Ephesians 4:32 32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
After giving this list of things to avoid in attitude and action, Paul shifts to attributes that the Ephesians should develop. Kind (chrēstoi) has a strong moral sense of being good which shows up in benevolent actions. This is an attribute of the Lord (1 Peter 2:3) and so should be something we imitate. Instead of pulling someone down with bad thoughts or unkind words which may destroy their reputation or cause them to stumble and fall, our words and actions should build people up. It is through this that people can be won to the Lord, be disciples, or find emotional and relational healing.
Tenderhearted (eusplagchnoi) is literally “good bowels.” The splagchna refers to the stomach and intestinal area of the body. It is where a personal has “fuzzy feelings” or “butterflies” when nervous or emotional. It came to represent compassion or the tender feeling a person has. This is a form of deep sympathy where a person wants to respond with loving kindness towards another person. This type of compassion can bring healing and help to so many situations. It could make the difference between a person’s demise or rescue.
The last attribute is given in a full participial phrase. Forgiving (charizomenoi) is based on the same root for “grace.” It is basically showing grace, which often involves the cancelation of a debt or the forgiveness of a wrong. Paul compares how believers should act towards others to how God in Christ acts towards us. Jesus linked God forgiving us with how we need to forgive other people (Matthew 6:12-15). The word for “forgive” used by Jesus is different than the “grace” Paul uses here. Grace is a favorite topic of Paul because he experienced God’s grace in a powerful way (1 Timothy 1:14). Paul had once acted with many of the negative qualities of v. 31 but experienced God’s transforming power in Jesus Christ. To be “in Christ” is to take on the qualities of Christ who is the perfect image of God. Paul will take up that topic in the next few verses.
For older posts, click here.