With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Lowliness, [in classic Greek, tapeinophrosunee (G5012) is meanness of spirit: the Gospel elevated the word to express a Christian grace] - namely, esteeming ourselves small, as we are so; the thinking truly, and therefore lowlily, of ourselves (Trench).
Meekness, х prautees (G4240)] - that spirit in which we accept God's dealings without disputing; also the injuries done by men, patiently, out of the thought that they are permitted by God for the purifying of His people (2 Samuel 16:11: cf. Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:25; Titus 3:2). A sense of dependence on God is the groundwork (Matthew 11:29). It is only the lowly heart that is also meek (Colossians 3:12-13). As "lowliness and meekness" answer to "forbearing one another in love" (cf. "love," Ephesians 4:15-16), so "long-suffering" ("slow to wrath," James 1:19; forbearance; not immediately punishing a fault) answers to (Ephesians 4:4) "endeavouring х spoudazontes (G4704), 'zealously giving diligence;' for it needs pains to check the inward feelings when provoked] to keep (maintain) the unity of the Spirit (the unity between men of different tempers, which flows from their having the Spirit, who is Himself "one," Ephesians 4:4) in (united in) the bond of peace" (the "bond" by which "peace" is maintained-namely, "love," Colossians 3:14-15) (Bengel); or, "peace" itself is the "bond" uniting the Church members: the element in which the unity is maintained (Ellicott).