Ephesians chapter 4

*This chapter is often called the unity chapter. After having told the readers that the Jews and Gentiles are now one family in christ Jesus, Paul asks that they act like it. They are to be humble, patient, and loving, making every effort to be peacefully united.

*Verses 4-6 are often repeated as a doctrinal statement. There is one body, not two. There is one spirit, one hope, one lord, one faith, one baptism, one god and father. There are not separate versions of these for Jews and Gentiles.

*Next we are told grace has been gven to us as christ apportioned it. (But what exactly is grace?) This is why it (?) says "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." This  is said refer to the ascension of Christ and his gift of spiritual gifts, such as gifts of apostleship, prophecy, evangelism, and teaching ability. The author is quoting Psalm 68:16 but rewording it. That verse in Psalms says,"When YOU ascended on high, YOU led captives in YOUR train; YOU RECEIVED gifts FROM men." (Capitals to stress the differences in the two passages.) In Psalms, this verse is directed to Yahweh and refers to Yahweh ascending to his mountaintop sanctuary in the land of Canaan, supposedly where the temple in Jerusalem was eventually situated, on Mount Zion. There, gifts were not given to men but received from men. The passage in Psalms originally had nothing whatever to do with Jesus.

*The aforementioned gifts were supposedly given to prepare god's people for works of service "so that the body of christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the son of god and become mature." Well. It's been two thousand years and unity still hasn't been accomplished. There are still separations between Jews and Gentiles, not to mention the thousands of christian denominations that exist, each thinking it is the one true church.

*Verse 14. On this amazing day of unity we will be grown up christians, each part of the body of christ doing the work it is supposed to do. Not like infants who are decieved by the teachings of cunning, crafty, and deceitful men. We will all speak the truth in love. Does that mean telling people they will go to hell if they don't believe all this stuff?