The fourth chapter of Ephesians moves from a call to preserve unity to a picture of a community growing through different gifts and a changed way of life. Its fourth verse names one body, one Spirit, and one hope as foundations of that unity.
The complete chapter
The following is the King James Version (KJV), a public-domain translation, reproduced from Bible Gateway. In the Bible, Ephesians 4 begins with an appeal to live in a manner worthy of the calling its readers have received.
- 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.
How the chapter unfolds
The chapter joins belief to conduct. The opening appeal asks for humility, patience, and forbearance: the willingness to bear with other people in love. These qualities give practical form to the effort to keep peace. In chapter 4 of Ephesians, the repeated word “one” then names what the community shares, including faith and baptism.
The next movement turns to gifts. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers have roles in equipping the saints, or members of the faithful, for ministry and building up Christ’s body. The body image presents growth as a shared work: each part contributes, and the whole is joined to Christ as its head. Mature faith is described as steadier than a child blown about by changing teachings.
The latter half of the Bible’s fourth chapter of Ephesians calls for a renewed mind and a new way of living. The KJV’s “conversation” in verse 22 refers to conduct or manner of life. The instructions that follow give that change visible form: tell the truth, work so there is something to share, speak in ways that build others up, and practice kindness and forgiveness. Even the warning about anger addresses what happens when resentment is allowed to continue.
Ephesians 4:4 and the meaning of one body
Ephesians 4:4 places the image of one body beside one Spirit and one hope. In this passage the body describes the Christian community in relation to Christ, an image developed further in verses 12–16. The Spirit and the hope of the calling connect its members to a shared source of life and a shared future.
The fourth verse of Ephesians 4 sits within a longer sequence: verses 5–6 add one Lord, faith, baptism, and God and Father. Its claim about unity follows the instruction in verses 1–3 to act with humility and patience. Read together, the statements give a reason for that conduct and a standard for how members treat one another. The distinct gifts listed later show how different work can serve the same body.
The emphasis on truth also gives the call to unity a practical edge. The chapter asks its readers to speak truthfully because they belong to one another, and to let their words help those who hear them. The passage connects the health of the community with ordinary choices about speech, work, and forgiveness. Its vision of maturity includes both reliable teaching and the care members show one another in daily life.
What should a reader study next?
Read the fourth verse in Ephesians alongside verses 11–16. The first names the shared body; the later passage shows its members contributing to its growth in love.
