Amplified Bible
Ephesians 4:1
1So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation],
Ephesians 4:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
- New International Version (NIV)As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
- New King James Version (NKJV)I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
Context of Ephesians 4:1
So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation], 2with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love. 3Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful].
Read all of Ephesians 4Ephesians 4:1 word by word
Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ ὁ δέσμιος ἐν κυρίῳ ἀξίως περιπατῆσαι τῆς κλήσεως ἧς ἐκλήθητε,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- the prisonerὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the prisonerδέσμιοςdesmios · prisonerG1198
- ofἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- beseechπαρακαλέωparakaleō · to plead/comfortG3870
- youσύsu · youG4771
- that ye walkπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
- worthyἀξίωςaxiōs · appropriatelyG516
- of the vocationκλῆσιςklēsis · callingG2821
- wherewithὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- ye are calledκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
Cross-references for Ephesians 4:1
- Ephesians 3:1For this reason [because I preach that you and believing Jews are joint heirs] I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—
- Jeremiah 38:20But Jeremiah said, “They will not hand you over [to them]. Please obey [the voice of] the Lord [who speaks to you through me] in what I am saying to you. Then it will go well with you and you will live.
- Romans 12:1Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.
- 1 Corinthians 4:16So I urge you, be imitators of me [just as a child imitates his father].
- 2 Corinthians 5:20So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God.
- 2 Corinthians 6:1Working together with Him, we strongly urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain [by turning away from sound doctrine and His merciful kindness].
- 2 Corinthians 10:1Now I, Paul, urge you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am meek [so they say] when with you face to face, but bold [outspoken and fearless] toward you when absent!
- Galatians 4:12Believers, I beg of you, become as I am [free from the bondage of Jewish ritualism and ordinances], for I have become as you are [a Gentile]. You did me no wrong [when I first came to you; do not do it now].
- Philemon 1:9yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner [for the sake] of Christ Jesus—
- 1 Peter 2:11Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges [those dishonorable desires] that wage war against the soul.
- 2 John 1:5Now I ask you, lady, not as if I were writing to you a new commandment, but [simply reminding you of] the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love and unselfishly seek the best for one another.
- Ephesians 4:17So this I say, and solemnly affirm together with the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the [unbelieving] Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds [and in the foolishness and emptiness of their souls],
- Ephesians 5:2and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.
- Genesis 5:24And [in reverent fear and obedience] Enoch walked with God; and he was not [found among men], because God took him [away to be home with Him].
- Genesis 17:1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; Walk [habitually] before Me [with integrity, knowing that you are always in My presence], and be blameless and complete [in obedience to Me].
- Acts 9:31So the church throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace [without persecution], being built up [in wisdom, virtue, and faith]; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort and encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it continued to grow [in numbers].
Commentaries on Ephesians 4:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1I therefore - Therefore, because God has provided for you such an abundant salvation, and ye have his testimonies among you, and have full liberty to use all the means of grace; The prisoner of the Lord - Who am deprived of my liberty for the Lord's sake. Beseech you that ye walk - Ye have your liberty, and may walk; I am deprived of mine, and cannot. This is a fine stroke, and wrought up into a strong argument. You who are at large can show forth the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1I, therefore - In view of the great and glorious truths which God has revealed, and of the grace which he has manifested toward you who are Gentiles. See the previous chapters. The sense of the word “therefore” - ̓͂ oun- in this place, is, “Such being your exalted privileges; since God has done so much for you; since he has revealed for you such a glorious system; since he has bestowed on you the honor of calling you into his kingdom, and making you…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Exhortations to mutual forbearance and union. (1-6) To a due use of spiritual gifts and graces. (7-16) To purity and holiness. (17-24) And to take heed of the sins practised among the heathen. (25-32) Verses 1-6 Nothing is pressed more earnestly in the Scriptures, than to walk as becomes those called to Christ's kingdom and glory. By lowliness, understand humility, which is opposed to pride. By meekness, that excellent disposition of soul, which makes men…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1then: Ephesians divides into two sections: The first explains the good news about Jesus (the gospel). The second describes how Christians should live. This division reflects Paul's belief about the Christian life. He believed that how Christians live should be a response of gratitude for what God has already done for them through Christ.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-321. Translate, according to the Greek order, "I beseech you, therefore (seeing that such is your calling of grace, the first through third chapters) I the prisoner in the Lord (that is, imprisoned in the Lord's cause)." What the world counted ignominy, he counts the highest honor, and he glories in his bonds for Christ, more than a king in his diadem [Theodoret]. His bonds, too, are an argument which should enforce his exhortation. vocation--Translate…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 4:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ephesians 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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