Ephesians 4:2
“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”
King James Version (KJV)
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Ephesians 4 begins the letter's practical second half. After three chapters on what God has done, Paul turns to how believers should live, starting with the character that preserves unity (4:1-6).
What Does Ephesians 4:2 Mean?
Having urged his readers to walk worthy of their calling, Paul describes what that walk looks like in practice -- and it begins with humility. He names "lowliness and meekness," two qualities the surrounding culture often despised as weakness but which Scripture treats as strength under control. Lowliness is the honest, uninflated view of oneself; meekness is gentleness that does not need to dominate. Then comes "longsuffering," patience that endures with people over time rather than reacting quickly. These are not glamorous virtues, but they are the mortar that holds a community together.
The phrase that ties them up is "forbearing one another in love." To forbear is to bear with -- to put up with one another's faults, slowness, and rough edges, and to do it in love rather than mere tolerance. Paul is realistic: people living in close fellowship will rub against each other, and unity does not come automatically. It is built by humble, patient, loving people who choose to bear with one another instead of demanding their own way. For the reader, this verse turns large ideals into daily attitudes. Worthiness of the calling is not measured by grand gestures but by how we treat the ordinary people around us -- with gentleness, with patience, and with a love willing to absorb friction for the sake of peace.
In the Original Language
The Greek "tapeinophrosune" (lowliness) means humility of mind. "Praotes" (meekness) is gentleness, and "makrothumia" (longsuffering) is literally long-tempered patience.
Cross References
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
- Colossians 3:13
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
- Philippians 2:3
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”
- 1 Corinthians 13:4
Application
Practice patience with the difficult people closest to you. Choose to bear with their faults in love, knowing this humble work is how unity is actually built.