thinking bible.

You asked

how does this call for 'unity of the spirit' relate to the Jewish concept of shalom or peace?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Ephesians 4:3

being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The Apostle Paul is writing to believers in Ephesus, likely in the mid-first century CE, while he is imprisoned. In this section, he urges them to live in a way that matches the calling they have received, emphasizing humility, gentleness, patience, and love as foundations for their shared life.

How might cultivating inner dispositions like humility and patience contribute to a broader sense of peace and unity in our communities?

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

  • Colossians 3:12-15

    This passage similarly encourages virtues like compassion, kindness, humility, and patience, culminating in 'the peace of Christ' ruling in their hearts.

  • Psalm 133:1

    This psalm celebrates the goodness and pleasantness when people live together in unity, illustrating its value in ancient Israel.

  • Galatians 3:28

    Paul speaks of a new unity in Christ that transcends traditional social and ethnic divisions.

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