the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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New King James Version
Ephesians 4:3
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
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- InternationalDevotionals:
- ChipParallel Translations
being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
but work together like a crew of top hands.
Taking care to keep the harmony of the Spirit in the yoke of peace.
using diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace.
diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us.
being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
forbearing one another in love, Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit, by the bond of peace.
in the uniting bond of peace, the unity given by the Spirit.
Endeuouring to keepe the vnitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
and be diligent to kepe the vnite of the sprete thorow the bonde of peace.
endeavouring to preserve the spiritual union by your affectionate attachment to one another.
Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful].
giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
and that ye be dyliget to kepe ye vnitie of ye sprete in the bonde of peace
being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of the peace;
You are joined together with peace through the Spirit, so make every effort to continue together in this way.
making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Try your best to let God's Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace.
and making every effort to preserve the unity the Spirit gives through the binding power of shalom.
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Endeuouring to keepe the vnitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Endeavoring to preserve the harmony of the Spirit in the bond of peace,
being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of shalom.
Do your best to maintain the unity of the Spirit by means of the bond of peace.Colossians 3:14;">[xr]
And be diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,
And be ye solicitous to keep the unity of the Spirit, in a bond of peace;
Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Work hard to live together as one by the help of the Holy Spirit. Then there will be peace.
giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Giving diligence to keep - the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting-bond of peace, -
Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;
Endeuoryng to kepe the vnitie of the spirite in the bonde of peace:
You are joined together with peace through the Spirit. Do all you can to continue as you are, letting peace hold you together.
being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together.
bisi to kepe vnyte of spirit in the boond of pees.
Contextual Overview
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
Luke 11:51; Hebrews 11:4; 12:24">[xr] Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the LORD."
So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
"All the best of the oil, all the best of the new wine and the grain, their firstfruits which they offer to the LORD, I have given them to you.
And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Then after certain days I obtained leave 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.
