Fathers

Ephesians 4

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I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all, and in us all. But to each one of us, the grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to people.” Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ, from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts. They, having become callous, gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you didn’t learn Christ that way, if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. Therefore putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another. “Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, and don’t give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, producing with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need. Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

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What the Fathers say

Ephesians 4:13

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

By "stature" here he means perfect "knowledge"; for as a man will stand firmly, whereas children are carried about and waver in mind, so is it also with believers. "To the unity," saith he, "of the faith." That is, until we shall be shown to have all one faith: for this is unity of faith, when we all are one, when we shall all alike acknowledge the common bond. Till then thou must labor to this end. If for this thou hast received a gift, that thou mightest edify others, look well that thou overturn not thyself, by envying another. …

Homily on Ephesians 11 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Until then, he says, all of us who have received gifts must act, labor, and build up, until we come to the unity of the faith, that is, until we all appear as having one faith, not differing in doctrines and having no disagreement among ourselves in matters concerning life. For then there will be true unity of the faith, then we will know the Son of God, when we hold right opinion in the matter of teaching and preserve the bond of love. For Christ is love. …

Commentary on Ephesians ↗

Theodoret of Cyrus

In the future life we shall attain perfection. But in the present life we need all the help we can get from the apostles, the prophets and our teachers.

Interpretation of the Epistle to the Ephesians 4.13 ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

We must ask: Who are the all whom he speaks of "coming together in the unity of faith"? Does he mean all the people of God or all saints? Or rather all who are capable of reason? He seems to me to be speaking of all the people of God because there are so "many winds of doctrine" blowing about them. When these blasts and billows are aroused, people in general are carried here and there by diverse errors, uncertain of their course.

Commentary on Ephesians 4:13 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

He goes on to discuss the ultimate fruit of the Church's preaching which can be understood in two ways. One sees it as touching on the absolutely ultimate effect: the resurrection of the saints. In this perspective two facts are asserted. First is the spiritual and corporeal convergence of all who have risen. The physical convergence will consist in this, that all the saints will be drawn together toward Christ: "Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together" (Mt. 24:28). …

Commentary on Ephesians ↗

Bonaventure

The bodies of all human beings will rise in the general resurrection, with no difference among them as to the order of time, but a great difference as to the order of dignity. For the wicked will rise with their deformities and punishments, miseries and defects, which they had in the state of wayfare. …

Breviloquium, Part 7 ↗