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Efesini 4
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
Efesini 4
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
II. PARENESI
Appello all'unità
4 Vi esorto dunque io, il prigioniero nel Signore, a comportarvi in maniera degna della vocazione che avete ricevuto, 2 con ogni umiltà, mansuetudine e pazienza, sopportandovi a vicenda con amore, 3 cercando di conservare l'unità dello spirito per mezzo del vincolo della pace. 4 Un solo corpo, un solo spirito, come una sola è la speranza alla quale siete stati chiamati, quella della vostra vocazione; 5 un solo Signore, una sola fede, un solo battesimo. 6 Un solo Dio Padre di tutti, che è al di sopra di tutti, agisce per mezzo di tutti ed è presente in tutti.
7 A ciascuno di noi, tuttavia, è stata data la grazia secondo la misura del dono di Cristo. 8 Per questo sta scritto:
Ascendendo in cielo ha portato con sé prigionieri,
ha distribuito doni agli uomini.
9 Ma che significa la parola «ascese», se non che prima era disceso quaggiù sulla terra? 10 Colui che discese è lo stesso che anche ascese al di sopra di tutti i cieli, per riempire tutte le cose.
11 E' lui che ha stabilito alcuni come apostoli, altri come profeti, altri come evangelisti, altri come pastori e maestri, 12 per rendere idonei i fratelli a compiere il ministero, al fine di edificare il corpo di Cristo, 13 finché arriviamo tutti all'unità della fede e della conoscenza del Figlio di Dio, allo stato di uomo perfetto, nella misura che conviene alla piena maturità di Cristo. 14 Questo affinchè non siamo più come fanciulli sballottati dalle onde e portati qua e là da qualsiasi vento di dottrina, secondo l'inganno degli uomini, con quella loro astuzia che tende a trarre nell'errore. 15 Al contrario, vivendo secondo la verità nella carità, cerchiamo di crescere in ogni cosa verso di lui, che è il capo, Cristo, 16 dal quale tutto il corpo, ben compaginato e connesso, mediante la collaborazione di ogni giuntura, secondo l'energia propria di ogni membro, riceve forza per crescere in modo da edificare se stesso nella carità.
La vita nuova nel Cristo
17 Vi dico dunque e vi scongiuro nel Signore: non comportatevi più come i pagani nella vanità della loro mente, 18 accecati nei loro pensieri, estranei alla vita di Dio a causa dell'ignoranza che è in loro, e per la durezza del loro cuore. 19 Diventati così insensibili, si sono abbandonati alla dissolutezza, commettendo ogni sorta di impurità con avidità insaziabile.
20 Ma voi non così avete imparato a conoscere Cristo, 21 se proprio gli avete dato ascolto e in lui siete stati istruiti, secondo la verità che è in Gesù, 22 per la quale dovete deporre l'uomo vecchio con la condotta di prima, l'uomo che si corrompe dietro le passioni ingannatrici 23 e dovete rinnovarvi nello spirito della vostra mente 24 e rivestire l'uomo nuovo, creato secondo Dio nella giustizia e nella santità vera. 25 Perciò, bando alla menzogna: dite ciascuno la verità al proprio prossimo; perché siamo membra gli uni degli altri. 26 Nell'ira, non peccate; non tramonti il sole sopra la vostra ira, 27 e non date occasione al diavolo. 28 Chi è avvezzo a rubare non rubi più, anzi si dia da fare lavorando onestamente con le proprie mani, per farne parte a chi si trova in necessità. 29 Nessuna parola cattiva esca più dalla vostra bocca; ma piuttosto, parole buone che possano servire per la necessaria edificazione, giovando a quelli che ascoltano. 30 E non vogliate rattristare lo Spirito Santo di Dio, col quale foste segnati per il giorno della redenzione.
31 Scompaia da voi ogni asprezza, sdegno, ira, clamore e maldicenza con ogni sorta di malignità. 32 Siate invece benevoli gli uni verso gli altri, misericordiosi, perdonandovi a vicenda come Dio ha perdonato a voi in Cristo.
Ephesians 4
New International Version
Ephesians 4
New International Version
Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
4 As a prisoner(A) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy(B) of the calling(C) you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another(D) in love.(E) 3 Make every effort to keep the unity(F) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.(G) 4 There is one body(H) and one Spirit,(I) just as you were called to one hope when you were called(J); 5 one Lord,(K) one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all,(L) who is over all and through all and in all.(M)
7 But to each one of us(N) grace(O) has been given(P) as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says:
9 (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
- Ephesians 4:8 Or God
- Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:18
- Ephesians 4:9 Or the depths of the earth
- Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:4 (see Septuagint)
Ephesians 4
King James Version
Ephesians 4
King James Version
4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
New International Version (NIV) 
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