EPH 4

Ephesians 4:1

WEB

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,

BSB

As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received:

KJV

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Matthew Henry

Verse 1

Ephesians 4:1

This is a general exhortation to walk as becomes our Christian profession. Paul was now a prisoner at Rome; and he was the prisoner of the Lord, or in the Lord, which signifies as much as for the Lord. See of this, Eph 3:1. He mentions this once and again, to show that he was not ashamed of his bonds, well knowing that he suffered not as an evil doer: and likewise to recommend what he wrote to them with the greater tenderness and with some special advantage. It was a doctrine he thought worth suffering for, and therefore surely they should think it worthy their serious regards and their dutiful observance. We have here the petition of a poor prisoner, one of Christ's prisoners: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you," etc. Considering what God has done for you, and to what a state and condition he has called you, as has been discoursed before, I now come with an earnest request to you (not to send me relief, nor to use your interest for the obtaining of my liberty, the first thing which poor prisoners are wont to solicit from their friends, but) that you would approve yourselves good Christians, and live up to your profession and calling; That you walk worthily, agreeably, suitably, and congruously to those happy circumstances into which the grace of God has brought you, whom he has converted from heathenism to Christianity. Observe, Christians ought to accommodate themselves to the gospel by which they are called, and to the glory to which they are called; both are their vocation. We are called Christians; we must answer that name, and live like Christians. We are called to God's kingdom and glory; that kingdom and glory therefore we must mind, and walk as becomes the heirs of them.

Cross-references: Eph 3:1

Greek interlinear

G3870

παρακαλέωparakaléō/par-ak-al-eh'-o/

beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray

Derivation: from G3844 and G2564;

to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation)

KJV: beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.

See also: G3844, G2564.

G3767

οὖνoûn/oon/

and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore

Derivation: apparently a primary word;

(adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly

KJV: and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.

G4771

σύ/soo/

thou

Derivation: the personal pronoun of the second person singular;

thou

KJV: thou.

See also G4571, G4671, G4675; and for the plural G5209, G5210, G5213, G5216.

See also: G4675, G4571, G4671, G5209, G5210, G5213, G5216.

G1473

ἐγώegṓ/eg-o'/

I, me

Derivation: a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic)

KJV: I, me.

For the other cases and the plural see G1691, G1698, G1700, G2248, G2249, G2254, G2257, etc.

See also: G1691, G1698, G1700, G2248, G2249, G2254, G2257.

G3588

ho/ho/

the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc

, including the feminine , and the neuter τό in all their inflections;

Derivation: the definite article;

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)

KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

G1198

δέσμιοςdésmios/des'-mee-os/

in bonds, prisoner

Derivation: from G1199;

a captive (as bound)

KJV: in bonds, prisoner.

See also: G1199.

G1722

ἐνen/en/

about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in)

Derivation: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537);

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.

KJV: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in).

Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.

See also: G1519, G1537.

G2962

κύριοςkýrios/koo'-ree-os/

God, Lord, master, Sir

Derivation: from κῦρος (supremacy);

supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)

KJV: God, Lord, master, Sir.

G516

ἀξίωςaxíōs/ax-ee'-oce/

as becometh, after a godly sort, worthily(-thy)

Derivation: adverb from G514;

appropriately

KJV: as becometh, after a godly sort, worthily(-thy).

See also: G514.

G4043

περιπατέωperipatéō/per-ee-pat-eh'-o/

go, be occupied with, walk (about)

Derivation: from G4012 and G3961;

to tread all around, i.e. walk at large (especially as proof of ability); figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary)

KJV: go, be occupied with, walk (about).

See also: G4012, G3961.

G2821

κλῆσιςklēsis/klay'-sis/

calling

Derivation: from a shorter form of G2564;

an invitation (figuratively)

KJV: calling.

See also: G2564.

G3739

ὅςhós/hos/

one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc

, including feminine , and neuter

Derivation: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article G3588);

the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that

KJV: one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.

See also G3757.

See also: G3588, G3757.

G2564

καλέωkaléō/kal-eh'-o/

bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-)name (was (called))

Derivation: akin to the base of G2753;

to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise)

KJV: bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-)name (was (called)).

See also: G2753.

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