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I am a prisoner who belongs to the Lord. I beg you, live the way people should live who have been called by God.

Do not be proud at all. Be very humble. Love one another and be patient with each other.

The Spirit has made you all one. Try to stay like that. May you be at peace with one another.

There is one body of Christ and one Spirit. When God called you, there was one hope before you in your calling.

There is one Lord, one way to believe, and one baptism.

There is one God and Father of us all. He is over all. He works through all. And he is living in us all.

But each one of us has received a blessing, whatever amount Christ has given to each one.

So then, the holy writings say, `When Christ went up to heaven he took those he had won with him. And he gave gifts to men.'

Now, what does `he went up' mean? Does it not mean that he also came down to the earth below?

10 The one who came down is the same one who went up higher than all the heavens. He did this so that he would be everywhere.

11 The gifts he gave are these: some are to be apostles; some prophets; some evangelists; some pastors and teachers.

12 These gifts are to make God's people better able to do their work for him and to make the body of Christ become stronger.

13 The gifts are given so that we will all believe the one way and all know the Son of God. They are given so that we will be really grown-up Christians, like Christ himself.

14 The body of Christ must grow so that we will no longer be like children. We are like children when we are pushed this way and that way. We change our minds every time people bring a different teaching. Some teachers teach the lies of men and fool people so that they believe wrong things.

15 We must say what is true and say it with love. In that way we will grow up in all things to be like Christ, who is the head of this body.

16 The whole body is joined and held together by every joint that it has. It is from Christ that the whole body grows as each different part does its work. It grows so that it becomes stronger in love.

17 Here then is what the Lord has told me to say. You must not live like the people who do not believe in God. They do not think clearly.

18 Their minds are dark. They are far away from God's life because they do not know the truth. They have no love in their hearts.

19 Nothing makes them ashamed anymore. They live a very bad life. They do every kind of wrong thing. And they always want to do it more.

20 That is not what you have learned from Christ!

21 You were taught by him, and Jesus has the truth!

22 Stop being the person you used to be in your old life. That person was bad because he wanted to do wrong things.

23 Have a new mind and heart.

24 Be a new person. That new person has been made like God. He does what is right and holy because he knows the truth.

25 So stop telling lies. Tell the truth to each other. We all are parts of the same body.

26 When you are angry, do not do anything wrong. And do not stay angry after the sun goes down.

27 Do not let the devil control you.

28 The person who used to steal must not steal now. But he must do some good work with his own hands. Then he will have something to give to the poor people.

29 Do not let any bad words come out of your mouth. But say good things that will help people. Then those who hear you will also be blessed by what you say.

30 Do nothing that makes the Holy Spirit feel sad. He is the mark God has put on you until the day you will belong to God altogether.

31 You must stop all hate, big and small anger, loud talk, saying wrong things about people, and all wanting to do wrong things to people.

32 Be kind to one another. Have a loving and understanding heart. Forgive one another because God has forgiven you for Christ's sake.

身体的合一

我为主作囚徒的劝你们,既然蒙召,行事为人就要与你们所蒙的呼召相称。 凡事要谦虚、温柔、忍耐,用爱心互相宽容, 以和平彼此联系,竭力保持圣灵所赐的合一。 身体只有一个,圣灵只有一位,正如你们蒙召,是为同有一个指望而蒙召, 一主,一信,一洗, 一 神—就是万人之父,超越万有之上,贯通万有,在万有之中。 我们每个人蒙恩都是照基督所量给每个人的恩赐。 所以有话说:

“他升上高天的时候,掳掠了俘虏,
将各样的恩赐赏给人。”

既说“他升上”,岂不是指他曾降到地底下吗? 10 那降下的,就是高升远超越诸天之上的,为要充满万有。 11 他所赐的有使徒,有先知,有传福音的,有牧者和教师, 12 为要装备圣徒,做事奉的工作,建立基督的身体, 13 直等到我们众人在信仰上同归于一,认识 神的儿子,得以长大成人,达到基督完全长成的身量。 14 这样,我们不再作小孩子,中了人的诡计和欺骗的法术,被一切邪说之风摇动,飘来飘去。 15 我们反而要用爱心说诚实话,各方面向着基督长进,连于元首基督, 16 靠着他全身都连接得紧凑,百节各按各职,照着各体的功用彼此相助,使身体渐渐增长,在爱中建立自己。

旧我和新我

17 所以我这样说,且在主里郑重地说,你们行事为人,不要再像外邦人存虚妄的心而活。 18 他们心地昏昧,因自己无知,心里刚硬而与 神所赐的生命隔绝了。 19 既然他们已经麻木,就放纵情欲,贪婪地行种种污秽的事。 20 但你们从基督学的不是这样。 21 如果你们听过他的道,领了他的教,因为真理就在耶稣里, 22 你们要脱去从前的行为,脱去旧我;这旧我是因私欲的迷惑而渐渐败坏的。 23 你们要把自己的心志更新, 24 并且穿上新我;这新我是照着 神的形像造的,有从真理来的公义和圣洁。

新生活的守则

25 所以,你们要弃绝谎言,每个人要与邻舍说诚实话,因为我们是互为肢体。 26 即使生气也不要犯罪;不可含怒到日落, 27 不可给魔鬼留地步。 28 偷窃的,不要再偷;总要勤劳,亲手[a]做正当的事,这样才可以把自己有的,分给有缺乏的人。 29 一句坏话也不可出口,只要随着需要说造就人的好话,让听见的人得益处。 30 不要使 神的圣灵担忧,你们原是受了他的印记,等候得救赎的日子来到。 31 一切苦毒、愤怒、恼恨、嚷闹、毁谤,和一切的恶毒都要从你们中间除掉。 32 要仁慈相待,存怜悯的心,彼此饶恕,正如 神在基督里饶恕了你们一样。

Footnotes

  1. 4.28 有古卷没有“亲手”。

Unity of the Spirit

Therefore I, (A)the prisoner in the Lord, (B)exhort you to (C)walk worthy of the (D)calling with which you have been (E)called, with all (F)humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another (G)in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the (H)bond of peace. There is (I)one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one (J)hope of your calling; (K)one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all (L)who is over all and through all and in all.

But (M)to each one of us (N)grace was given (O)according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore [a]it says,

(P)When He ascended on high,
He (Q)led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.”

(Now this expression, “He (R)ascended,” what [b]does it mean except that He also [c]descended into (S)the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended (T)far above all the heavens, so that He might (U)fill all things.) 11 And He Himself (V)gave (W)some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as (X)evangelists, and some as pastors and (Y)teachers, 12 (Z)for the equipping of the [d]saints for the work of service, to the building up of (AA)the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to (AB)the unity of the faith, and of the [e](AC)full knowledge of the Son of God, to a (AD)mature man, to the measure of the stature [f]which belongs to the (AE)fullness of Christ, 14 so that we are (AF)no longer to be children, (AG)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by (AH)craftiness [g]in (AI)deceitful scheming, 15 but [h]speaking the truth (AJ)in love, [i]we are to (AK)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the (AL)head, that is Christ, 16 from whom (AM)the whole body, being joined and held together [j]by what every joint supplies, according to the properly (AN)measured working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself (AO)in love.

Put On the New Man

17 (AP)Therefore this I say, and testify in the Lord, (AQ)that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the (AR)futility of their mind, 18 being (AS)darkened in their mind, (AT)alienated from the life of God because of the (AU)ignorance that is in them, because of the (AV)hardness of their heart. 19 And they, having (AW)become callous, (AX)have given themselves over to (AY)sensuality [k]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not (AZ)learn [l]Christ in this way— 21 if indeed you (BA)heard Him and were (BB)taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 [m]to (BC)lay aside, in reference to your former conduct, the (BD)old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the (BE)lusts of deceit, 23 and to be (BF)renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and to (BG)put on the (BH)new man, which [n](BI)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

25 Therefore, (BJ)laying aside falsehood, (BK)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are (BL)members of one another. 26 (BM)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not (BN)give the devil [o]an opportunity. 28 He who steals must steal no longer, but rather (BO)he must labor, (BP)performing with his own hands what is good, (BQ)so that he will have something to share with [p]one who has need. 29 Let no [q](BR)unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for (BS)building up [r]what is needed, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 (BT)And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, [s]by whom you were (BU)sealed for the day of redemption. 31 (BV)Let all bitterness and anger and wrath and shouting and slander be (BW)put away from you, along with all (BX)malice. 32 (BY)Instead, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, graciously forgiving each other, (BZ)just as God in Christ also has graciously forgiven [t]you.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:8 Or He
  2. Ephesians 4:9 Lit is it except
  3. Ephesians 4:9 One early ms had first descended
  4. Ephesians 4:12 Or holy ones
  5. Ephesians 4:13 Or true knowledge
  6. Ephesians 4:13 Lit of the fullness
  7. Ephesians 4:14 Lit with regard to the scheming of deceit
  8. Ephesians 4:15 Or holding to, being truthful in
  9. Ephesians 4:15 Or let us grow up
  10. Ephesians 4:16 Lit through every joint of the supply
  11. Ephesians 4:19 Or greedy for the practice of every kind of impurity
  12. Ephesians 4:20 Messiah
  13. Ephesians 4:22 Lit for you
  14. Ephesians 4:24 Lit according to God
  15. Ephesians 4:27 Lit a place
  16. Ephesians 4:28 Lit the one
  17. Ephesians 4:29 Lit rotten
  18. Ephesians 4:29 Or according to the need
  19. Ephesians 4:30 Lit in
  20. Ephesians 4:32 Two early mss us

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. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another(D) in love.(E) Make every effort to keep the unity(F) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.(G) There is one body(H) and one Spirit,(I) just as you were called to one hope when you were called(J); one Lord,(K) one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all,(L) who is over all and through all and in all.(M)

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

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

(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(S) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)(T) 11 So Christ himself gave(U) the apostles,(V) the prophets,(W) the evangelists,(X) the pastors and teachers,(Y) 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ(Z) may be built up(AA) 13 until we all reach unity(AB) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God(AC) and become mature,(AD) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.(AE)

14 Then we will no longer be infants,(AF) tossed back and forth by the waves,(AG) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.(AH) 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love,(AI) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,(AJ) that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows(AK) and builds itself up(AL) in love,(AM) as each part does its work.

Instructions for Christian Living

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer(AN) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.(AO) 18 They are darkened in their understanding(AP) and separated from the life of God(AQ) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.(AR) 19 Having lost all sensitivity,(AS) they have given themselves over(AT) to sensuality(AU) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off(AV) your old self,(AW) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;(AX) 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;(AY) 24 and to put on(AZ) the new self,(BA) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.(BB)

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully(BC) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.(BD) 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]:(BE) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.(BF) 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,(BG) doing something useful with their own hands,(BH) that they may have something to share with those in need.(BI)

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,(BJ) but only what is helpful for building others up(BK) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,(BL) with whom you were sealed(BM) for the day of redemption.(BN) 31 Get rid of(BO) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.(BP) 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(BQ) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(BR)

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:8 Or God
  2. Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:18
  3. Ephesians 4:9 Or the depths of the earth
  4. Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:4 (see Septuagint)