New International Version
Ephesians 4:1
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
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,
- 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,
- New Living Translation (NLT)Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
Context of Ephesians 4:1
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
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 I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
- Jeremiah 38:20“They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “Obey the Lord by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well with you, and your life will be spared.
- Romans 12:1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
- 1 Corinthians 4:16Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
- 2 Corinthians 5:20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
- 2 Corinthians 6:1As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
- 2 Corinthians 10:1By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away!
- Galatians 4:12I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong.
- Philemon 1:9yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—
- 1 Peter 2:11Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
- 2 John 1:5And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.
- Ephesians 4:17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
- Ephesians 5:2and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
- Genesis 5:24Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
- Genesis 17:1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.
- Acts 9:31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased 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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