Ephesians Part 17
In verses 2–3, he writes, “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” These qualities are not external acts alone but inner dispositions, the fruit of a life shaped by God’s Spirit. They reflect the very nature of Christ and form the foundation for unity within His Body, the Church.
Paul continues his appeal by describing how we are to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.” He begins with our hearts, the spirit and attitude that must characterize our journey with God and our relationships with one another. In verses 2–3, he writes, “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” These qualities are not external acts alone but inner dispositions, the fruit of a life shaped by God’s Spirit. They reflect the very nature of Christ and form the foundation for unity within His Body, the Church.
Paul begins with lowliness, humility of the heart. In the culture of his time, humility was not considered a virtue but a weakness. The Greek word for “humility” was used in a negative sense, describing someone abject, servile, or lacking dignity. These are traits that are usually despised in a proud, status-driven world. Yet, in Christ, these very qualities are transformed into strengths. Jesus turned the world’s values upside down by blessing the “poor in spirit” in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3), declaring that theirs is the kingdom of heaven. True lowliness is not self-hatred, nor is it weakness; it is the recognition that all we have comes from God, and therefore there is no room for pride.
Lowliness acknowledges the worth and value of others. It sees every person regardless of gender, race or social status, as created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Wherever Christianity has thrived, this principle has lifted the status of women, protected the vulnerable, and affirmed the dignity of all people. Pride divides and destroys, but humility unites. As John Stott observed, “Pride lurks behind all discord.” Every conflict, every fracture in relationships or churches, has its roots in some form of pride—a refusal to yield, to forgive, or to consider another’s good before our own.
The companion virtue to lowliness is gentleness which is often translated “meekness.” In Scripture, meekness does not mean weakness; it means strength under control. A useful image is that of a Clydesdale horse, whose immense power is guided by restraint. These massive animals can weigh over 2,000 pounds and pull four times their own weight, yet they are trained to respond to the lightest touch of the reins. Without control, their power would be dangerous and destructive, but when harnessed, it becomes purposeful and productive.
Jesus Himself embodied this spirit. He described Himself as “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). Though He possessed all authority in heaven and on earth, He never used it for selfish gain. His strength was always tempered by compassion, His power governed by patience. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:38–48), Jesus taught the “spirit of the law”—the deeper intent behind God’s commands. He told His followers to turn the other cheek, to go the extra mile, to love their enemies, and to give more than was asked. Such teaching calls us beyond natural reaction into spiritual transformation. To respond with gentleness in the face of provocation, and humility in the face of offense, is to walk as Christ walked.
Paul then adds longsuffering, which is patience that endures. This is the ability to bear with others’ faults and weaknesses without resentment. It is one of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), and it reflects the very nature of God, who is “slow to anger and abounding in mercy (Psalm 103:8).” This patience is not something we muster on our own; it is formed in us as we yield to God and allow His Spirit to work. As Paul writes in Colossians 3:12–13, we are to “put on… kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another.”
And over all these virtues, Paul says in Colossians 3:14, “put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” Love (agapē) is the crowning quality that completes all the rest. It is not a fleeting emotion but an act of will, a reflection of God’s own character. It is totally unselfish, seeking the good of others regardless of personal cost. Jesus said,
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
As Gary Petty has said in his teachings on agapē, this kind of love is shaped by the Spirit and is the highest expression of Christian maturity. It is the “sum of all virtues,” as 1 Corinthians 13 so beautifully describes.
In verse 3, Paul emphasizes that these attitudes are not optional; they are essential to maintaining unity within the body of Christ.
“Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
The word endeavoring implies effort, diligence and persistence. Unity does not happen automatically—it requires humility, patience, tolerance and a willingness to suffer wrong without retaliation. It takes work to maintain peace in families, congregations and communities. As anyone who is part of a family knows, small irritations and misunderstandings can test our character. Yet when we keep our eyes on the larger vision, the eternal family God is building, those petty issues fade into proper perspective. Mature believers learn to minimize offenses rather than magnify them, to overlook small wrongs for the sake of greater harmony.
Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 3:1–3 remind us that divisions and strife are marks of spiritual immaturity. The Corinthian Church, though rich in gifts, was still carnal because of envy and quarreling. Likewise, Hebrews 5:12 describes believers who should have been teachers but still needed “milk” because they had not matured in understanding. True spiritual maturity produces peace, not contention.
Paul calls this unity “the bond of peace.” A bond ties things together—it holds members in relationships, even under pressure. Peace, then, is not simply the absence of conflict; it is the active presence of harmony, order and goodwill. To keep this bond, pride must die. Proverbs 13:10 declares, “By pride comes nothing but strife.” Only humility can preserve unity. Philippians 2:1–5 exhorts us to have “the same mind” as Christ, who, though equal with God, humbled Himself and became a servant. His example dismantles pride at its root and calls us to the same submission and selflessness.
In contrast, Satan works relentlessly to destroy unity. He divides what God joins, disrupts what God builds, and sows seeds of discontent, discord and disillusionment. Where God binds together in peace, the adversary seeks to loosen and scatter. His tools are pride, envy, suspicion and offense. The antonyms of peace, like hatred, conflict, turmoil, strife, rebellion and confusion, all flow from his influence. But the Spirit of God produces the opposite: harmony, gentleness, patience and unity.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
