The following notes are from a lesson I put together for CrossWay’s 2023 men’s retreat.

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“Walking” is one of the most frequently used images in the entire Bible (not just by Paul, but especially by him). And we continue to use it even today (e.g., “How’s your walk with the Lord?”).

Understand the Imagery

Uses of “walk” in Ephesians:

• 2:2 – We once walked in trespasses and sins.
• 2:10 – God has created us in Christ and prepared for us to walk in good works.
• 4:1 – We are to walk in a manner worthy of our calling.
• 4:17 – We must no longer walk as the Gentiles (those who aren’t God’s people) do.
• 5:2 – We are to walk in love, as Christ loved us and as imitators of God (5:1).
• 5:8 – Since we are no longer darkness but light, we must walk as children of the light.
• 5:15 – We must look carefully how we walk, not as unwise but wise, making the best use of the time (5:16).

Introduction to the imagery:

“In biblical times walking was the most common way of going somewhere, even over long distances. … Beyond the literal mechanics of movement by foot, walking at a more figurative level becomes a prime metaphor for … a person’s lifestyle (with the image of walking suggesting continuing progress in time and in a chosen direction). … Passages such as these use the metaphor of walking to identify a person’s conduct of life and the results that flow from it.”

—Dictionary of Biblical Imagery

Consider how ubiquitous walking would have been for people in the ancient world—such a pervasive image for all aspects of their lives. And consider how much Paul him (author of Ephesians) would be familiar with the act of walking (traveling the Roman Empire during his missionary journeys in Acts).

Considering biblical background:

1. Used to speak of having a relationship with God (Gen 5:24 – “Enoch walked with God”).
2. Used to portray a lifestyle, e.g., rebellion or obedience to God, foolish or wise living.^[1]
   • Deut 8:6 – “So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his waysand by fearing him.”
   • Ps 86:11 – “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”
   • Mic 6:8 – “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
3. “Walking” also conjures up the imagery of a path (road or “way”), i.e., the direction, course, and outcome of one’s life—often contrasted with that of the wise, leading to life, and that of the fool, leading to destruction.
   • The wisdom literature (like Proverbs) employs this imagery quite frequently: E.g., Ps 1:1-2 – “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (See also Prov 1:10-16; 4:14-15; 10:9.)
   • And Jesus seems to pick up on this sort of imagery: Mt 7:13-14 – “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Explore: Read through Proverbs 2 making note of every occurrence of “walking” or “way” (path) language. Afterwards, answer the question, how would you describe or summarize the imagery here?

What meaning is involved in the imagery?

1. Walking was ubiquitous. Thus, it refers to all of life.
2. Walking was thus bound up in the way one conducted their activities/life. It refers to our conduct.
3. “Walking” includes reference to the direction or outcome of one’s way of life (walking leads somewhere).
4. Walking involves intentionality. We decide where we will walk.

Review: In Ephesians, Paul uses the imagery in a similar way, to signify two contrasting courses (ways) of life:

• Contrast: Since we are no longer darkness but light, we must walk as children of the light (5:8). // We walk as those who are wise, not unwise (5:16).
• Negative (formerly): We once walked in trespasses and sins (2:1-2). // We must no longer walk as the Gentiles (those who aren’t God’s people) do (4:17).
• Positive (now): Rather, God has created us in Christ and prepared us to walk in good works (2:10). // We are to walk in love, as imitators of God and as Christ himself has loved us (5:1-2). // We are to walkin a manner worthy of our calling (4:1).

Basis in the Gospel

But on what basis? Do we just change our course of life by a simple force of our will, moral self-improvement, or behavior modification?

Look at Ephesians 2:1-10 and answer the question, “How exactly has this change in our ‘walk’ occurred?”

• Notice the use of walk at the very beginning and end of the section. We’ve gone from “walking” in sin to walking in good works. Something drastic has happened in between v.1-2 and 10. What is it?
• Answer: The gospel! vv.4-6; 8-9.
• *That’s why I’ve titled this lesson, not just “walk,” but “now walk.” The imperative is based in the indicative. There’s something new, a change, that’s occurred (“now,” i.e., in light of this new reality, as opposed to what was “before”).

Other examples:

• See also Eph 4:1 – Our “walk” is first and foremost based in a calling the God has performed (Eph 1). // In other words, we don’t walk in order to be called; we’ve been called and so (as a result) we “walk.”
• Or again, Paul’s command that we “no longer walk as the Gentiles do” (Eph 4:17) is not a brute command we are to obey out of our own strength. Rather, Paul roots it in the reality that, in the gospel, Christ is making us a new humanity (see Eph 4:10-24)!
• Eph 5:8 – “Walk as children of light.” Why? Because “at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” // We don’t walk in the light and thereby become children of light. Rather, because God has already brought us out of darkness into the light, we are now called to express that in how we walk.

Discuss: What difference does this make practically, i.e., that the call to walk is first and foremost something based on what Christ has done, and not merely a command we are called to perform?

Illustrate: The command to “walk” without the gospel is like being told to mow my lawn after my lawnmowers batter was stolen. The gospel, however, puts the battery in to make “walking” possible.

“Run, John, run, the law commands
But gives us neither feet nor hands,
Far better news the gospel brings:
It bids us fly and gives us wings

—John Bunyan(?)

Application to Life

1. Reflect on your own “walk.” How has your journey evolved; what changes have you experienced in your “walk” over the course of your life?
2. To what degree do you self-consciously consider yourself as someone who has been changed by Christ so as to “walk” in a new way of life? What steps might you take to increase your daily sense of this reality?
3. Would you say your life demonstrates uniquely Christian “walk” (“but that is not the way you have learned Christ!” – Eph 4:20)? What areas of your life are in greatest need of being brought into conformity with this calling to walk worthy of the gospel (Eph 4:1)? 
4. How does the gospel’s transforming leave you encouraged to continue battling to “walk” differently? Or if it doesn’t, if you are struggling to feel that encouragement, what truths would it be helpful for you to meditate on?
5. What’s one next step you can take to implement something you’ve learned or taken away from today’s session?

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^[1] “In the OT, walking is frequently paired with the image of the path or way to picture the lifestyle and choices people should make, as well as the ones they should avoid” (Dictionary of Biblical Imagery).