way today, but not ever corporately
The knowledge of the Son of God: In Heaven
The perfection of the saint: In Heaven
The measurement of us to the Stature and fullness of the Risen Christ: In Heaven
(Ephesians 4:14) 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;
This is key, knowing and rightly dividing God's Word, in order to prevent error
This practice takes us where God wants us to go
Otherwise, the winds of false (every one, whichever one) doctrine will take us where they want us to go
This is man's magic, plain and simple, and what God calls it ,all smoke and mirrors, feigning spirituality
Deceivers who are good at it are cunning, crafty and subtil, like the serpent
They APPEAR spiritual and for God, but are in fact ALWAYS against Him and ALWAYS for their own gain
(Genesis 3:1) Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
(2 Corinthians 11:13-14) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
(2 Peter 2:3) And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
(Ephesians 4:15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Truth....in love
Not lies.....in love
Not truth......in hate
This is being godly, as God is truth and God is love.
(John 14:6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
(1 John 4:8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
(1 John 4:16) And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
(Ephesians 4:16) 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.
As is the body of people, so is the body of Christ
Only the parts that God designed fit
We do not have extra parts, nor can we add them
Each joint is designed to carry its own weight
The body of Christ is to edify itself, not each part. One part edifies another to work together, not as a single piece, but as a whole unit, a whole system
This is where the context of the verse is important for understanding and interpretation
Edification
(Romans 14:19) Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
(1 Corinthians 10:23) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
(1 Corinthians 14:5) I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
(1 Corinthians 14:12) Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
(1 Corinthians 14:26) How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
(2 Corinthians 12:19) Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
(Ephesians 4:12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(Ephesians 4:29) 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.
(1 Thessalonians 5:11) Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
(1 Timothy 1:4) Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
(Romans 15:2) Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
(1 Corinthians 14:3) But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
(2 Corinthians 10:8) For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
(2 Corinthians 13:10) Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
(Ephesians 4:17) This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
This is proof of Paul's Gentile ministry when he says "other gentiles"
Gentile pagans without Christ are "vain in their imaginations"
Gentile pagans without Christ make idols of earthly materials which are temporal
(Romans 1:21-23) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
(Ephesians 4:18) 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:
The ignorance was inherent, passed down from the Fall genetically, leaving mankind helpless and unable to know God, and unwilling to see Him
The Gentile pagans, then as now, were in utter, earthly, willful, blinding darkness-it was not an eye issue, but rather a heart issue
They did not know the Creator God, but thought that everything happened by chance, and so worshipped false gods of earth, air, water
This is also true today
(Ephesians 4:19) Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Their conscience was seared, they had no sense of morality
This again is also true today
When one is numb, they acts dumb. When one is numb, they do harmful things because they do not feel how wrong it is
"with all uncleanness" is because nothing is too evil for them. If they can think it, they will do it
This is a universal attitude, posture throughout mankind, throughout history
(1 Timothy 4:2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
(Genesis 11:6) And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
(Ephesians 4:20) But ye have not so learned Christ;
This is not Jesus
Therefore, this is not who we are, or are supposed to be
(Ephesians 4:21) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
If we are saved, then this is the case
To the unbeliever, this does not apply
Our conscience is alive and active, convicting us of sin
(Ephesians 4:22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
We are new a new creature
Conversation is behavior, actions, workings
(2 Corinthians 5:17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(Ephesians 4:23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
The spirit of our mind is the Holy Spirit, who is to guide our mind, our soul and therefore our body
(Ephesians 4:24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
We are created in God's image, soul, body, spirit for us as a Trinity
God is Father, Son, Holy Ghost
The closer we get to God, the more we return to the state God created us for-fellowship and a walk with God
(Genesis 3:8) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
(Ephesians 4:25) Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
We are members of the body of Christ, as believers
These are our neighbors (in one way, God's way), as well as the lost are our neighbours (in a different way)
(Ephesians 4:26) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
There is nothing wrong with anger, if it is correctly applied
God Himself gets very angry-and WATCH OUT!
But we are not to act on it like God does, inappropriately. There is a time for discipline, but not vengeance and wrath
(Leviticus 19:18) ¶ Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
(Deuteronomy 32:35) To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
(Romans 12:19) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
(Hebrews 10:30) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
(Ephesians 4:27) Neither give place to the devil.
We are either walking with God or walking with the enemy-there is no neutral ground here on earth
The amount of place needed is smaller than an electron, to cause damage and open up the space to cover and destroy a life
(Ephesians 4:28) 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.
Stealing to eat is in a way understandable to our finite, sin-ridden minds, but often recompensed with violence by the victim without a trial
But a person who will not work, but would rather make a living stealing, is never to be tolerated while they practice this behavior
The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it
(Proverbs 6:30) Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
(Proverbs 30:9) Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
(Ephesians 4:29) 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.
Well, among other things, the corruption is swearing, cursing, lying, backbiting, gossip...
...in other words, poor use of the tongue as a member
(Ephesians 4:30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
We are sealed until the Day of Redemption, and so we grieve when we are not led, and we therefore sin
This is a command, not a suggestion
(Romans 14:23) And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.(Ephesians 4:31) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
This verse is pretty much self-explanatory, except for definitions of two words rarely used, clamour, malice
CLAMOR, n.
A great outcry; noise; exclamation; vociferation, made by a loud human voice continued or repeated, or by a multitude of voices. It often expresses complaint and urgent demand.
Figuratively, loud and continued noise, as of a river or other inanimate things.
CLAMOR, v.t. To stun with noise. To clamor bells, is to multiply the strokes.CLAMOR, v.i. To utter loud sounds, or outcries; to talk loud; to utter loud voices repeatedly; to vociferate, as an individual; to utter loud voices, as a multitude; to complain; to make importunate demands. Those who most loudly clamor for liberty do not most liberally grant it. Glamor your tongues in Shakespeare, if intended to mean, stop from noise, is not English. Perhaps the word was clam, or intended for a derivative.
(Ephesians 4:32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
The reason is because none of us deserves to be treated kindly by God, but He does so because of Christ
This also shows the world who we are and are from, Jesus Christ as His disciples
(John 13:34-35) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
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