Paul has completed his description of God’s efforts to bring the church into existence. In the final three chapters of Ephesians, Paul reveals God’s commands concerning some characteristics for living as a Christian. He informs them of God’s requirements for them to be living in a manner worthy of being invited, as members, into this church God brought into existence (Ephesians 4:1).
Paul identifies himself as a “prisoner of the Lord” and not of the Roman government. He is the Lord’s prisoner. He says this to encourage them to be unashamed of him being in prison. They should find encouragement in knowing he was willing to go to prison for the cause of Christ. This serves as a very good introduction to him wanting to “implore” the Ephesians to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling.” He is going to go into great detail, earnestly begging them to live a certain lifestyle. He wants to impress upon them, in a very desperate way, the importance of living a life that could be labeled as “worthy” of being a Christian.