The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament (218 page)

4:9-10
A parenthetical explanation of how Jesus fulfills Ps 68. Interpretations differ over the meaning of
lower parts of the earth. (1)
Some view this expression as a reference to earth itself, to which Christ descended in his Incarnation (Jn 3:13).
(2)
Others take it to mean the underworld, to which Jesus descended on Holy Saturday before rising again on Easter Sunday. The second view is more likely correct in light of similar expressions in the Greek versions of Ps 63:9 and 139:15 that clearly refer to the underworld of the dead. In this case, Paul is stressing that Christ has charted the extremities of the cosmos, descending to its deepest depths in his Passion and rising above its highest heights at his Ascension. This is not simply a journey through space; rather, it is an expression of Christ's supreme humiliation and exaltation. • Several Church Fathers connected this verse with Christ's descent to the dead, in which he released the captive souls of the righteous and led them up to heaven (1 Pet 3:18-19; CCC 632-33). 
Back to text.

4:11 apostles . . .teachers:
Ecclesial ministries associated with the proclamation of the Word. These positions are established to promote unity in the Church by
(1)
preserving doctrinal purity,
(2)
warding off false teaching (4:14), and
(3)
sanctifying people in truth (Jn 17:17-19). These spokesmen of the gospel build up the Body of Christ when they bring believers from immaturity to spiritual adulthood (Eph 4:15; CCC 1575, 2003-4). Other ministerial graces are listed in Rom 12:68 and 1 Cor 12:4-11.
See note on 1 Cor 12:28
. 
Back to text.

4:15 speaking the truth:
Or, "doing the truth". By bracing ourselves with the truth, we can resist the wind and waves of false teaching that unsettle the faith of immature believers. Paul is urging readers to grow in their knowledge of Christ (1:17; 4:23; Rom 12:2); otherwise their minds will remain childish, underdeveloped, and vulnerable to dangerous novelties that are contrary to the gospel (Eph 4:14). Here and elsewhere Paul insists that
love
is the surest means to build up the Church (4:16; 1 Cor 8:1; 13:1-13). 
Back to text.

4:16 joined . . . growth:
The same Greek verbs, which here describe the unity and growth of a body, also appear in 2:21, where they describe the integrated construction of a temple. The double use of this language in Ephesians points to a close connection between "body" and "temple" in Pauline theology (see also 1 Cor 6:19). This connection originates with Jesus, whose human body was the temple of his divinity (Jn 2:1921). Applied to the living assembly of believers, it implies that the Church is a mystical extension of the Incarnation. 
Back to text.

4:17 walk as the Gentiles walk:
Believers must repudiate the behavior of pagans, whose minds are blind to gospel truth and whose wills are bent on evil rather than good. The same predicament of moral and intellectual depravity is outlined in Rom 1:18-32. 
Back to text.

4:24 put on:
Alludes to early liturgical practice in which catechumens were clothed in white robes immediately after Baptism. Metaphorically, Paul challenges us to put our baptismal commitments into practice by stripping off sinful habits (vices) and putting on the new garments of Christ (virtues) (Rom 13:14; Gal 3:27; CCC 1473). 
Back to text.

The Four Marks of the Church

Of all the epistles of Paul, none speaks more eloquently or extensively of the Church than Ephesians. This unique letter outlines the essential characteristics of the Church, which the ancient creeds summarized as "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic". The Church is
one
because she has one source, the Blessed Trinity, and is unified in her faith, worship, and leadership. The Church is
holy
because Christ has separated her from sin and consecrated her to the Father. The Church is
catholic
because she bears within herself the fullness of grace and she embraces all nations. The Church is
apostolic
because she was founded upon the apostles, she preserves their apostolic doctrine, and she perpetuates a direct line of apostolic succession that stretches back to those first appointed by Christ. Paul touches directly or indirectly upon each of these marks in Ephesians.

The Church is
one

"one Lord, one faith, one baptism"

(
Eph 4:5
)

The Church is
holy

"that she might be holy and
without blemish"

(
Eph 5:27
)

The Church is
catholic

"you [Gentiles] are fellow citizens with the
saints and members of the household of God"

(
Eph 2:19
)

The Church is
apostolic

"built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets"

(
Eph 2:20
)

4:25 putting away falsehood:
Words should be spoken to help others and build them up, not to harm them or beat them down. Speech that is careless, slanderous, vulgar, or untruthful threatens the unity of the Church (4:29; Mt 12:3637; Jas 3:1-12). The Lord despises a lying tongue (Prov 6:1617) (CCC 2475-86).
speak the truth:
An excerpt from Zech 8:16. • The prophet is urging his people to reform their lives, beginning with a renewed effort to use truthful and reliable speech. 
Back to text.

4:26 Be angry but do not sin:
Not all anger is sinful or harmful. Righteous indignation is an appropriate response to offenses committed against God (Ps 119:53; Mk 3:5). In the case of personal insults, we should strive for reconciliation with the offender before the day's end. Otherwise the rift will begin to widen as resentment, bitterness, and hatred consume us. • Paul is alluding to Ps 4:4, where the Psalmist calls us to examine our hearts in silence before going to bed. 
Back to text.

4:28 honest work:
Generosity is urged as appropriate reparation for thievery. Reformed burglars should now work to provide for themselves and also for others in need (Lk 3:11; Acts 20:35) (CCC 2444, 2487). 
Back to text.

4:30 grieve the Holy Spirit:
A warning to avoid sin and the occasions that lead to it. Paul is thinking primarily of destructive speech that disrupts unity and fellowship in the body of Christ (4:29, 31). Theologically, this comment confirms the "Personhood" of the Spirit, since only a person can be saddened or insulted by the faults of another. • Paul is alluding to Is 63:10, where the Prophet recalls how the Exodus generation of Israel grieved the Spirit by grumbling against the Lord and Moses in the wilderness.
day of redemption:
I.e., the day when our bodies will be redeemed at the general resurrection (Rom 8:23). 
Back to text.

4:32 forgiving:
We thank God for his mercy by showing mercy to others (Mt 6:14-15; 18:23-35; CCC 2842). 
Back to text.

5:1 imitators of God:
A challenge to love as God loves and to forgive as God has forgiven us (Mt 5:44-48; Lk 6:36; CCC 1694). 
Back to text.

5:2 gave himself up:
Jesus died as a priest who made his life a willing sacrifice. Paul explains this in cultic terms drawn from the OT. • Just as the priests of biblical history burned animals upon altars as a pleasing aroma to the Lord (Gen 8:20-21; Ex 29:18), so Jesus offered himself on the Cross as an ascending sacrifice of love to the Father (Heb 7:26-27; 10:8-10). We share in Christ's priestly ministry by offering to the Father acceptable sacrifices of our time, talents, and treasures in the liturgy of everyday life (Rom 12:1; 2 Cor 2:15) (CCC 614). 
Back to text.

5:3 immorality:
The Greek expression refers to fornication or sexual misconduct. Christians are forbidden to practice, think about, speak about, or even joke about such obscenities (5:4, 12). Christ has erected a high standard of chastity that restricts all sexual activity to the private quarters of lawful marriage (Heb 13:4). 
Back to text.

5:5 an idolater:
Any time we love and desire the world more than we love God, we make it an idol (Mt 6:24). The equation between covetousness and idolatry is also made in Col 3:5.
has any inheritance:
Sins of impurity are so grave that sexual offenders risk forfeiting heaven altogether. So unless the transgressor repents, he will perish with his illicit pleasures when "the wrath of God comes" at the Last Judgment (5:6). Notice that Paul is warning believers of this danger, implying that salvation, once attained, can still be lost (CCC 1861, 2351-59). 
Back to text.

5:14 Awake, O sleeper:
Possibly an excerpt from an ancient baptismal hymn. It resonates with the surrounding themes of light, symbolic of purity and truth, and darkness, symbolic of sin and ignorance (5:7-13). The summons to
arise from the dead
is a call to break away from the sinful world and live as children of light (5:7-8; 2 Cor 6:14) (CCC 1695). 
Back to text.

5:16 making the most:
Paul urges us to make prudent use of our time by seizing every opportunity to do good. Although we cannot lengthen time or add to our span of life, we can discipline ourselves to use our time more wisely and to fill it more fully (Col 4:5). 
Back to text.