Bible Strands
Ephesians 4:1
As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received:
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul, writing from imprisonment, addresses the Ephesian church at the hinge between his doctrinal argument (chs. 1–3) and his practical instructions (chs. 4–6). The οὖν ("therefore") marks this as the conclusion drawn from everything that precedes it.
The words — δέσμιος (desmios) is the strong noun "prisoner," the same word Paul uses for his own chains in Philippians and Philemon; it is not a softened "imprisoned" but the concrete status of a man in custody.
The thread — The "walk worthy of" formula recurs in Colossians 1:10 (worthy of the Lord), Philippians 1:27 (worthy of the gospel), and 1 Thessalonians 2:12 (worthy of God), each tying conduct to the object of the calling.
Why it lands — It does not ask the reader to earn the calling but to act in proportion to it; the gap between what they have received and how they live is the problem Paul is naming.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Cross-references
- Colossians 1:10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
- Philippians 1:27 Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending together as one for the faith of the gospel,
- 1 Thessalonians 2:12 encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.
- 2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
- 1 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
- 2 Timothy 1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:11 To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith,
- Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
- Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.