There is one body
The phrase "one body" refers to the unity of the Church, the body of Christ. In Greek, the word for "body" is "sōma," which emphasizes the physical and spiritual unity of believers. Historically, the early Church faced divisions, but Paul emphasizes that despite diverse backgrounds, all believers are united as one entity in Christ. This unity is not just organizational but spiritual, reflecting the interconnectedness of all members as parts of a single organism.

and one Spirit
The "one Spirit" refers to the Holy Spirit, who indwells and empowers believers. The Greek word "pneuma" is used here, signifying breath or wind, symbolizing life and divine presence. The Holy Spirit is the source of unity and the one who enables believers to live out their calling. In the historical context of Ephesus, a city known for its diverse religious practices, Paul’s emphasis on one Spirit underscores the exclusivity and sufficiency of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church.

just as you were called
The phrase "just as you were called" highlights the divine initiative in the believer's life. The Greek word "kaleō" means to call or invite, indicating that God is the one who initiates the relationship with believers. This calling is not based on human merit but on God’s grace. Historically, this calling was a radical concept, as it included both Jews and Gentiles, breaking down ethnic and cultural barriers.

to one hope
"One hope" refers to the future expectation of eternal life and the fulfillment of God’s promises. The Greek word "elpis" denotes a confident expectation, not a wishful thinking. This hope is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of His return. In the early Church, this hope was a source of encouragement and perseverance amidst persecution and trials, reminding believers of their ultimate destiny.

when you were called
The repetition of "called" emphasizes the certainty and purpose of God’s invitation. The calling is both an event and a process, beginning with conversion and continuing throughout the believer’s life. This calling is to live a life worthy of the gospel, reflecting the character and mission of Christ. Historically, this calling set the early Christians apart in their conduct and community life, serving as a witness to the transformative power of the gospel.

(4) There is one body, and one Spirit.--The words "There is" are not in the original, which starts with a striking abruption, and with that terse concentration of thought and word which marks out an embryo creed.

The "one body" is the Body of Christ, "from whom it is fitly framed, joined together, and compacted," so that in every part "it grows up into Him." But this communion with God in Christ being "the life eternal," the Holy Ghost, by making it effectual alike to the Church and to the individual soul, is the "Lord and Giver of Life." Hence, His presence is spoken of as being to the body of Christ what the spirit is to the natural body--the uniting and vivifying power for all its members. Under the same idea we have (in 1Corinthians 12:13), as a description of the first entrance into the Church of Christ, "By one Spirit are we all baptised into one body . . . and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

Even as ye are (or rather, were) called in one hope of your calling.--The connection, though not at first obvious, is clear on consideration. Since the grace of the Holy Spirit is not only the "seal" of regeneration, but also the "earnest" (Ephesians 1:14) of future perfection, the mention of the one Spirit suggests naturally the "hope of our calling" (i.e., the perfect unity of heaven). In this, in spite of all natural and spiritual inequalities, and in spite even of our divisions and strifes upon earth, all Christians are still actually one. Hence the communion of saints is perhaps most clearly realised in the times of high spiritual aspiration, and in the near presence of death.

Verses 4-6. - WHEREIN UNITY CONSISTS - SEVEN PARTICULARS. There is one body (see Ephesians 2:16). The Church is an organic whole, of which believers are the members, and Christ the Head, supplying the vitalizing power: The real body, being constituted by vital union with Christ, is not synonymous with any single outward society. One Spirit; viz. the Holy Spirit, who alone applies the redemption of Christ, and works in the members of the Church the graces of the new creation. As ye also were called in one hope of your calling. This is one of the re-suits of the Spirit's work; when the Spirit called you he inspired you all with one hope, and this one hope was involved in the very essence of your calling (comp. Titus 2:13, "Looking for the blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ"). To all believers the Spirit imparted this one blessed hope. One Lord; Jesus Christ, unique and beyond comparison: as Teacher, all hang on his words; as Master, all own his supreme authority; to his example all refer as the standard; his likeness all covet as the highest excellence (where Mary is worshipped, though nominally you have but one Lord, virtually you have two). One faith; not objective in the sense of creed, but as denoting the one instrument of receiving salvation (Ephesians 2:8), the one belief in the one Savior by which we are justified, adopted, and in other ways blessed. One baptism. One initiatory rite admitting into the visible Church - baptism in name of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, symbolic of the washing of regeneration, the one way of entering the Church invisible. One God and Father of all. We rise now to the fountain of Godhead, the one supreme Being with whom all have to do, the only Being who is or can be the Father of us all; who can be to us what is implied in the name "Father," who, so love and grace can satisfy our hearts. Who is over all; the supreme and only Potentate, exercising undivided jurisdiction, "doing according to his will in the armies of heaven." etc. And through all; pervading the whole universe, sustaining and ruling it, not dwelling apart from his works, but pervading them; not, however, in any pantheistical sense, but as a personal God, whose essence is separate from his works. And in all. A closer and more abiding influence; he dwells in them, and walks in them, molding their inner being, and filling them with his own light and love. Some commentators of mark have tried to find a reference to each of the persons of the Godhead in the three prepositions over, through, and by, but this seems a strained view. The three persons, however, appear clearly in the seven elements of unity, but, as before (Ephesians 3:16-19), in the reverse of the common order - first, the Spirit; second, the Son; and third, the Father. These seven elements constitute the true rarity of the Church. It is out of the question to identify the Church which is thus one, with any external organization like the Roman Catholic Church. How many millions have been connected with it who have notoriously been destitute of the one hope, the one Spirit, the one Father! It is of the invisible Church the apostle speaks, and his exhortation is, seeing that this blessed sevenfold unity is the unity wrought by the Holy Spirit, maintain that unity; maintain the manifestation of it; give no occasion to any one to say that there is no such unity - that the Holy Ghost is a Spirit of confusion and not a Spirit of order and unity.

Parallel Commentaries ...


[There is] one
ἓν (hen)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

body
σῶμα (sōma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4983: Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

one
ἓν (hen)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

Spirit,
Πνεῦμα (Pneuma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.

just as
καθὼς (kathōs)
Adverb
Strong's 2531: According to the manner in which, in the degree that, just as, as. From kata and hos; just as, that.

you were called
ἐκλήθητε (eklēthēte)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2564: (a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name. Akin to the base of keleuo; to 'call'.

to
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

one
μιᾷ (mia)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

hope
ἐλπίδι (elpidi)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1680: Hope, expectation, trust, confidence. From a primary elpo; expectation or confidence.

[when]
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

you
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

were called;
κλήσεως (klēseōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2821: A calling, invitation; in the NT, always of a divine call. From a shorter form of kaleo; an invitation.


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NT Letters: Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit (Ephes. Eph. Ep)