Ephesians 4-6 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Ephesians 4

Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ

 ¹ I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, ^(A) urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, ² with all humility ^(B) and gentleness, with patience, ^(C) accepting ^{(D) [a]} one another in love, ^{(E) 3} diligently keeping the unity ^(F) of the Spirit ^(G) with the peace ^(H) that binds [us]. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, ^(I) just as you were called to one hope ^{(J) [b]} at your calling; ⁵ one Lord, ^(K) one faith, ^(L) one baptism, ⁶ one God ^(M) and Father ^(N) of all, who is above all and through all and in all. ^(O)

    ⁷ Now grace was given to each one of us ^(P) according to the measure of the Messiah's gift. ⁸ For it says:

    When He ascended ^(Q) on high, He took prisoners into captivity; ^[c]

    He gave gifts to people. ^{(R) (S)}

    ⁹ But what does "He ascended" mean except that He ^[d] descended to the lower parts of the earth? ^{(T) [e] 10} The One who descended is the same as the One who ascended far above all the heavens, ^(U) that He might fill ^[f] all things. ^{(V) 11} And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, ^{(W) 13} until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, ^(X) [growing] into a mature man with a stature ^(Y) measured by Christ's fullness. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, ^(Z) by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head ^(AA) —Christ. ¹⁶ From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together ^(AB) by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth ^(AC) of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.

   

Living the New Life

 ¹⁷ Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. ¹⁹ They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity ^(AD) with a desire for more and more. ^[g]

    ²⁰ But that is not how you learned about the Messiah, ²¹ assuming you heard Him and were taught by Him, because the truth ^(AE) is in Jesus: ²² you took off ^{(AF) [h]} your former way of life, ^(AG) the old man ^(AH) that is corrupted by deceitful desires; ²³ you are being renewed ^[i] in the spirit ^(AI) of your minds; ²⁴ you put on ^{(AJ) [j]} the new man, the one created ^(AK) according to God's [likeness] ^(AL) in righteousness and purity of the truth.

    ²⁵ Since you put away ^(AM) lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, ^{(AN) (AO)} because we are members of one another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin. ^{(AP) (AQ)} Don't let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and don't give the Devil an opportunity. ²⁸ The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share ^(AR) with anyone in need. ²⁹ No rotten talk should come from your mouth, but only what is good for the building up of someone in need, ^[k] in order to give grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And don't grieve God's Holy Spirit, ^(AS) who sealed you ^[l] for the day of redemption. ^{(AT) 31} All bitterness, anger and wrath, insult and slander must be removed from you, along with all wickedness. ³² And be kind ^(AU) and compassionate ^(AV) to one another, forgiving ^(AW) one another, just as God also forgave you ^[m] in Christ.

Ephesians 5

 ¹ Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. ² And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, ^(AX) a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. ³ But sexual immorality ^(AY) and any impurity ^(AZ) or greed ^(BA) should not even be heard of ^[n] among you, as is proper for saints. ⁴ And coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. ⁵ For know and recognize this: no sexually immoral ^(BB) or impure ^(BC) or greedy ^(BD) person, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom ^(BE) of the Messiah and of God.

   

Light versus Darkness

 ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things God's wrath ^(BF) is coming on the disobedient. ^{[o] 7} Therefore, do not become their partners. ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now [you are] light ^(BG) in the Lord. Walk as children of light ^(BH) — ⁹ for the fruit ^(BI) of the light ^[p] [results] in all goodness, righteousness, and truth ^(BJ) — ¹⁰ discerning ^(BK) what is pleasing ^(BL) to the Lord. ¹¹ Don't participate in the fruitless ^(BM) works of darkness, but instead, expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. ¹³ Everything exposed by the light is made clear, ^{(BN) 14} for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:

    Get up, sleeper, ^(BO) and rise up from the dead, ^(BP)

    and the Messiah will shine on you. ^{(BQ) [q]}

   

Consistency in the Christian Life

 ¹⁵ Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— ¹⁶ making the most of the time, ^{(BR) [r]} because the days are evil. ¹⁷ So don't be foolish, but understand ^(BS) what the Lord's will ^(BT) is. ¹⁸ And don't get drunk ^(BU) with wine, ^(BV) which [leads to] reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit: ^(BW)

    ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,

    singing and making music to the Lord in your heart,

    ²⁰ giving thanks always for everything

    to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

    ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of Christ. ^(BX)

   

Wives and Husbands

 ²² Wives, ^(BY) submit ^{(BZ) [s]} to your own husbands ^(CA) as to the Lord, ²³ for the husband is head of the wife ^(CB) as also Christ is head ^(CC) of the church. He is the Savior of the body. ^{(CD) 24} Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives should [submit] to their husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, ^(CE) just as also Christ loved ^(CF) the church and gave Himself ^(CG) for her, ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing ^[t] her in the washing of water by the word. ²⁷ He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and blameless. ^{(CH) 28} In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hates his own flesh, but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, ³⁰ since we are members of His body. ^[u]

    ³¹ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother

    and be joined to his wife, ^(CI)

    and the two will become one flesh. ^{(CJ) (CK)}

    ³² This mystery ^(CL) is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.

Ephesians 6

Children and Parents

 ¹ Children, obey ^(CM) your parents in the Lord, because this is right. ² Honor your father and mother —which is the first commandment ^[v] with a promise— ³ that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land. ^{(CN) [w] (CO) 4} And fathers, don't stir up anger ^(CP) in your children, but bring them up in the training ^(CQ) and instruction of the Lord.

   

Slaves and Masters

 ⁵ Slaves, obey your human ^[x] masters ^(CR) with fear and trembling, ^(CS) in the sincerity ^(CT) of your heart, as to Christ. ⁶ Don't [work only] while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God's will ^(CU) from your heart. ^{[y] 7} Render service with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, ^{(CV) 8} knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. ⁹ And masters, treat them the same way, without threatening ^(CW) them, because you know that both their and your Master is in heaven, and there is no favoritism ^(CX) with Him. ^(CY)

   

Christian Warfare

 ¹⁰ Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. ^{(CZ) 11} Put on ^(DA) the full armor ^(DB) of God so that you can stand against the tactics ^[z] of the Devil. ¹² For our battle is not against flesh ^(DC) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, ^(DD) against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil ^(DE) in the heavens. ^{(DF) 13} This is why you must take up the full armor ^(DG) of God, so that you may be able to resist ^(DH) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. ¹⁴ Stand, ^(DI) therefore,

    with truth ^(DJ) like a belt around your waist,

    righteousness ^(DK) like armor on your chest, ^(DL)

    ¹⁵ and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. ^[aa]

    ¹⁶ In every situation take the shield ^(DM) of faith, ^(DN)

    and with it you will be able to extinguish

    the flaming arrows of the evil one. ^(DO)

    ¹⁷ Take the helmet ^(DP) of salvation,

    and the sword ^(DQ) of the Spirit, ^(DR) which is God's word.

    ¹⁸ With every prayer and request, pray ^(DS) at all times in the Spirit, ^(DT) and stay alert ^(DU) in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness ^(DV) the mystery of the gospel. ²⁰ For this I am an ambassador ^(DW) in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.

   

Paul's Farewell

 ²¹ Tychicus, ^(DX) our dearly loved brother and faithful servant ^[ab] in the Lord, will tell you everything so that you also may know how I am and what I'm doing. ²² I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage ^(DY) your hearts. ^(DZ)

    ²³ Peace to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father ^(EA) and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ. ^{[ac] [ad]}