Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. — Ephesians 4:2, NIV

Ephesians 4:2 comes from a collection of Bible verses all about unity and maturity in the body of Christ. Written by the apostle Paul, it’s a critical piece of a letter written not just to the Church of the time but to all of us today. Let’s explore this powerful message, together.

What’s Happening in Ephesians 4?

To understand Ephesians 4:2, we need to understand the context surrounding it. Ephesians 4 is a letter written by the apostle Paul, who was imprisoned at the time, to the church in Ephesus.

Ephesus was a city known for pagan worship. But it was also a hub of ministry for the early Church. Many people came to know Jesus in Ephesus through the work of the church Paul helped establish in the city.

Unity Despite Our Differences

Think about how unique the people of the church must’ve been as it grew. People from all backgrounds were coming to know Jesus, even those who had once worshipped Greek and Roman gods.

The growing church was a tapestry of God’s people — both Jew and Gentile, each a different thread but all part of a larger masterpiece. And in Ephesians 4, Paul encourages the people of the church to come together in unity despite their differences. After all, they’re all part of the body of Christ.

Photo by: Fernando Sinacay

Paul’s letter is still relevant to us today. As followers of Jesus, while we may go to different churches or come from different walks of life, we’re all part of the same body. And Ephesians 4:2 discusses a critical way we can walk together in unity.

Ephesians 4:2 Meaning: Breaking Down the Scripture

Now that we have context around Ephesians 4, let’s break Ephesians 4:2 down further by studying each key word in its original written language of Greek.

Humble, Gentle & Patient

• Humble: The Greek word for “humble” in this Scripture is tapeinophrosune. (It’s okay — we can’t pronounce it either). It translates to “humiliation of mind” or “modesty.” In other words, it means to avoid thinking of yourself as better, smarter, more talented or even more important than others.

• Gentle: “Gentle” in this verse is praotēs in Greek, which translates to meekness or mildness. It means having a calm and steady spirit, exercising your strength or authority but doing so with control. Gentleness doesn’t mean “weak.” Instead, it means strength under control and used for the benefit of others, not the absence of it.

• Patient: This word is makrothumia or “longanimity.” That’s a fancy word that simply means being patient for the long haul or “long-suffering.” To be patient is to remain calm and avoid anger or frustration, even in trying times.

Bearing With One Another in Love

• Bearing: In this verse, “bearing” is anechomai in Greek. It means “to hold up” or “put up with.” It can also mean to endure, forbear or suffer. To bear with someone means to endure with them, even when it’s tough. Have you ever heard someone say, “Bear with me?” Typically, this means, “Be patient with me.” That’s the basis of anechomai too.

• Love: There are several Greek words for “love” in the Bible. However, in this context, the Greek word is agape. That’s important because agape love is unconditional and sacrificial — the kind of love God has for us.

Putting It All Together

This all paints a beautiful picture of unity within the Church. Paul’s letter instructs us to put others first, be calm but strong and help with our words, not hurt.

When times get tough, we must stick beside one another, no matter how long it takes. We must endure together with no strings attached and seek the well-being of those around us instead of focusing only on ourselves.

Photo by: Luke Tembo

Ephesians 4:2 & the Fruit of the Spirit

Some of those words, like “love” and “gentleness,” may sound familiar. And that might be because you’ve heard them talked about in another of Paul’s letters: Galatians.

In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit, or the actions we take and qualities we embody when moved by the Holy Spirit. And it’s significant that some of those fruits are called out in Ephesians, a letter about unity in the body of Christ.

To truly unite with other followers of Jesus around us, we must do so by following the Holy Spirit. Only then can we truly be patient and gentle with others, bearing with them and showing them unconditional love.

Ephesians 4:2 Lived Out Through the Local Church

At Compassion, we get to see real living examples of Ephesians 4:2 every day through our local church partners. In our ministry, we believe the unified Church is God’s instrument to advance his kingdom. That’s why we only partner with churches in impoverished communities, equipping them to care for children in need.

These local churches invite children in, teaching them about Jesus while offering warm meals, medical care, education, protection from abuse and encouragement. They embody Ephesians 4:2 by being:

• Humble, reaching more children in poverty each day yet expecting no recognition.

• Gentle, encouraging children while spurring them on toward a better future.

• Patient to bear with children despite their hardships, walking alongside them and their families as they journey out of poverty.

• Full of unconditional and sacrificial love, giving generously of their resources to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.

Compassion empowers this work, helping unify local churches across the globe to care for 2.4 million children across 29 countries (and counting). Their dedication to bearing with one another in love is changing lives, families and communities.

Innocent, a Compassion program implementer in Malawi, teaches a group of children and mothers outside of a Compassion center. Photo by: Luke Tembo