 |  |
In Ephesians 4 there are three related unities even as there are three
related measures, the third unity not being expressed by the word henotes but
by the words `fitly joined together'. We set out the structure thus:
Ephesians 4:1 17
A
1.
The prisoner of the Lord.
Beseeches.
B
a
1.
Walk worthy.
Positive.
b
2.
Humility of mind.
C1
c
3 -6. Unity of Spirit. Keep.
Sevenfold.
d
7.
Measure.
Gift of Christ.
e
8 -12.
Gifts of Ministry:
for perfecting.
C2
c
13.
Unity of Faith.
Arrive.
Sevenfold.
d
13,14.
Measure. Fulness of Christ.
e
15.
Truth in love for growth.
C3
c
16. Unity of Body. Fitly joined. Sevenfold.
d
16.
Measure.
Every part.
e
16.
Edify self in love.
A
17.
I testify in the Lord.
B
a
17.
Walk not.
Negative.
b
17.
Vanity of mind.
It will be seen by the structure that the unity which the apostle now
approaches is threefold. There is first the unity of the Spirit. Then there
is the unity of the Faith, and finally the unity of the One Body. The
parallel passage to Ephesians 4:16 in Colossians is Colossians 2:19, and
there the `bond' of Ephesians 4:3 comes out again as the `bands' or the
`ligaments' of the body.
The apostle exhorts us to `endeavour to keep'. In Galatians 2:10,
referring to the suggestion of the leaders at Jerusalem that Paul should
`remember the poor', Paul says, `the same which I also was forward to do'.
We find several allusions to the gatherings for the poor saints at Jerusalem,
and when these offerings were ready, the apostle undertook the journey in
person to bring this evidence of fellowship and reconciliation to Jerusalem.
`Forward' is the word endeavour. Writing his last letter to Timothy, he
gives him among other things this charge:
`Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth' (2 Tim. 2:15).
`Study' is the word endeavour.
In the same epistle Paul urges Timothy to
come to him in his captivity:
`Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: for Demas hath forsaken me
... Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. Do thy diligence to come
before winter' (2 Tim. 4:9 -21).
`Do diligence' is the word endeavour.
`Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall
after the same example of unbelief' (Heb. 4:11).
`Let us labour' is the word endeavour.