Bible Commentaries

I therefore, &c. Here the apostle resumes what be had begun to say at the commencement of the last chapter.--The vocation; the calling.

The unity of the Spirit; spiritual union and harmony.

One body; meaning the church, that is, the community of believers.

One Lord; one Savior.--One faith; one system of revealed truth.--One baptism; one Christian profession.

Psalms 68:18.

Into the lower parts of the earth; into the grave.

The meaning is, that he has endued his ministers with a diversity of talents and qualifications. We are not probably to understand these expressions as referring to so many distinct and specific offices. The powers exercised by the leading members of the early church, were not well defined, and marked, and systematically arranged, as official duties generally are in modern times. They varied with circumstances and with the personal character of the individuals who exercised them; as is every where implied in the different allusions to this subject which occur.

The body of Christ; the church.

The sleight; the skilfulness.

From whom; by whose power.--According to, &c.; that is, each part performing its own special and proper function.

The old man; the former evil character.

We are members, &c.; we are bound together as members of one body.

Be ye angry, &c.; never let the feeling of displeasure at sin or injustice become unholy anger.--Let not the sun, &c.; be always ready to pass over and forgive offences, instead of harboring lasting resentment.

That is, never yield to any temptation to sin.

Minister grace; be the means of promoting grace.

Whereby ye are sealed; that is, which is the pledge and earnest of redemption.