independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
The worthy walk and the sevenfold unity 4:1–6
vv. 1–3 — the entreaty, and the manner of the walk
1
Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ ὁ δέσμιος ἐν κυρίῳindependent — the hinge of the letter — οὖν draws the ethic from chs. 1–3; the prisoner entreats
ἀξίως περιπατῆσαι τῆς κλήσεωςcontent — complement infinitive — the content of the entreaty
ἧς ἐκλήθητε,relative — on τῆς κλήσεως (attracted ἧς) — the call behind the calling
2
μετὰ πάσης ταπεινοφροσύνης καὶ πραΰτητος, μετὰ μακροθυμίας,phrase modifier — the walk's manner — three lowly graces
ἀνεχόμενοι ἀλλήλων ἐν ἀγάπῃ,participial — manner — patience made mutual
3
σπουδάζοντες τηρεῖν τὴν ἑνότητα τοῦ πνεύματος ἐν τῷ συνδέσμῳ τῆς εἰρήνης·participial — manner — the unity is the Spirit's to give, ours to keep
vv. 4–6 — the sevenfold one: the creed behind the keeping
4
ἓν σῶμα καὶ ἓν πνεῦμα,independent — the creed begins — verbless acclamation
καθὼς καὶ ἐκλήθητε ἐν μιᾷ ἐλπίδι τῆς κλήσεως ὑμῶν·comparative — the oneness matched by the one hope of your call
5
εἷς κύριος, μία πίστις, ἓν βάπτισμα,independent — the creed's middle triad — verbless
6
εἷς θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ πάντων,independent — the creed's summit — the one God (the Shema behind the seven)
ὁ ἐπὶ πάντων καὶ διὰ πάντων καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν.phrase modifier — attributive — over, through, in: transcendence and immanence in one breath
Grace given — the ascent and descent of Christ 4:7–10
vv. 7–8 — grace apportioned; the psalm cited
7
Ἑνὶ δὲ ἑκάστῳ ἡμῶν ἐδόθη ἡ χάριςindependent — the turn from the one to the each — δέ within the unity
κατὰ τὸ μέτρον τῆς δωρεᾶς τοῦ Χριστοῦ.phrase modifier — the norm — Christ apportions, so no ground for envy or pride
8
διὸ λέγει·independent — the citation formula — Scripture (or God in it) speaks
Ἀναβὰς εἰς ὕψος ᾐχμαλώτευσεν αἰχμαλωσίαν,content — Ps 68:18 (LXX 67:19) — the victor's ascent
ἔδωκεν δόματα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις.content — Ps 68:18 — ἔδωκεν 'gave' where the psalm has 'received': the word the section turns on
vv. 9–10 — the aside: the one who ascended is the one who descended
9
τὸ δὲ Ἀνέβη τί ἐστινindependent — the diatribe aside — the quotation's own word cross-examined
εἰ μὴ ὅτι καὶ κατέβη εἰς τὰ κατώτερα μέρη τῆς γῆς;content — exceptive εἰ μὴ ὅτι — τῆς γῆς as genitive of apposition: the descent is the incarnation, not the underworld
10
ὁ καταβὰς αὐτός ἐστιν καὶ ὁ ἀναβὰς ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν οὐρανῶν,independent — the identification — αὐτός: the same person, down and up
ἵνα πληρώσῃ τὰ πάντα.purpose — the ascent's goal — cosmic filling (cf. 1:23)
The gifts, and the body growing to maturity 4:11–16
vv. 11–13 — the gifts given, and the ladder of their purpose
11
καὶ αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν τοὺς μὲν ἀποστόλους, τοὺς δὲ προφήτας, τοὺς δὲ εὐαγγελιστάς, τοὺς δὲ ποιμένας καὶ διδασκάλους,independent — the psalm's ἔδωκεν resumed — the gifts are persons; one article joins pastors and teachers
12
πρὸς τὸν καταρτισμὸν τῶν ἁγίωνpurpose — rung 1 of the ladder — the ministers' immediate aim
εἰς ἔργον διακονίας,purpose — chained, not coordinate — the SAINTS do the ministry (the crux of v. 12 decided)
εἰς οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ,purpose — the ministry's issue — the body built
13
μέχρι καταντήσωμεν οἱ πάντες εἰς τὴν ἑνότητα τῆς πίστεως καὶ τῆς ἐπιγνώσεως τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ,purpose — the terminus — μέχρι: the gifts serve until all arrive
εἰς ἄνδρα τέλειον,phrase modifier — the goal restated — one full-grown man, not many infants
εἰς μέτρον ἡλικίας τοῦ πληρώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ,phrase modifier — the goal's measure — Christ's own fullness (μέτρον answers v. 7)
vv. 14–16 — no longer infants: growth into the Head, growth from the Head
14
ἵνα μηκέτι ὦμεν νήπιοι,purpose — the negative purpose — parallel to the μέχρι line
κλυδωνιζόμενοι καὶ περιφερόμενοι παντὶ ἀνέμῳ τῆς διδασκαλίαςparticipial — the infants pictured — a boat with no ballast
ἐν τῇ κυβείᾳ τῶν ἀνθρώπωνphrase modifier — the wind's source — κυβεία, the gambler's sleight
ἐν πανουργίᾳ πρὸς τὴν μεθοδείαν τῆς πλάνης,phrase modifier — the trickery unmasked — craft in the service of error's method
15
ἀληθεύοντες δὲ ἐν ἀγάπῃparticipial — manner, leaning forward on αὐξήσωμεν below — ἀληθεύειν is being true, not merely speaking truth
αὐξήσωμεν εἰς αὐτὸν τὰ πάντα,purpose — the ἵνα clause's positive limb — coordinate with ὦμεν: growth into him
ὅς ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλή, Χριστός,relative — the him named — the Head, Christ
16
ἐξ οὗ πᾶν τὸ σῶμαrelative — the subject suspended — growth INTO the Head is growth FROM the Head
συναρμολογούμενον καὶ συμβιβαζόμενον διὰ πάσης ἁφῆς τῆς ἐπιχορηγίαςparticipial — the body articulated — every joint a channel of supply
κατ’ ἐνέργειαν ἐν μέτρῳ ἑνὸς ἑκάστου μέρουςphrase modifier — leaning forward on ποιεῖται — every part works at its own μέτρον (v. 7 again)
τὴν αὔξησιν τοῦ σώματος ποιεῖταιrelative — the suspended subject's verb — the body grows itself, from him
εἰς οἰκοδομὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἐν ἀγάπῃ.purpose — the sentence lands where it began — οἰκοδομή (v. 12), ἐν ἀγάπῃ (v. 2)
Off with the old man, on with the new 4:17–24
vv. 17–19 — the Gentile walk, diagnosed from mind to appetite
17
Τοῦτο οὖν λέγω καὶ μαρτύρομαι ἐν κυρίῳ,independent — the solemn charge — λέγω doubled by μαρτύρομαι, on the Lord's authority
μηκέτι ὑμᾶς περιπατεῖνcontent — the charge's content — the walk of v. 1, now negatively fenced
καθὼς καὶ τὰ ἔθνη περιπατεῖcomparative — the foil — the nations they once were
ἐν ματαιότητι τοῦ νοὸς αὐτῶν,phrase modifier — the diagnosis begins in the mind — ματαιότης, emptiness (cf. Rom 1:21)
18
ἐσκοτωμένοι τῇ διανοίᾳ ὄντες,participial — the perfect state — darkness settled in
ἀπηλλοτριωμένοι τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ θεοῦparticipial — estranged — cut off from the life that is God's (cf. 2:12)
διὰ τὴν ἄγνοιαν τὴν οὖσαν ἐν αὐτοῖς,cause — ground 1 — indwelling ignorance
διὰ τὴν πώρωσιν τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν,cause — ground 2, read parallel to the first — πώρωσις, the callus on the heart
19
οἵτινες ἀπηλγηκότες ἑαυτοὺς παρέδωκαν τῇ ἀσελγείᾳrelative — the end of the slope — they handed THEMSELVES over (contrast Rom 1:24, where God does)
εἰς ἐργασίαν ἀκαθαρσίας πάσης ἐν πλεονεξίᾳ.purpose — the trade they took up — impurity as ἐργασία, a business run on πλεονεξία
vv. 20–24 — but you learned Christ: put off, be renewed, put on
20
Ὑμεῖς δὲ οὐχ οὕτως ἐμάθετε τὸν Χριστόν,independent — the great turn — ὑμεῖς δέ against the ἔθνη; Christ himself the lesson learned
21
εἴ γε αὐτὸν ἠκούσατε καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ ἐδιδάχθητε,conditional — εἴ γε — backward, assuming the fact: you did hear, you were taught
καθώς ἐστιν ἀλήθεια ἐν τῷ Ἰησοῦ,comparative — the teaching's standard — the truth as it is in the man Jesus
22
ἀποθέσθαι ὑμᾶς κατὰ τὴν προτέραν ἀναστροφὴν τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπονcontent — catechesis infinitive 1 — the aorist: off with him, like a garment
τὸν φθειρόμενον κατὰ τὰς ἐπιθυμίας τῆς ἀπάτης,participial — attributive — present tense: still corrupting as he goes
23
ἀνανεοῦσθαι δὲ τῷ πνεύματι τοῦ νοὸς ὑμῶν,content — catechesis infinitive 2 — present passive: renewal is continuous, and undergone
24
καὶ ἐνδύσασθαι τὸν καινὸν ἄνθρωπονcontent — catechesis infinitive 3 — aorist again: on with the new
τὸν κατὰ θεὸν κτισθέντα ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ ὁσιότητι τῆς ἀληθείας.participial — attributive — a new creation (Gen 1:26 echo); τῆς ἀληθείας answers τῆς ἀπάτης (v. 22)
The ethics of the new self 4:25–32
vv. 25–27 — truth with the neighbor; anger under curfew
25
Διὸ ἀποθέμενοι τὸ ψεῦδος λαλεῖτε ἀλήθειαν ἕκαστος μετὰ τοῦ πλησίον αὐτοῦ,independent — the first imperative — Zech 8:16; ἀποθέμενοι picks up ἀποθέσθαι (v. 22)
ὅτι ἐσμὲν ἀλλήλων μέλη.cause — the body-ground — lying to a member is the body deceiving itself
26
ὀργίζεσθε καὶ μὴ ἁμαρτάνετε·independent — Ps 4:4 (LXX 4:5) — read as concessive permission, instantly fenced
ὁ ἥλιος μὴ ἐπιδυέτω ἐπὶ παροργισμῷ ὑμῶν,independent — the fence — anger gets no overnight lodging
27
μηδὲ δίδοτε τόπον τῷ διαβόλῳ.independent — the stake — nursed anger is ground ceded to the devil
vv. 28–30 — hands, mouth, and the sealing Spirit
28
ὁ κλέπτων μηκέτι κλεπτέτω,independent — the thief addressed — present participle: the habit, not just the past
μᾶλλον δὲ κοπιάτωindependent — the counter-imperative — not mere abstinence but toil
ἐργαζόμενος ταῖς χερσὶν τὸ ἀγαθόν,participial — manner — the same hands, turned to good
ἵνα ἔχῃ μεταδιδόναι τῷ χρείαν ἔχοντι.purpose — the taker remade into a giver — the ethic's full arc
29
πᾶς λόγος σαπρὸς ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν μὴ ἐκπορευέσθω,independent — σαπρός — spoiled, like bad fruit or fish
ἀλλὰ εἴ τις ἀγαθὸς πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν τῆς χρείας,independent — elliptical — εἴ τις ἀγαθός (sc. ἐκπορευέσθω): οἰκοδομή now a speech-ethic (vv. 12, 16)
ἵνα δῷ χάριν τοῖς ἀκούουσιν.purpose — speech as gift — words that hand on χάρις
30
καὶ μὴ λυπεῖτε τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον τοῦ θεοῦ,independent — Isa 63:10 echo — the Spirit can be grieved: these sins are personal to him
ἐν ᾧ ἐσφραγίσθητε εἰς ἡμέραν ἀπολυτρώσεως.relative — the seal recalled (1:13–14) — grieving the very guarantee
vv. 31–32 — the great put-away, and the imitation of God's forgiving
31
πᾶσα πικρία καὶ θυμὸς καὶ ὀργὴ καὶ κραυγὴ καὶ βλασφημία ἀρθήτω ἀφ’ ὑμῶν σὺν πάσῃ κακίᾳ.independent — the clean sweep — five named, and κακία the root bundled with them
32
γίνεσθε δὲ εἰς ἀλλήλους χρηστοί, εὔσπλαγχνοι,independent — γίνεσθε — become: the new man is put on by growing into him
χαριζόμενοι ἑαυτοῖςparticipial — manner — χαρίζομαι: forgiveness as grace given
καθὼς καὶ ὁ θεὸς ἐν Χριστῷ ἐχαρίσατο ὑμῖν.comparative — the measure of forgiving — God's own act in Christ, already done
Analysis. The chapter opens at the letter's hinge — Παρακαλῶ οὖν — and the shape shows the entreaty carrying everything in vv. 1–3: one purple main verb, the blue infinitive of the worthy walk beneath it, and a manner-chain of teal participles (bearing, being eager) hanging from that single infinitive. Then the texture changes twice. Verses 4–6 are creed: three flush-left dashed lines — one body … one Lord … one God — verbless acclamations with no syntax to climb. Verses 7–10 are almost diatribe: grace apportioned, the psalm quoted (two blue lines under λέγει), and the τὸ δὲ Ἀνέβη question answered from the quotation's own word. Verses 11–16 are again one sentence, but unlike the staircase of chapter 1 it is a ladder: from ἔδωκεν three parallel purpose lines descend — πρός (equipping), μέχρι (until we all attain), ἵνα (no longer infants) — before the sentence climbs through the growing body to the Head and back down the ἐξ οὗ relative. Verses 17–24 hang a whole moral anthropology from one infinitive (μηκέτι περιπατεῖν) and one verb of teaching (ἐδιδάχθητε), under which the three catechetical infinitives — put off, be renewed, put on — sit as parallel blue content lines. Verses 25–32 return to the margin: staccato imperatives, nearly all at depth 0. Cruxes the layout takes a side on: in v. 12 the εἰς-phrases are read as a chain, not three coordinate purposes of ἔδωκεν — the ministers equip the saints FOR the work of ministry, which builds the body (every-member ministry); in v. 9 τὰ κατώτερα μέρη τῆς γῆς is taken as genitive of apposition — the descent is to the earth below (incarnation), not to the underworld; in v. 8 the psalm's 'you received' has become ἔδωκεν 'he gave', the very word the whole section turns on; and v. 26's ὀργίζεσθε (Ps 4:4 LXX) is read as concessive permission immediately fenced in, not a command to be angry.