Ephesians 4:3 kjv
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3 nkjv
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3 niv
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3 esv
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3 nlt
Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Ephesians 4 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Unity | ||
| 1 Cor 12:13 | For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body... | Unity is created by one Spirit. |
| Phil 2:2 | ...being of one mind, having the same love, being in full accord... | Calls for harmonious mind and love among believers. |
| Col 3:15 | And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body... | Peace is key to the function of one body. |
| Eph 2:14-16 | For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one... | Christ broke down divisions, made peace and unity. |
| Rom 12:4-5 | For as in one body we have many members... we, though many, are one body in Christ... | Diverse members form one organic body. |
| John 17:21 | ...that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You... | Jesus' prayer for believer's unity. |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free... for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity transcends earthly distinctions. |
| 1 Pet 3:8 | Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. | Calls for shared attitude and affection. |
| Peace | ||
| Col 3:14 | And above all these put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. | Love is the ultimate bond, intrinsically linked to peace. |
| Rom 14:19 | So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. | Active pursuit of peace and strengthening others. |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. | Proactive effort to live peaceably with all. |
| Jas 3:18 | And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. | Peacemaking leads to righteousness. |
| Gal 5:22 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace... | Peace is a vital characteristic of a Spirit-led life. |
| Rom 5:1 | Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. | Basis of our peace – reconciled to God. |
| Phil 4:7 | And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds... | God's peace guards us from within. |
| Endeavoring/Diligence | ||
| 2 Pet 1:5 | For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue... | Calls for diligence in spiritual growth. |
| 2 Tim 2:15 | Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed... | Diligent work is required for spiritual service. |
| Rom 12:18 | If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. | Emphasis on personal effort towards peace. |
| Context/Prerequisites | ||
| Eph 4:1-2 | I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling... with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love... | Preceding virtues enable the keeping of unity. |
| Col 3:12-13 | Put on then, as God's chosen ones... compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint... forgiving each other... | Virtues crucial for peaceful relationships. |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you... | Warning against division, call for agreement. |
Ephesians 4 verses
Ephesians 4 3 Meaning
Ephesians 4:3 exhorts believers to actively and diligently strive to preserve the spiritual unity that the Holy Spirit has already created within the body of Christ. This preservation is achieved and maintained through the constant practice of peace, which acts as the binding force that holds believers together. It signifies that Christian unity is a divine gift requiring human diligence to safeguard through peaceful relationships and conduct.
Ephesians 4 3 Context
Ephesians chapter 4 marks a significant transition in Paul's letter. Chapters 1-3 lay the profound theological groundwork, detailing God's eternal plan for the universe centered in Christ, the spiritual blessings believers possess, and the astounding reality of the church as Christ's body, where both Jewish and Gentile believers are unified in Him. Chapters 4-6 then pivot to practical exhortation, urging believers to "walk worthy" of this glorious calling.
Verse 3 follows immediately after Paul's initial plea in Ephesians 4:1-2 for believers to live out their Christian identity through specific virtues: "all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love." These relational qualities are not merely suggestions but foundational prerequisites for the instruction in verse 3. The historical context of the Ephesian church, a diverse community within a cosmopolitan city grappling with cultural differences and external pressures, underscores the vital importance of unity for Christian witness and health.
Ephesians 4 3 Word analysis
- endeavoring (Greek: σπουδάζοντες - spoudazontes): This word denotes an active, urgent, and zealous effort. It implies diligence and making every possible exertion. The unity is not automatically sustained; it requires continuous and conscious work.
- to keep (Greek: τηρεῖν - tērein): This verb means to guard, preserve, or maintain something that already exists. It signifies protecting the unity that the Spirit has already established, rather than attempting to create a unity that is not yet there. The unity is a given reality for believers; their task is its preservation.
- the unity (Greek: τὴν ἑνότητα - tēn henotēta): Refers to a singular, specific oneness. This is not simply uniformity or agreement on every minor point, but a deeper, organic reality of shared spiritual life, as expressed in the "one body" in verse 4. It's an internal reality manifesting externally.
- of the Spirit (Greek: τοῦ Πνεύματος - tou Pneumatos): This phrase highlights the divine origin and nature of this unity. It is created, initiated, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This distinguishes it from merely human or organizational attempts at unity, which are often fragile and superficial.
- in the bond (Greek: ἐν τῷ συνδέσμῳ - en tō syndesmō): The term syndesmos refers to a ligament or a strong connecting band. It denotes that which holds parts together securely and functionally, like ligaments connecting bones in a body. It implies that peace is the means by which the members of the body are bound together.
- of peace (Greek: τῆς εἰρήνης - tēs eirēnēs): This specifies the nature of the "bond." Peace, in the biblical sense (shalom), encompasses wholeness, harmony, reconciliation, and flourishing, not just the absence of conflict. It is the active, relational peace among believers, springing from their peace with God. This internal peace, demonstrated in patient and loving relationships, is the glue of the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4 3 Bonus section
The "unity of the Spirit" implies that true Christian unity is not primarily organizational or structural uniformity. While denominations and organizational structures have their place, the fundamental unity emphasized here is spiritual, flowing from the indwelling Holy Spirit in all genuine believers. This means Christians who may differ on non-essential doctrines or practices are still united in Christ by the Spirit. Therefore, "keeping the unity" is less about enforcing sameness and more about honoring the divine spiritual bond by demonstrating peace, love, and patience in the face of differences, so long as those differences do not compromise essential biblical truths. The church, as the physical manifestation of Christ's body, is intended to display this miraculous unity as a testament to God's power and reconciling work.
Ephesians 4 3 Commentary
Ephesians 4:3 is a crucial command following a rich theological exposition, bridging divine truth with practical Christian living. The verse underscores that the unity of the church is fundamentally a spiritual reality, a gift divinely initiated and sustained by the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:4-6 confirms this by outlining seven "ones"). Believers do not create this spiritual unity, but are commanded to "endeavor to keep" it. This active, continuous, and zealous effort highlights human responsibility in safeguarding what God has already graciously provided. It requires diligence and a proactive stance against forces of division.
The mechanism for maintaining this unity is "the bond of peace." This means peace is not just a desirable outcome but the essential means by which the diverse members of the body are held together. This "peace" is far more than mere cessation of hostilities; it encompasses biblical shalom—a comprehensive well-being, wholeness, harmony, and reconciliation that results from individuals reconciled to God and therefore capable of living in harmony with one another. The preceding virtues in Ephesians 4:2—humility, gentleness, patience, and love—are vital lubricants for this "bond of peace," providing the attitudinal framework necessary for genuine reconciliation and harmonious coexistence. Without these virtues, the pursuit of peace, and thus the preservation of unity, becomes impossible. This verse serves as a powerful call to prioritize relationships and actively engage in peacemaking within the body of Christ, presenting a compelling witness to a divided world.