Ephesians 4:3

Amplified Bible

Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful].

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
You are joined together with peace through the Spirit. Do all you can to continue as you are, letting peace hold you together.

Revised Standard Version
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and that ye be dyliget to kepe ye vnitie of ye sprete in the bonde of peace

Hebrew Names Version
being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of shalom.

New American Standard Bible
being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

New Century Version
You are joined together with peace through the Spirit, so make every effort to continue together in this way.

Update Bible Version
being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Webster's Bible Translation
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

English Standard Version
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

World English Bible
being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
forbearing one another in love, Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit, by the bond of peace.

Weymouth's New Testament
in the uniting bond of peace, the unity given by the Spirit.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
bisi to kepe vnyte of spirit in the boond of pees.

English Revised Version
giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Berean Standard Bible
and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Contemporary English Version
Try your best to let God's Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace.

American Standard Version
giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Bible in Basic English
Taking care to keep the harmony of the Spirit in the yoke of peace.

Complete Jewish Bible
and making every effort to preserve the unity the Spirit gives through the binding power of shalom.

Darby Translation
using diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace.

International Standard Version
Do your best to maintain the unity of the Spirit by means of the bond of peace.Colossians 3:14;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And be diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,

Murdock Translation
And be ye solicitous to keep the unity of the Spirit, in a bond of peace;

King James Version (1611)
Endeuouring to keepe the vnitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

New Living Translation
Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

New Life Bible
Work hard to live together as one by the help of the Holy Spirit. Then there will be peace.

New Revised Standard
making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Endeuouring to keepe the vnitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

George Lamsa Translation
Endeavoring to preserve the harmony of the Spirit in the bond of peace,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Giving diligence to keep - the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting-bond of peace, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Endeuoryng to kepe the vnitie of the spirite in the bonde of peace:

Good News Translation
Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together.

Christian Standard Bible®
making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

King James Version
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Lexham English Bible
being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;

Literal Translation
being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Young's Literal Translation
being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of the peace;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and be diligent to kepe the vnite of the sprete thorow the bonde of peace.

Mace New Testament (1729)
endeavouring to preserve the spiritual union by your affectionate attachment to one another.

New English Translation
making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

New King James Version
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Simplified Cowboy Version
but work together like a crew of top hands.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Legacy Standard Bible
being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Contextual Overview

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].⁴There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]— ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶one God and Father of us all who is [sovereign] over all and [working] through all and [living] in all. ⁷Yet grace [God's undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ's [rich and abundant] gift. ⁸Therefore it says, "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND HE BESTOWED GIFTS ON MEN." ⁹(Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had previously descended [from the heights of heaven] into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰He who descended is the very same as He who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things [that is, the whole universe]). ¹¹And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct],

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Ephesians 4:4, John 13:34, John 17:21-23, Romans 14:17-19, 1 Corinthians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 12:12, 1 Corinthians 12:13, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Colossians 3:13-15, 1 Thessalonians 5:13, Hebrews 12:14, James 3:17, James 3:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 13:8 - brethren Exodus 26:3 - coupled together Exodus 28:32 - that it be not rent 1 Kings 16:21 - divided Psalms 122:6 - Pray Psalms 133:1 - how good Ecclesiastes 4:12 - and a Song of Solomon 6:9 - General Ezekiel 11:19 - I will give Mark 3:24 - General Romans 12:18 - General Romans 14:19 - follow 1 Corinthians 6:17 - General Ephesians 4:13 - we all Philippians 1:27 - in one Colossians 2:19 - knit Colossians 3:14 - the Hebrews 13:1 - General 1 Peter 1:22 - unto

Cross-References

Genesis 4:1
Now the man Adam knew Eve as his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have obtained a man (baby boy, son) with the help of the LORD."

Genesis 4:11
"And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's [shed] blood from your hand.

Numbers 18:12
"All the best of the fresh [olive] oil, and all the best of the new wine and of the grain, the first fruits of those which they give to the LORD, I give them to you.

1 Kings 17:7
It happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

Nehemiah 13:6
But during all this time I was not at Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes [Persian] king of Babylon I went to the king. Then after some time I asked for a leave [of absence] from the king,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit,.... That is, a spiritual union: there is an union between God and his people, and between Christ and his members, and between saints and saints, and the bond of each union is love; and that it is which knits and cements them together; and it is the last of these which is here intended: the saints are united under one head, and are members of one and the same body, and should be of the same mind and judgment, and of one accord, heart, and affection: and this may be called "the unity of the Spirit"; because it is an union of spirits, of the spirits or souls of men; and that in spiritual affairs, in the spiritual exercises of religion; and it is effected by the Spirit of God, by whom they are baptized into one body. Now to endeavour or study to keep and preserve this, supposes that this union does already exist; that it is very valuable, as making much for the glory of God, the mutual comfort and delight of saints, and is worth taking some pains about; and that it is very difficult to secure, there being so many things which frequently arise, and break in upon it, through the devices of Satan, and the corruptions of men's hearts: but though it is difficult, and may sometimes seem to be impossible, yet it becomes the saints to be diligent in the use of means to keep it up, and continue it; and which they may be said to endeavour after, when they abide with one another, and do not forsake each other upon every occasion; when they perform all offices of love to one another, and stir up each other to the like: and the way and manner in which this is to be kept, is

in the bond of peace: the Arabic version reads, "by the bond of love and peace": by maintaining peace among themselves, and seeking those things which tend to, and make for peace, and spiritual edification; and which is called a bond, in allusion to the Greek word used, which comes from one that signifies to knit, join, and bind together, and because it is of a knitting and uniting nature. Now so to act is to walk worthy of calling grace, or agreeably to it: peace is what the saints are called unto in the effectual calling: and what is suitable to God, who is the God of peace; and to Christ, who is the Prince of peace; and to the Holy Spirit, whose fruit is peace; and to the Gospel, which is the Gospel of peace; and to the character which the saints bear, which is that of sons of peace.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The unity of the Spirit - A united spirit, or oneness of spirit. This does not refer to the fact that there is one Holy Spirit; but it refers to unity of affection, of confidence, of love. It means that Christians should be united in temper and affection, and not be split up into factions and parties. It may be implied here, as is undoubtedly true, that such a unity would be produced only by the Holy Spirit; and that, as there was but one Spirit which had acted on their hearts to renew them, they ought to evince the same feelings and views. There was occasion among the Ephesians for this exhortation; for they were composed of Jews and Gentiles, and there might be danger of divisions and strifes, as there had been in other churches. There is “always” occasion for such an exhortation; for:

(1) “unity” of feeling is eminently desirable to honor the gospel (see the notes on John 17:21); and,

(2) There is always danger of discord where people are brought together in one society. There are so many different tastes and habits; there is such a variety of intellect and feeling; the modes of education have been so various, and the temperament may be so different, that there is constant danger of division. Hence, the subject is so often dwelt on in the Scriptures (see the notes on 1 Cor. 2ff), and hence, there is so much need of caution and of care in the churches.

In the bond of peace - This was to be by the cultivation of that peaceful temper which binds all together. The American Indians usually spoke of peace as a “chain of friendship” which was to be kept bright, The meaning here is, that they should be bound or united together in the sentiments and affections of peace. It is not mere “external” unity; it is not a mere unity of creed; it is not a mere unity in the forms of public worship; it is such as the Holy Spirit produces in the hearts of Christians, when it fills them all with the same love, and joy, and peace in believing. The following verses contain the reasons for this.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ephesians 4:3. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. — There can be no doubt that the Church at Ephesus was composed partly of converted Jews, as well as Gentiles. Now, from the different manner in which they had been brought up, there might be frequent causes of altercation. Indeed, the Jews, though converted, might be envious that the Gentiles were admitted to the same glorious privileges with themselves, without being initiated into them by bearing the yoke and burden of the Mosaic law. The apostle guards them against this, and shows them that they should intensely labour (for so the word σπουδαζειν implies) to promote and preserve peace and unity. By the unity of the Spirit we are to understand, not only a spiritual unity, but also a unity of sentiments, desires, and affections, such as is worthy of and springs from the Spirit of God. By the bond of peace we are to understand a peace or union, where the interests of all parties are concentrated, cemented, and sealed; the Spirit of God being the seal upon this knot.