Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Ephesians 4

Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One Lord

1Co 1:13; 8:5-6.

one faith

Gal 1:23; 1Co 15:1-8.

one baptism

1Co 12:12-13; Eph 5:30.

Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

One God and Father of all

1Co 8:6; 12:6.

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

When he ascended up on high

Psa 68:18.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

gave

In 1Co 12:8-28 the Spirit is seen as enduing the members of the body of Christ with spiritual gifts, or enablements for a varied service; here certain Spirit-endued men, viz. apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, are themselves the gifts whom the glorified Christ bestows upon His body the church. In Corinthians the gifts are spiritual enablements for specific service; in Ephesians the gifts are men who have such enablements.

some

The Lord, in bestowing the gifted men, determines, providentially (e.g. Act 11:22-26), or directly through the Spirit (e.g. Act 13:1-2; 16:6-7), the places of their service. "Some" (churches or places) need one gift, as, e.g. evangelist; "some" (churches or places) need rather a pastor or teacher. Absolutely nothing in Christ's service is left to mere human judgment or self-choosing. Even an apostle was not permitted to choose his place of service (Act 16:7-8).

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

perfecting

Scofield Matthew 5:48, note.

for the work of the ministry

unto the doing of service.

Eph 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:

a perfect man

Eph 1:23; 2:15.

Eph 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;

wind of doctrine

Mat 11:7.

Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

speaking

holding.

into

unto.

which is the head

Eph 1:22.

Eph 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.

that which every joint supplieth

every joint of supply.

measure of every part

Eph 4:12.

maketh increase of the body

Col 2:19.

Eph 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,

walk not as other Gentiles walk

Eph 2:2.

Eph 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:

understanding darkened, being alienated

Death (spiritual) Eph 4:18-19; Col 2:13. (Gen 2:17; Eph 2:5.)

life

Life (eternal). Phl 2:16. (Mat 7:14; Rev 22:19.)

Eph 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Who being past feeling

1Ti 4:2.

Eph 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

learned Christ

Act 2:36.

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

put off

have put off.

old man

Scofield Romans 6:6, note.

Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

be

being.

Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

put on

have put on.

the new man

The new man is the regenerate man as distinguished from the old man (Scofield Romans 6:6, note), and is a new man as having become a partaker of the divine nature and life 2 Peter 1:4; Colossians 3:3,4 and in no sense the old man made over, or improved; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:10. The new man is Christ, "formed" in the believer; Galatians 2:20; 4:19; Colossians 1:27; 1 John 4:12.

righteousness

Scofield Romans 10:10, note.

Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

speak every man truth

Zec 8:16.

Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Be ye angry, and sin not

Psa 4:4.

sin

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

Neither give place

2Co 2:10-11.

devil

Satan. Eph 6:11. (Gen 3:1; Rev 20:10.)

Eph 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.

give to him that needeth

Luk 3:11.

Eph 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.

edifying

Rom 15:2.

grace

Grace (imparted). Phl 1:7. (Rom 6:1; 2Pe 3:18).

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

holy Spirit

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Eph 4:4, 23, 30; Eph 5:9, 18. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

ye are sealed

Assurance. Eph 5:29-30. (Isa 32:17; Jde 1:1.)

Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

forgiving one another

Luk 6:33-37.

for Christ

in Christ.

forgiven

Forgiveness. Col 2:13. (Lev 4:20; Mat 26:28.)