Ephesians 4 5

Ephesians 4:5 kjv

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Ephesians 4:5 nkjv

one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

Ephesians 4:5 niv

one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

Ephesians 4:5 esv

one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Ephesians 4:5 nlt

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Ephesians 4 verses

Ephesians 4 5 Meaning

Ephesians 4:5 declares three fundamental pillars of Christian unity: one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. These elements are not merely human constructs for organizational cohesion, but divinely established realities that define the shared identity and spiritual unity of believers in Jesus Christ. This verse grounds the exhortation for ethical unity in the foundational truths of salvation, acknowledging that despite diverse gifts and roles, the church is one in its submission to Christ, its belief in revealed truth, and its common initiation into the Body of Christ.

Ephesians 4 5 Context

Ephesians chapter 4 shifts from doctrinal teaching (chapters 1-3) to practical exhortation. Paul urges believers to "walk worthy of the calling" (Eph 4:1) which implies living out the unity they already possess in Christ. This verse is part of a central passage (Eph 4:4-6) listing seven foundational "ones": one Body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. These elements represent the theological bedrock of Christian unity, explaining why the church ought to be unified—because God has made it so. Historically, the early church faced pressures from various belief systems (Gnosticism, mystery religions, Roman cults), each often claiming multiple "gods," various paths to truth, and diverse initiation rites. This declaration of "one Lord, one faith, one baptism" stands as a firm polemic against syncretism, relativism, and fragmentation, emphasizing the singular truth and reality of Christianity against any divisive, multi-faceted religious worldview. It underscores that true Christian unity is not simply about agreement on minor points, but about adherence to these absolute, divinely ordained realities.

Word Analysis

• One (εἷς, heis): This Greek word denotes singularity, uniqueness, and exclusivity. It is not just "a" Lord but "the" one, distinct Lord; not just "a" faith but "the" one singular body of truth; not just "a" baptism but "the" only valid Christian baptism. Its repetition here emphasizes non-negotiable foundations for unity.
• Lord (Κύριος, Kyrios): In the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), Kyrios frequently translates Yahweh, the divine name of God. In the New Testament, applying Kyrios to Jesus attributes divine authority, supremacy, and sovereignty to Him. This means there is only one Master to whom all Christians owe ultimate allegiance and obedience—Jesus Christ. This is a direct challenge to the polytheism prevalent in the Greco-Roman world and any notion of multiple ultimate authorities or paths to salvation. His unique identity means Christian worship, loyalty, and doctrine are centralized in Him.
• Faith (πίστις, pistis): This term can denote personal trust or reliance on Christ (subjective faith), but in this context, alongside "one Lord" and "one baptism," it strongly refers to the objective body of Christian doctrine or truth commonly believed by Christians. It is the singular revelation of truth about God, salvation, and the gospel—a shared belief system handed down to the saints (cf. Jude 1:3). This objective faith forms the core content that unites believers, regardless of their cultural or ethnic background.
• Baptism (βάπτισμα, baptisma): Refers to the Christian rite of water immersion. The "one baptism" signifies the singular spiritual reality it represents: the believer's identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (Rom 6:3-4) and incorporation into the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13). It is not about various forms of baptism but the singular, true, New Testament baptism that marks a person as united with Christ and initiated into His church. This common initiatory act highlights shared identity and experience in Christ, countering any notion of various pathways into the Christian community.

Ephesians 4 5 Commentary

Ephesians 4:5 profoundly identifies the non-negotiable essentials of Christian unity. It moves beyond abstract ideals to specific realities: Christ's singular authority ("one Lord"), the common truth shared by believers ("one faith"), and the single initiation rite that incorporates them into Christ and His church ("one baptism"). This unity is not something Christians create, but something they are called to recognize and preserve (Eph 4:3) because it is given by God. It defines the boundaries of genuine Christian fellowship and prevents theological drift. It teaches that disagreements over peripheral issues should not negate unity, but there can be no true unity apart from these core truths about who Jesus is, what He taught, and how one becomes united with Him. For instance, any belief system claiming to be Christian but denying Jesus' full deity (impacting "one Lord"), adding works to salvation (undermining "one faith"), or creating alternative pathways to salvation (bypassing "one baptism") would contradict this fundamental basis of unity. The verse calls believers to walk in accord with these absolute truths, manifesting unity in action just as they possess it in fact.

Bonus SectionThe placement of these "ones" within the larger list of seven ("one Body, one Spirit, one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all") illustrates a profound Trinitarian grounding for unity. "One Body, one Spirit, one hope" relate to the Spirit; "one Lord, one faith, one baptism" relate to the Son (Christ); and "one God and Father of all" relates to the Father. This structure reveals that Christian unity flows from the very nature and work of the Triune God, establishing it as a divine given, not a human endeavor. It underlines that these foundations are not subjective experiences but objective realities, binding believers across time and culture.