Ephesians 4

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Naming Endeavouring keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“One Lord, one faith, one baptism,” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)” The line’s distinctive content terms include ascended, descended, fill. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” The line’s distinctive content terms include some, apostles, evangelists. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the…” Naming Christ keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include carried, children, craftiness. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Naming Christ keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include body, compacted, edifying. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of…” Naming Gentiles keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because…” Naming Having keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” The line’s distinctive content terms include feeling, greediness, lasciviousness. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But ye have not so learned Christ;” Naming Christ keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;” The line’s distinctive content terms include concerning, conversation, corrupt. Its relationship to verses 21 and 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” The line’s distinctive content terms include mind, renewed, spirit. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” The line’s distinctive content terms include angry, wrath. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Neither give place to the devil.” Naming Neither keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he…” The line’s distinctive content terms include good, hands, labour. Its relationship to verses 27 and 29 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may…” The line’s distinctive content terms include communication, corrupt, edifying. Its relationship to verses 28 and 30 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” The verse names God and Spirit rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:” The line’s distinctive content terms include anger, bitterness, clamour. Its relationship to verses 30 and 32 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.