Unity of the Spirit

Therefore I, (A)the prisoner of the Lord, (B)implore you to (C)walk in a manner worthy of the (D)calling with which you have been (E)called, with all (F)humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another (G)in love, being diligent to preserve 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]had 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 (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)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 [g]As a result, 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 [h]in (AI)deceitful scheming; 15 but [i]speaking the truth (AJ)in love, [j]we are to (AK)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the (AL)head, even Christ, 16 from whom (AM)the whole body, being fitted and held together [k]by what every joint supplies, according to the [l]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself (AN)in love.

The Christian’s Walk

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

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

Be Imitators of God

(BZ)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and (CA)walk in love, just as Christ also (CB)loved [y]you and (CC)gave Himself up for us, an (CD)offering and a sacrifice to God [z]as a (CE)fragrant aroma.

But (CF)immorality [aa]or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among [ab]saints; and there must be no (CG)filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which (CH)are not fitting, but rather (CI)giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that (CJ)no [ac]immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom (CK)of Christ and God.

(CL)Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things (CM)the wrath of God comes upon (CN)the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be (CO)partakers with them; for (CP)you were formerly (CQ)darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as (CR)children of Light (for (CS)the fruit of the Light consists in all (CT)goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 [ad](CU)trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 (CV)Do not participate in the unfruitful (CW)deeds of (CX)darkness, but instead even [ae](CY)expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible (CZ)when they are [af]exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason [ag]it says,

(DA)Awake, sleeper,
And arise from (DB)the dead,
And Christ (DC)will shine on you.”

15 Therefore [ah]be careful how you (DD)walk, not (DE)as unwise men but as wise, 16 [ai](DF)making the most of your time, because (DG)the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but (DH)understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And (DI)do not get drunk with wine, [aj]for that is (DJ)dissipation, but be (DK)filled with the Spirit, 19 (DL)speaking to [ak]one another in (DM)psalms and (DN)hymns and spiritual (DO)songs, (DP)singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 (DQ)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to [al](DR)God, even the Father; 21 [am](DS)and be subject to one another in the [an](DT)fear of Christ.

Marriage Like Christ and the Church

22 (DU)Wives, (DV)be subject to your own husbands, (DW)as to the Lord. 23 For (DX)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the (DY)head of the church, He Himself (DZ)being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

25 (EA)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and (EB)gave Himself up for her, 26 (EC)so that He might sanctify her, having (ED)cleansed her by the (EE)washing of water with (EF)the word, 27 that He might (EG)present to Himself the church [ao]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be (EH)holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to (EI)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are (EJ)members of His (EK)body. 31 (EL)For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to (EM)love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she [ap](EN)respects her husband.

Family Relationships

(EO)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (EP)Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

(EQ)Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but (ER)bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

(ES)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your [aq]masters according to the flesh, with (ET)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, (EU)as to Christ; (EV)not [ar]by way of eyeservice, as (EW)men-pleasers, but as (EX)slaves of Christ, (EY)doing the will of God from the [as]heart. With good will [at]render service, (EZ)as to the Lord, and not to men, (FA)knowing that (FB)whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, (FC)whether slave or free.

And masters, do the same things to them, and (FD)give up threatening, knowing that (FE)both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is (FF)no partiality with Him.

The Armor of God

10 Finally, (FG)be strong in the Lord and in (FH)the strength of His might. 11 (FI)Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the (FJ)schemes of the devil. 12 For our (FK)struggle is not against [au](FL)flesh and blood, but (FM)against the rulers, against the powers, against the (FN)world forces of this (FO)darkness, against the (FP)spiritual forces of wickedness in (FQ)the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up (FR)the full armor of God, so that you will be able to (FS)resist in (FT)the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, (FU)having girded your loins with truth, and having (FV)put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having (FW)shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 [av]in addition to all, taking up the (FX)shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the (FY)flaming arrows of (FZ)the evil one. 17 And take (GA)the helmet of salvation, and the (GB)sword of the Spirit, which is (GC)the word of God.

18 [aw]With all (GD)prayer and petition [ax](GE)pray at all times (GF)in the Spirit, and with this in view, [ay](GG)be on the alert with all (GH)perseverance and (GI)petition for all the saints, 19 and (GJ)pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me (GK)in the opening of my mouth, to make known with (GL)boldness (GM)the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an (GN)ambassador (GO)in [az]chains; that [ba]in proclaiming it I may speak (GP)boldly, (GQ)as I ought to speak.

21 (GR)But that you also may know about my circumstances, [bb]how I am doing, (GS)Tychicus, (GT)the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 [bc](GU)I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know [bd]about us, and that he may (GV)comfort your hearts.

23 (GW)Peace be to the brethren, and (GX)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ [be]with incorruptible love.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:8 Or He
  2. Ephesians 4:9 Lit is it except
  3. Ephesians 4:9 One early ms reads 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 So that we will no longer be
  8. Ephesians 4:14 Lit with regard to the scheming of deceit
  9. Ephesians 4:15 Or holding to or being truthful in
  10. Ephesians 4:15 Or let us grow up
  11. Ephesians 4:16 Lit through every joint of the supply
  12. Ephesians 4:16 Lit working in measure
  13. Ephesians 4:18 Or alienated
  14. Ephesians 4:19 Or greedy for the practice of every kind of impurity
  15. Ephesians 4:20 I.e. the Messiah
  16. Ephesians 4:22 Lit man
  17. Ephesians 4:24 Lit man
  18. Ephesians 4:24 Lit according to God
  19. Ephesians 4:27 Lit a place
  20. Ephesians 4:28 Lit the one
  21. Ephesians 4:29 Lit rotten
  22. Ephesians 4:29 Lit of the need
  23. Ephesians 4:30 Lit in
  24. Ephesians 4:32 Two early mss read us
  25. Ephesians 5:2 One early ms reads us
  26. Ephesians 5:2 Lit for an odor of fragrance
  27. Ephesians 5:3 Lit and all
  28. Ephesians 5:3 Or holy ones
  29. Ephesians 5:5 I.e. one who commits sexual immorality
  30. Ephesians 5:10 Lit proving what
  31. Ephesians 5:11 Or reprove
  32. Ephesians 5:13 Or reproved
  33. Ephesians 5:14 Or He
  34. Ephesians 5:15 Lit look carefully
  35. Ephesians 5:16 Lit redeeming the time
  36. Ephesians 5:18 Lit in which is
  37. Ephesians 5:19 Or yourselves
  38. Ephesians 5:20 Lit the God and Father
  39. Ephesians 5:21 Lit being subject
  40. Ephesians 5:21 Or reverence
  41. Ephesians 5:27 Lit glorious
  42. Ephesians 5:33 Lit fear
  43. Ephesians 6:5 I.e. earthly masters, with fear
  44. Ephesians 6:6 Lit according to
  45. Ephesians 6:6 Lit soul
  46. Ephesians 6:7 Lit rendering
  47. Ephesians 6:12 Lit blood and flesh
  48. Ephesians 6:16 Lit in all
  49. Ephesians 6:18 Lit Through
  50. Ephesians 6:18 Lit praying
  51. Ephesians 6:18 Lit being
  52. Ephesians 6:20 Lit a chain
  53. Ephesians 6:20 Two early mss read I may speak it boldly
  54. Ephesians 6:21 Lit what
  55. Ephesians 6:22 Lit Whom I have sent to you
  56. Ephesians 6:22 Lit the things about us
  57. Ephesians 6:24 Lit in incorruption