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and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
  • KJV Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
  • NKJV endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
  • NASB being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
  • NLT Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Believers are to be eager to maintain the Spirit's unity in the bond of peace. It calls Christians to guard the unity God has given.

Overview

Paul urges diligence in 'keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.' This unity is not something Christians create but something the Spirit gives, which they must earnestly preserve. Peace is the bond that holds it together, making the humility and patience of verse 2 indispensable to the church's life.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 11

  • 1 Cor 1:10I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.
  • Col 3:13–15Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
  • 1 Cor 12:12–13The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.
  • Rom 14:17–19For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
  • John 13:34A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
  • Heb 12:14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
  • 2 Cor 13:11Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
  • John 17:21–23that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
  • Jas 3:17–18But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
  • 1 Th 5:13In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
  • Eph 4:4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Ephesians videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Ephesians 4:3YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on EphesiansMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Every spiritual blessing is 'in Christ,' the head over all things for the church, in whom Jew and Gentile are made one new man by his blood.

How Ephesians 4:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.