Devine Scripture

Ephesians 4:6

What does Ephesians 4:6 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 4:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 4:6 means

At the summit stands one God and Father of all, sovereign over His people (“over all”), actively at work through them (“through all”), and present among them (“in all”). He is not distant or divided; His fatherly rule unifies the family. The phrases emphasize His supremacy, agency, and nearness. In context, “all” points to the whole community of believers whom the Father has adopted. This confession grounds unity in the character of God Himself. If there is one Father, His children ought to live together as a single household, honoring His rule, depending on His power, and enjoying His presence in the common life of the church.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

One God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

one God and Father of all, who <FI>is<Fi> over all, and through all, and in you all,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

oneGod and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all.

Context

This final statement completes the creed of oneness begun in verse 4. After one body, Spirit, hope (verse 4), and one Lord, faith, baptism (verse 5), Paul ascends to the ultimate source—one God and Father. With unity firmly grounded theologically, Paul will pivot in verse 7 to diversity within this unity: different measures of grace given by Christ. Thus, verses 4–6 secure the foundation, and verse 7 begins explaining how variety of gifts operates without undermining the oneness just affirmed.

v.5one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

v.6This passage

v.7But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 John 3:24

    And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.

  • Galatians 4:3

    So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:

  • John 17:26

    and I made known unto them thy name, and will make it known; that the love wherewith thou lovedst me may be in them, and I in them.

  • Ephesians 2:22

    in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

  • Daniel 4:34

    And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation;

  • Malachi 2:10

    Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?

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