{"id":62547,"date":"2026-09-25T13:41:43","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T11:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/?p=62547"},"modified":"2026-09-25T14:30:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T12:30:17","slug":"teachings-should-lead-somewhere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/teachings-should-lead-somewhere\/","title":{"rendered":"Teachings should lead somewhere"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”111635″]The fourth chapter of Ephesians begins the second part of this letter. The focus shifts. Paul picks up on the previous chapters. Based on what he has set out, he now moves forward. The teaching of the first chapters was meant to lead somewhere.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”204909″]The first verse of the new chapter reads:<\/p>\n

\u201cI encourage you then \u2013 I, the prisoner in the Lord, to walk worthy of the calling to which you were called.\u201d<\/em>
\nEph 4:1<\/p>\n

The word \u201cthen\u201d leads from the previous chapters over into this line. It also connects to them. It is as if the apostle were now introducing the logical consequence of what he has set out so far. That invites us to examine it and perhaps discover it.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h3″ text_size=”h3″ uncode_shortcode_id=”149310″]The prisoner in the Lord[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”519369″]Paul begins this chapter by pointing to himself. It is not about the communities, not about me and not about you either. First he says something about himself. Whereas he began the first chapter by introducing himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God (Eph 1:1), here he speaks of himself as the \u201cone bound in the Lord\u201d (interpreted in this article as “prisoner”). This is not directly about the authority God gave him for his task but about his present position as he sees it and the attitude in which he encourages the believers here.<\/p>\n

There are further differences between the beginning of the first and the fourth chapter. Here are some of them side by side:[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ back_color=”color-731465″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”593314″ back_color_type=”uncode-palette”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ back_color=”color-xsdn” overlay_alpha=”50″ shadow=”sm” shadow_darker=”yes” border_color=”color-xsdn” border_style=”solid” shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”196482″ back_color_type=”uncode-palette” border_color_type=”uncode-palette” css=”.vc_custom_1790326994655{border-right-width: 2px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h4″ text_size=”h4″ uncode_shortcode_id=”169670″]Chapter 1 [\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”432601″]1:1
\nPaul: Apostle of Christ Jesus [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”167597″]1:3-10
\nRepeated emphasis on \u201cin Christ\u201d, \u201cin Him\u201d etc. [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”126003″]1:3\u20263:21
\nTeaching at the center. Paul explains his message, reveals several “secrets,” and in this way builds up the communities. [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ back_color=”color-xsdn” overlay_alpha=”50″ shadow=”sm” shadow_darker=”yes” border_color=”color-xsdn” border_style=”solid” shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”907701″ back_color_type=”uncode-palette” border_color_type=”uncode-palette” css=”.vc_custom_1790327160457{border-left-width: 2px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h4″ text_size=”h4″ uncode_shortcode_id=”791412″]Chapter 4 [\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”114003″]4:1
\nPaul: Prisoner in the Lord[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”169642″]4:1
\nNew assessment with the words \u201cin the Lord\u201d. [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”124056″]4:1\u20266:24
\nWalk at the center. Paul describes where the teaching may lead and how that plays out in everyday life. [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h3″ text_size=”h3″ uncode_shortcode_id=”958536″]A change of position [\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”155911″]After Paul has introduced himself in the first verses of the letter, chapter four is no longer about that introduction. After three chapters, the readers know him. What begins in chapter four has a different ring to it. Here Paul does not put authority first but encourages the communities:<\/p>\n

\u201cI encourage you then \u2026 to walk worthy of the calling.\u201d<\/em>
\nEph 4:1<\/p>\n

This encouragement is not a command but rather an invitation to decide for oneself \u201cto walk worthy of the calling\u201d. He had set out the calling in detail in the first three chapters. For the first time, he placed the non-Jewish believers on an equal footing with the Jewish believers and made clear that we now all have \u201caccess in one Spirit to the Father\u201d (Eph 2:18). Now it is about the logical consequence of this teaching. Paul emphasized the calling (Eph 1:18) and now teaches that one should walk confirming this calling.<\/p>\n

The walk is to reflect the calling. That is how one can \u201cwalk worthy of the calling\u201d. Within the letter, then, Paul\u2019s position changes. First, in line with his commission, he proclaims what the calling contains. Now, however, he speaks from a different vantage point. As the \u201cone bound in the Lord\u201d, he addresses the communities with a request, namely \u201cto walk worthy\u2026\u201d This change of position will shape the following chapters.<\/p>\n

Put simply, one could therefore say that chapters 1 to 3 are about \u201cteaching\u201d, while chapters 4 to 6 concern the “practice” built on it. Both belong in one letter, and both belong together. This is worth noting, because quite a few communities place a clear emphasis on \u201cteaching\u201d, while others focus almost exclusively on \u201cwalk\u201d. One-sidedness is a problem. Teaching without a walk is just \u201ctalk\u201d. Likewise, those who pursue practice without a foundation tend to emphasize religious expectations with no liberating message behind them. [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”172180″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h3″ text_size=”h3″ uncode_shortcode_id=”366506″]Attitude to life [\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”178001″]The apostle invites us to pursue this walk with a particular basic attitude. He writes:<\/p>\n

\u201cI encourage you then \u2013 I, the one bound in the Lord, to walk worthy of the calling to which you were called, with all humility and meekness, with patience bearing with one another in love.\u201d<\/em>
\nEph 4:1-2<\/p>\n

Paul writes this to communities, and he means these believers within their fellowships. He tells them to shape their walk with humility, meekness and patience. That means not only that no one stands above anyone else, but that all meet one another with humility and meekness. Towards others, one should show patience, \u201cbearing with one another in love\u201d. Patience does not come automatically. That is why Paul mentions it here. The need to bear with one another patiently \u201cin love\u201d seems to come from his own experience. For years he had lived in communities. Patience is indispensable if you want to bear with your neighbour.<\/p>\n

Perhaps it can be seen like this: a group of people needs time to engage with one another or with new ideas. Many years ago I learned from a pastor how to apply this with care. I tended to be decisive in what I said and, once I saw the point of something, I could change course immediately. At the same time, I saw others resist straight away. I learned how important it is to give one another room to grow and adjust. [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”172180″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h4″ text_size=”h4″ uncode_shortcode_id=”129052″]Discuss [\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”200499″]<\/p>\n