Session 7 Bible Study Handout

ABIDE 101 — BIBLE STUDY

Session 7: The Exegetical Guardrail

Anchor Passage: Ephesians 4:1–32

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

Scripture quoted from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB) unless otherwise noted.

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This session, we follow the arrow. The Exegetical Guardrail asks one foundational question before anything else: what does this text actually say, before we decide what we think it means? Meaning flows from the text to us — not from us into the text.

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The Exegetical Guardrail

The word "exegesis" comes from the Greek word meaning "to lead out." Exegesis is the practice of drawing meaning OUT of the text rather than reading meaning INTO it. The opposite error — called eisegesis — happens when we import our assumptions, expectations, or experiences into a passage before we have actually observed what it says. The Exegetical Guardrail trains us to ask "what does Paul actually say here?" before we ask "what does this mean to me?" This is not cold or mechanical — it is how we honor the author's intent and hear what God actually said.

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Anchor Passage — Part 1: Unity and Maturity (Ephesians 4:1–16, BSB)

Read this section aloud together before answering any questions.

As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

7 Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 This is why it says:

"When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men."

9 What does "He ascended" mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.

11 And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. 16 From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.

— Ephesians 4:1–16 (BSB)

My observations — what I notice in Part 1:

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My questions — what I want to ask about Part 1:

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Anchor Passage — Part 2: Put on the New Self (Ephesians 4:17–32, BSB)

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.

20 But this is not the way you came to know Christ. 21 Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him — in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus — 22 to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another. 26 "Be angry, yet do not sin." Do not let the sun set upon your anger, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.

29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

— Ephesians 4:17–32 (BSB)

My observations — what I notice in Part 2:

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My questions — what I want to ask about Part 2:

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📖 Did You Know?

In verse 1, Paul uses the Greek word axios — translated "worthy." But axios was the word used for a scale in balance: equal weight on both sides. To "walk worthy" of your calling does not mean "try hard enough to deserve it." It means: live in a way that weighs as much as your identity in Christ. Chapters 1–3 have piled up an extraordinary weight of spiritual reality — chosen, predestined, redeemed, sealed, raised, seated with Christ, filled with His fullness. Paul's one ask in chapters 4–6 is this: let your life weigh as much as what you have been given. This is not achievement. It is balance.

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Observation Questions (Start Here)

Part 1 — Ephesians 4:1–16

1. What kind of life does Paul call believers to in verse 1? What specific words does he use?

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2. Paul lists five character qualities in verses 2–3. What are they?

(1) ________________________________________________________________________

(2) ________________________________________________________________________

(3) ________________________________________________________________________

(4) ________________________________________________________________________

(5) ________________________________________________________________________

3. What is the goal Paul describes in verse 13 — what are these gifts building toward?

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Part 2 — Ephesians 4:17–32

4. Paul uses the image of "old self" and "new self" in verses 22–24. What does he say to DO with each?

Old self: ___________________________________________________________________

New self: ___________________________________________________________________

5. How many specific practical commands can you count in verses 25–32? List them below.

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Application Question

Paul says to "put off falsehood and speak truth with your neighbor, because we are members of one another" (v. 25). That last phrase — "because we are members of one another" — is his reason for every command that follows. Looking at the specific commands in verses 25–32, which one do you find hardest to keep? And does knowing WHY Paul gives it — because we belong to each other — change how you hear the command?

My response:

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Assignment for Next Session

Before Session 8:

• Read the Lesson 8 article on the Linguistic Guardrail
• Listen to the Lesson 8 podcast
• Read Ephesians 5:1–21 slowly — pay close attention to every "as" in the passage
  • Paul keeps comparing believers to something
  • Find one comparison you notice and bring it with you
• Write your observation here so you remember to bring it:

One "as" comparison I noticed in Ephesians 5:1–21:

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