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how does this idea of unity in christ relate to or diverge from old testament ideas of covenant identity?

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Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Ephesians 4:1-6

“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 diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.”

The Apostle Paul, writing from prison, urges believers in Ephesus (a city in Asia Minor) to live in a way that reflects their new identity and calling in Jesus. Chapters 1-3 lay out theological foundations for this new identity, particularly the inclusion of Gentiles alongside Jews; chapter 4 begins to detail the practical implications for their common life.

What does 'keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace' look like in your relationships today?

Then — the setting

Paul likely wrote the letter to the Ephesians around 60-62 AD, while imprisoned in Rome or possibly Caesarea. The audience was a mix of Jewish and Gentile believers in Ephesus, a prominent city known for its temple to Artemis. The letter aims to solidify their understanding of the church as a unified body, overcoming the ancient social and religious divisions, particularly between Jews and Gentiles, which were significant cultural realities. Paul's emphasis on unity was not merely theological, but a call for practical reconciliation within the early Christian communities, challenging their ingrained identities and prejudices.

Across the Testaments

This passage, from the New Testament, speaks of a new kind of unity 'in Christ,' transcending traditional ethnic and social boundaries. The Old Testament established covenant identity primarily through shared ancestry (descendants of Abraham), adherence to the Mosaic Law, and participation in specific rituals (like circumcision). While the Old Testament emphasized the 'one God' (Deuteronomy 6:4) and a unified people (Israel), it also clearly defined insiders and outsiders. The New Testament, particularly through Paul, redefines this covenant identity, arguing that 'in Christ,' both Jews and Gentiles are made one new humanity, united by 'one Spirit,' 'one faith,' and 'one baptism,' rather than by ethnic lineage or adherence to the Mosaic Law. This represents a significant shift from an ethnocentric, law-based identity to a Christocentric, Spirit-driven unity, while still upholding the foundational monotheism.

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Read alongside it

  • Deuteronomy 6:4

    This verse emphasizes the oneness of God, a foundational concept for Israel's covenant identity.

  • Galatians 3:28

    Paul speaks of the dissolution of traditional identity markers (Jew/Greek, slave/free, male/female) in Christ, pointing to a new kind of unity.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

    Paul uses the analogy of the body to describe unity in diversity within the Christian community, all empowered by one Spirit.

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