Unity in the Body of Christ

I therefore, (A)a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to (B)walk in a manner worthy of (C)the calling to which you have been called,

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Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

As a prisoner(A) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy(B) of the calling(C) you have received.

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with all (A)humility and (B)gentleness, with (C)patience, (D)bearing with one another in love,

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Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another(A) in love.(B)

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But (A)grace was given (B)to each one of us (C)according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says,

(D)“When he ascended on high (E)he led a host of captives,
    and he gave gifts to men.”[a]

((F)In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into (G)the lower regions, the earth?[b] 10 He who descended is the one who also (H)ascended (I)far above all the heavens, that he might (J)fill all things.) 11 And (K)he gave the (L)apostles, the prophets, the (M)evangelists, the (N)shepherds[c] and teachers,[d] 12 (O)to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for (P)building up (Q)the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to (R)the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, (S)to mature manhood,[e] to the measure of the stature of (T)the fullness of Christ,

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:8 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women
  2. Ephesians 4:9 Or the lower parts of the earth?
  3. Ephesians 4:11 Or pastors
  4. Ephesians 4:11 Or the shepherd-teachers
  5. Ephesians 4:13 Greek to a full-grown man

But to each one of us(A) grace(B) has been given(C) as Christ apportioned it. This is why it[a] says:

“When he ascended on high,
    he took many captives(D)
    and gave gifts to his people.”[b](E)

(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended(F) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)(G) 11 So Christ himself gave(H) the apostles,(I) the prophets,(J) the evangelists,(K) the pastors and teachers,(L) 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ(M) may be built up(N) 13 until we all reach unity(O) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God(P) and become mature,(Q) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.(R)

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:8 Or God
  2. Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:18
  3. Ephesians 4:9 Or the depths of the earth

32 (A)Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, (B)forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Walk in Love

(C)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And (D)walk in love, (E)as Christ loved us and (F)gave himself up for us, a (G)fragrant (H)offering and sacrifice to God.

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(A) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(B) Follow God’s example,(C) therefore, as dearly loved children(D) and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us(E) and gave himself up for us(F) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.(G)

Wives and Husbands

22 (A)Wives, (B)submit to your own husbands, (C)as to the Lord. 23 For (D)the husband is the head of the wife even as (E)Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is (F)himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit (G)in everything to their husbands.

25 (H)Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and (I)gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by (J)the washing of water (K)with the word, 27 so (L)that he might present the church to himself in splendor, (M)without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.[a] 28 In the same way (N)husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because (O)we are members of his body. 31 (P)“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and (Q)the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, (R)let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she (S)respects her husband.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:27 Or holy and blameless

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands(A) as you do to the Lord.(B) 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,(C) his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands(D) in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives,(E) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her(F) 26 to make her holy,(G) cleansing[a] her by the washing(H) with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself(I) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.(J) 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives(K) as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body.(L) 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[b](M) 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife(N) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed
  2. Ephesians 5:31 Gen. 2:24