Divisions in the Church

¹⁰ Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you but that you be knit together in the same mind and the same purpose.^(A)

Imitating Christ’s Humility

2 If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy,^{(A) 2} make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.^{(B) 3} Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.^{(C) 4} Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.^(D)

Unity in the Body of Christ

4 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,^{(A) 2} with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,^{(B) 3} making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: ⁴ there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling,^{(C) 5} one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.^[a]

⁷ But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.^(D)

²⁵ that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.

¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another; do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly;^[a] do not claim to be wiser than you are.^(A)

Two Kinds of Wisdom

¹³ Who is wise and knowledgeable among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.^{(A) 14} But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant and lie about the truth. ¹⁵ This is not wisdom that comes down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.^{(B) 16} For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.^{(C) 17} But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.^{(D) 18} And the fruit of righteousness^[a] is sown in peace by those who make peace.^(E)

Final Greetings and Benediction

¹¹ Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell.^[a] Be restored; listen to my appeal;^[b] agree with one another; live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.^(A)

³¹ Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice.^{(A) 32} Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.^[a](B)

Psalm 133

The Blessedness of Unity

A Song of Ascents.