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Ephesians 4

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

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

But ye have not so learned Christ;

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Neither give place to the devil.

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

What does Ephesians 4:25 mean?

Explanation

"Ephesians 4:25" is a passage from the New Testament that addresses the importance of truthfulness in the Christian community.

The apostle Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus and urging the members to practice complete honesty with one another.

He emphasizes that lying should be put away, or discarded, as it is not compatible with the new life that believers have in Christ.

The phrase "speak every man truth with his neighbour" underscores the necessity for each person to communicate honestly with others in their community.

Paul's reasoning for this instruction is that Christians are "members one of another," which means they are interconnected, much like the parts of a body.

This interconnectedness is foundational in the Christian belief of the church as the 'Body of Christ.' Lying disrupts the unity and harmony of this body.

By speaking the truth, believers maintain and strengthen their relationships within the community, which is vital for its health and function.

Top Rated Ephesians Books

Historical Context

The Epistle to the Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul around A.D. 60 while he was imprisoned in Rome.

This letter was directed towards the Christians in the city of Ephesus, which was an important cultural, commercial, and religious center in the Roman province of Asia, what is modern-day Turkey.

The city had a diverse population with various religious practices, including the worship of the Greek goddess Artemis.

Paul addressed the Ephesians in a time when converts from paganism were integrating into the early Christian church.

They were coming from backgrounds with different moral and ethical standards.

In this context, Paul provides instruction to form a cohesive, God-honoring community grounded in Christian ethical principles.

Theological Insights

Within Christian theology, Paul's instruction in Ephesians 4:25 is seen as part of the moral transformation that accompanies salvation in Christ.

Different theological traditions approach this verse with nuances relevant to their understanding of the church, ethics, and the nature of Christian living.

Roman Catholic theology may link this verse with the sacrament of reconciliation, emphasizing the importance of confession and honesty both before God and within the community of believers.
Protestant theology, particularly of the Reformed tradition, might stress the idea of covenant community and the corporate nature of the Body of Christ, arguing that truth-telling is fundamental to maintaining the integrity of this communal relationship.
Liberation theology could interpret the verse as a call to dismantle systems of lies and injustice by embracing truth as a liberating force within an oppressed community.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of Ephesians 4:25 are straightforward and timeless:

Believers are encouraged to practice honesty in their daily interactions with others.
In a church setting, members are called to foster a community where truth is upheld, which allows for transparency and trust.
In the broader sense, honoring truth contributes to the well-being of society because it builds relationships of integrity and accountability.

Cross-References

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." (Exodus 20:16)
"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds." (Colossians 3:9)
"Wherefore putting away all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21)
"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." (Ephesians 4:15)
"These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates." (Zechariah 8:16)

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words of this verse include:

"Putting away" (Greek: ἀποθέμενοι, apothemenoi) implies a decisive act of removal or discarding.
"Lying" (Greek: ψεῦδος, pseudos) refers to falsehood or a lie, implying anything that is not aligned with the truth.
"Truth" (Greek: ἀλήθεια, aletheia) means the state of not being hidden, the state of being evident.

It signifies truth in all its fullness and integrity.

"Neighbour" (Greek: πλησίον, plesion) denotes someone who is near, and in a broader sense, any other person with whom one interacts.

The syntax and vocabulary reinforce the imperative nature of the command to embrace truthfulness as fundamental to Christian conduct.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparing Paul's teachings to other ancient myths and religious interpretations:

Ancient Greek philosophy valued truth highly.

For example, Plato emphasized the search for eternal truths and living in accordance with them.

In Judaism, truth is a central ethical teaching, reflected in the Ten Commandments and the broader Tanakh.
In Eastern traditions such as Buddhism, truth is also a key virtue, with the Four Noble Truths central to Buddhist teachings and righteousness (dharma) heavily associated with truth.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern social science perspective, the value of truth-telling in maintaining social cohesion and trust is well recognized. Lying has been shown to erode trust, reduce the effectiveness of communication, and harm relationships.

Thus, the advice given by Paul may have benefits that are supported by psychological and sociological research on trust and the health of interpersonal relationships and communities.

Commentaries

Contemporary biblical scholars and theologians bring various insights into Ephesians 4:25:

John Stott, an Anglican cleric, stressed the idea of 'speaking the truth in love' and the importance of truthfulness in building the Christian community.
N.T.

Wright, a New Testament scholar, often talks about how Paul's teachings relate to the transformational character of Christian life, which includes honesty and integrity.

F.F.

Bruce, a biblical scholar, commented on the broader context of the Epistle, noting that the exhortation to truthfulness is part and parcel of living as a new creation in Christ.

Each of these commentaries focuses on the transformative power of truth in the life of believers and the community as a whole.

Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4

What does Ephesians 4:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Ephesians Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Ephesians 4:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Ephesians Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?