Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 4:5

"one Lord, one faith, one baptism," — Ephesians 4:5 (ASV)

The second trio of unities is related to the “one Lord” or master to whom all Christians owe their allegiance. The three expressions may well be intended to convey a single idea, i.e., one Lord in whom we all believe and in whose name we are baptized. Certainly Christ is central. He is the sole Head of his body, the church. The pagan world spawned many lords; Christianity has only one whose claim is absolute. That is why believers cannot call anyone else Lord, even to escape death. “One faith” in the one Lord unites all true believers. Faith here is personal commitment to Christ, though it is not purely subjective. It involves a recognition of who he is as Son of God and Savior of humankind. “One baptism [GK 967]” is the external seal of incorporation into the body of Christ. Falling as it does in the second triad (related to Christ) and not in the first (related to the Spirit), it appears to indicate water baptism and not primarily the baptism with the Spirit of which water baptism is the sign. Baptism is the sacrament of unity. In the Christian church baptisms are not multiplied as with the Jews (Hebrews 6:2). There are not even two baptisms—one of John and one of Jesus. There is “one baptism,” symbolizing identification with Christ in his death and resurrection, sealing with the Spirit, and incorporation into the body of Christ, so that all Christians become one in Christ Jesus (1:13; 2:5–6; 3:15). Baptism provides the evidence that all Christians, without discrimination as to color, race, sex, age, or class, share the grace of Christ.