Ephesians 4:2 kjv
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Ephesians 4:2 nkjv
with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
Ephesians 4:2 niv
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2 esv
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Ephesians 4:2 nlt
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.
Ephesians 4 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eph 4:1 | ...beseech you to walk... | Calls to a holy walk |
| Col 3:12 | ...put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. | Similar exhortations for character |
| Phil 2:3 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | Emphasizes humility and valuing others |
| Prov 15:18 | A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but one who is slow to anger calms a dispute. | Links temper and conflict |
| Prov 19:11 | Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression. | Connects patience with glory |
| 1 Cor 13:4 | Love is patient and kind... | Defines love’s characteristics |
| Gal 5:22 | ...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control. | Fruit of the Spirit includes patience |
| 1 Thess 5:14 | ...warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. | Admonishes patience toward all |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. | Links peace and holiness |
| Rom 12:10 | Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. | Mutual love and honor |
| Rom 15:1 | We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. | Duty to bear with the weak |
| 1 Pet 4:8 | Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. | Love covering sins |
| Jas 1:19 | ... be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger... | Admonition for response |
| Jas 5:7 | Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. | Endurance for the Lord's return |
| Acts 9:31 | So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. | Peace contributing to growth |
| 1 Cor 6:7 | To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather let yourselves be defrauded? | Avoiding conflict, enduring wrong |
| 2 Cor 10:1 | I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ... | Christ's own meekness |
| Col 3:13 | ...bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. | Forgiveness as a model |
| 1 Tim 6:11 | But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. | Similar pursuit of virtues |
| 2 Tim 2:24-25 | And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patient in suffering, correcting his opponents with gentleness. | Characteristics of a servant |
| Matt 11:29 | Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. | Christ's example of gentleness |
Ephesians 4 verses
Ephesians 4 2 Meaning
This verse calls for believers to exhibit specific virtues in their relationships with one another: gentleness, patience, and forbearance, all motivated by love. These qualities are essential for maintaining unity within the body of Christ, a theme that runs throughout the chapter.
Ephesians 4 2 Context
Ephesians 4:1-3 marks a significant transition in the letter. After outlining the divine blessings and spiritual inheritance of believers in chapters 1-3, Paul now pivots to practical instruction concerning Christian conduct. This passage, beginning with a call to walk worthy of the calling, provides foundational principles for unity within the church. The verses that follow in chapter 4 will detail various spiritual gifts and their intended purpose – the building up of the body of Christ. Therefore, Ephesians 4:2 sets the tone for how believers are to interact with one another, emphasizing internal attitudes that foster outward harmony. Historically, churches in the Greco-Roman world often faced internal divisions and external pressures, making these exhortations particularly relevant.
Ephesians 4 2 Word Analysis
- "beseech" (parakaleō): This is a strong, earnest appeal, urging with affection and persuasion. It is used repeatedly in the New Testament to encourage believers towards a life that honors God.
- "you" (hymin): The plural "you" indicates Paul is addressing the entire church community at Ephesus, not individuals in isolation.
- "walk" (peripateō): Metaphorically refers to one's manner of life, conduct, or behavior. It's a holistic depiction of how one lives out their faith daily.
- "worthy" (axios): Denotes being of equal weight or value, deserving. The call is to live a life that aligns with the high calling received in Christ.
- "of the calling" (tēs klēseōs): Refers to God's sovereign call into salvation and into a relationship with Him through Christ, which carries inherent dignity and purpose.
- "wherewith" (hō): A relative pronoun indicating the manner or way by which they were called.
- "ye are called" (ēkleyebilirsiniz): A passive verb indicating that God is the one initiating the call.
- "with all" (pasē): Signifies completeness, embracing all aspects of something.
- "lowliness" (tapeinophrosunēs): Translated from tapeinos, meaning humble, low, of humble mind. It denotes a realistic assessment of oneself in light of God's greatness and the community's needs. It’s not self-abasement but humble thinking.
- "meekness" (praytēs): Characterizes gentle, kind, considerate behavior, often in the face of provocation. It signifies controlled strength, power under restraint, exercised with gentleness, not weakness. It's the opposite of aggressive arrogance.
- "longsuffering" (makrothymias): Composed of makros (long) and thymos (spirit, temper, wrath). It describes the capacity to bear patiently with faults and injuries, to be slow to anger and slow to retaliate. It reflects the very character of God.
- "forbearing" (anechomenoi): To hold oneself up, to bear with, to tolerate, to put up with. It involves enduring offenses and difficulties without retaliation or harsh judgment, characterized by mutual tolerance and understanding.
Group Analysis:
- "lowliness, meekness, longsuffering": These three virtues are often presented together in Pauline epistles as foundational for Christian relationships. They form a triad of interdependent graces that describe Christ-like character. Lowliness is the inner disposition, meekness is the outward expression of that disposition, and longsuffering is the endurance that arises from it in the context of interpersonal relationships.
Ephesians 4 2 Bonus Section
The concept of praytēs (meekness) is particularly interesting. It's not a lack of strength or will, but the right use of strength directed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus exemplified this: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matt 11:29). The strength to be genuinely humble, meek, and patient in relationships comes from God's transforming power, not mere human effort. This passage emphasizes that Christian conduct is an outworking of God's grace and presence within the believer.
Ephesians 4 2 Commentary
Paul exhorts believers to "walk" in a manner "worthy of the calling." This calling is not just salvation but adoption into God's family and empowerment by the Holy Spirit. The primary demonstration of this worthy walk is relational—specifically, through cultivating tapeinophrosunēs (lowliness/humility), praytēs (meekness), and makrothymias (longsuffering). Humility acknowledges one's dependence on God and worth in Him, not self-sufficiency. Meekness is power under control, demonstrating gentleness and kindness even when wronged. Longsuffering (or patience) is the steadfast endurance in the face of provocation, essential for bearing with the imperfections of fellow believers. These qualities are not optional additions but the very fabric of a life aligned with the Gospel, fostering unity and healthy community.