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You asked

how does this idea of unity compare with jesus' teachings about community and belonging?

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

Ephesians 4:1-3

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love; being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The apostle Paul, writing from prison, urges the early Christian communities in Ephesus to live in a way that matches the high calling they have received from God. After detailing God's grand plan in the first three chapters, he now shifts to practical instructions for how they should live together.

What does 'eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace' mean for how we approach disagreements within our communities today?

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Read alongside it

  • John 17:20-23

    Jesus prays for his followers' unity, mirroring the divine unity.

  • Philippians 2:1-4

    Paul encourages humility and considering others above oneself for the sake of unity.

  • Romans 15:5-7

    Paul calls for unity in mind and voice, welcoming one another as Christ welcomed them.

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