The Good Walk
A Study on Ephesians Chapter 4:1-4
You can know the wisdom of God…
“but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” 1 Cor 1:24 (NASB)
I encourage you to read Ephesians 4:1-4 for this post. It would also be valuable to read chapters 1-3 of course, which does give much context to what Paul writes in chapter 4.
The Set Up
Paul is the writer of the letter to the Ephesians, (Eph 1:1), and ancient Ephesus was a large city in what is now Turkey. It was a major center of trade and almost completely pagan, being the center of worship to the goddess Artemis of the Ephesians (Diana to the Romans) (See Acts 19:28). Paul apparently established the beginnings of a Christian church or community there on his 2nd missionary journey. On his 3rd missionary journey, he visited Ephesus again and stayed for about 2 years and 3 months, (see Acts 19:8, 10), fully establishing the Christian church in Ephesus on the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now, a number of years later, Paul was hearing rumors about this young church in Ephesus, that they were in danger of backsliding into paganism. They were in danger of returning to their “old way of life”, (Eph 4:22) after having been established in Christ through his preaching and striving mightily with them, convincing them of a better way, through life with Jesus Christ as their Savior.
So, Paul, being greatly alarmed by the news he is hearing of this church he planted in Ephesus, is writing to them to reiterate his previously espoused doctrines. Doctrines of “a better life” or “way”, that they have obtained through Christ, having overcome the lusts of the flesh and being now made alive in Christ, having been saved through faith, and not of works of the flesh. Works are the very tenant of paganism, and Paul was keen to write to this young church to remind them of their position and hope in Christ.
How You Walk
So, in chapter 4, verse 1, we read
“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,”
Now, when you are reading your Bible, whenever you read the word “walk”, pay very close attention. Read the text carefully and then reread it and the context in which it is written. In many cases, when the word “walk” is used by a writer, it is metaphorically referring to how one should or should not live their life.
For example, Psalm 1:1, the first part reads…
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,”
This is a clear example of how one should “not” walk. I hope this example is clear.
So, the Bible has much to say about walking. In fact, of all Bible characters, none are depicted as having walked as much as Jesus. Jesus exemplified how one should “walk” or “live” their life while on this earth. Walking was the primary means of transportation throughout Israel and the surrounding regions. Everyone did it. But it is how you walk that God is most interested in.
So what is Paul telling the Ephesian Christians here?
- Paul is urging them to “walk” in a certain manner or specific way.
- A way that is “worthy” of the calling with which they had been called.
- Paul wants them to remember they have been “CALLED”, (by God) and that this “CALLING” is from God.
- He is pleading with them to “walk” with God, instead of living a life apart from God.
- Paul is telling the Christians to focus on their “walk”.
We are looking at the concept of “walking”. Some specifics of the way we should walk will be mentioned, but we are looking specifically at verse1 and only touching on verse 2 and 3 for reference, since it does answer the question of what that walk looks like.
Paul gives the answer in verse 2 and 3…
2 “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Wow, do I walk that way? Do you walk that way? There is much to say about these qualities for walking in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. But for now, I would like to spend some time talking about the very first word used in verse 1. It happens to be one of my top ten favorite Bible words.
Say Please!
The Greek word Paul uses for the translated word “urge” is “παρακαλῶ”, pronounced par-rah-kaw-lõ, and would appear as “parakalo” using English letters.
I am sure that almost every person, regardless of nationality or language, is taught this word as one of the first to use when learning to speak, in their own language of course. In modern Greek, it’s the equivalent of the word “please”. At least informally. In Ancient Greek it indeed had the connotation of “urge” or “implore”, “beseech”, or “entreat”. It is a somewhat dramatic word that has urgency built in.
When I was a young man serving in the Navy, I had the great fortune to visit Greece many times. Once we were there for 2-3 months straight due to engine trouble with the ship I was stationed on. One of my favorite things to do was travel around Athens and the surrounding countryside by bus. On one occasion I was heading back into Athens from a rural area and knew the intersection where I wanted to get off was coming up. I reached up and pulled the cord that rings the bell, so the driver knows to stop and let someone off. Unfortunately, I heard no bell. I pulled it again. No sound at all. Now well past my stop, I was a bit perplexed as to what to do and thinking quickly as I could put the proper words together in Greek and yelled out “στάση εδώ παρακαλώ”, (Stop here, please!).
Those standing in the isle, along with those in their seats, braced themselves. The driver brought the bus to a stop before the next intersection. I politely thanked the driver and stepped off the bus, walking back to my stop.
Our Calling
Years later I learned from a Greek speaking friend of mine, the importance of that word to a Greek. You see, parakalo, is a compound word. It’s made up of two words, “para”, meaning “beside” or “alongside” and “kalo”, meaning “to call”. In ancient times, it was used to entreat another to lend a hand, to instruct, or to encourage someone. So, as you can see, it was really a calling. A calling to “walk” alongside another to console, encourage, comfort. You may say the driver of the bus that day was simply doing his job. But I know and choose to believe he felt the urgency (parakalo) of my calling out. He felt a deep sense of compassion and responded to someone needing help. In that brief moment, he came alongside, both the curb and myself, actually, to let me off the bus.
To me, Paul is making a play on words here, but in a serious, meaningful way. He is essentially saying to the Ephesian Christians, I am “calling” (parakalo) you to walk in a manner worthy of the “calling” (you received from God) with which you were “called” (by God Himself). The underlying meaning of the word parakalo, (implore, intreat, urge), would not be lost on the Ephesians since they spoke Greek. But they also knew that Paul was using that word to place further emphasis on the two following words in verse one, “calling” and “called”. They knew what Paul was “calling” them to do. They knew he was appealing to their sense of compassion and willingness to live their life in the way they were taught by Paul when he was there just a few years before. To leave their old life of selfishness and greed, their old walk, their old way, and walk a new walk, a new way. A way leading to life. To walk in the way Christ walked, just as Paul had taught them.
So, parakalo, and accept the call to come alongside another and lend a hand. Walk alongside giving support to your neighbor or friend, or the stranger you meet. Walk alongside another and be a friend. It is really a “way of life”, and it is “the way” Jesus modeled walking on this earth. Jesus invites or calls us to walk or live our lives in a way that is worthy of the calling with which we have been called. And make no mistake, you have been called. You have been directly called by God to walk with your neighbor or friend, son or daughter, mother or father, coworker or stranger, in a way that reveals Jesus and His character to a hurting world. Think about that a moment and let that really sink in. Then pray about it. If you don’t see yourself as currently being that type of walker, then ask God to give you that kind of heart.
It’s About How You Walk!
I would like to add one more level of complexity to all of this, with the intent to make it simple. In “modern” Greek the second half of the word parakalo, (“kalo”), generally means “well” or “good”. And so, I like to put it this way. The walk that Paul is calling Christians to, the walk that encompasses all that has been discussed above, is a “good walk”. It is a walk that considers others, that intuits the needs of family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and strangers. It is a walk of humility and gentleness. A walk of patience and bearing with one another in love. It is a walk that places the needs of others above your own. It is a walk like Jesus walked. It is a “good walk!”
My prayer for you, like Paul’s plea to the ancient Ephesian Christians is this. Parakalo! Please! I encourage you; I entreat you; I urge you; I invite you; I call you to walk the good walk. It is the walk that Jesus walked. It is the walk that Jesus wants to have with you. It is a walk that is worthy of the calling with which you have been called!