Lexical Summary henotes: Unity Original Word: ἑνότης Strong's Exhaustive Concordance unity. From heis; oneness, i.e. (figuratively) unanimity -- unity. see GREEK heis HELPS Word-studies 1775 henótēs (from heis, "one") – oneness (unity), especially the God-produced unity (oneness) between believers – i.e. the harmony from sharing likeness of nature with the Lord (used only in Eph 4:3,13). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1775: ἑνότηςἑνότης, ἑνοτητος, ἡ (from εἷς, ἑνός, one), unity (Aristotle, Plutarch); equivalent to unanimity, agreement: with the genitive, τῆς πίστεως, Ephesians 4:13; τοῦ πνεύματος, Ephesians 4:3. Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope The term denoted by Strong’s Greek 1775 encapsulates the idea of oneness, harmony, and wholeness among believers. It is more than mere coexistence; it describes a divinely wrought condition in which the Church reflects the singular purpose, character, and mission of God Himself. Occurrences in Ephesians 1. Ephesians 4:3 places unity at the heart of Christian ethics: “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”. The call is to guard something given, not manufacture it—unity is Spirit-created, believer-preserved. Old Testament Foundations While the exact term is unique to the New Testament, its roots lie in Israel’s monotheistic confession: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). God’s oneness supplies the pattern for His people’s oneness (Psalm 133:1). Prophets foretold a day when scattered tribes and nations would be gathered into a single covenant community (Ezekiel 37:15-28). Christological Focus Unity flows from union with Christ. The “one body” (Ephesians 4:4) exists because believers share His life (Galatians 2:20). Christ Himself prayed “that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You” (John 17:21). Thus unity is Trinitarian: sourced in the Father, modeled by the Son, empowered by the Spirit. Ecclesiological Implications The presence of unity authenticates the Church’s witness (John 17:23). Division, by contrast, obscures the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). Apostolic exhortations to “maintain” rather than “create” unity underscore that schism is an aberration, not a norm. Relation to Pneumatology The Spirit is both seal and bond of unity. His indwelling produces the fruit necessary for corporate harmony—love, patience, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Grieving the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) inevitably fragments fellowship. Unity and Maturity Ephesians 4:13 ties unity to growth in doctrine and character. Immaturity jeopardizes oneness, leaving believers “tossed by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching” (Ephesians 4:14). Sound teaching and mutual edification are therefore integral to preserving unity. Historical Reception Early Church fathers viewed unity as a mark of orthodoxy. Ignatius of Antioch urged believers to be “in harmony with the mind of Jesus Christ.” Creeds such as the Nicene affirmed “one holy catholic and apostolic Church,” emphasizing spiritual unity amid geographic diversity. Pastoral and Ministry Application • Guarding unity begins with personal humility (Philippians 2:1-4). Practical Steps Toward Unity 1. Prioritize gospel essentials; hold secondary matters with charity (Romans 14:1-4). Warnings and Misapplications Unity must never be pursued at the expense of truth (Galatians 1:6-9). Scripture condemns factiousness (Titus 3:10) but also commends separation from unrepentant error (2 John 10-11). The balance lies in “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Promise of Ultimate Fulfillment Present unity anticipates a consummated harmony when “a great multitude that no one could count” will worship the Lamb with one voice (Revelation 7:9-10). The Church’s present pursuit of oneness thus serves as both foretaste and testimony of the Kingdom to come. Summary Strong’s Greek 1775 depicts unity as a Spirit-initiated, Christ-centered, truth-guarded bond that characterizes the authentic Church. Its two occurrences in Ephesians frame unity as both a present stewardship and an eschatological goal. Faithful ministry therefore seeks to preserve, cultivate, and display this unity for God’s glory and the world’s witness. Forms and Transliterations ενοτητα ενότητα ἑνότητα enoteta enotēta henoteta henotēta henóteta henótētaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ephesians 4:3 N-AFSGRK: τηρεῖν τὴν ἑνότητα τοῦ πνεύματος NAS: to preserve the unity of the Spirit KJV: to keep the unity of the Spirit INT: to keep the unity of the Spirit Ephesians 4:13 N-AFS |
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