11 And (A)he gave the (B)apostles, the prophets, the (C)evangelists, the (D)shepherds[a] and teachers,[b] 12 (E)to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for (F)building up (G)the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to (H)the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, (I)to mature manhood,[c] to the measure of the stature of (J)the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, (K)tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in (L)deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, (M)speaking the truth in love, we are to (N)grow up in every way into him who is (O)the head, into Christ, 16 (P)from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, (Q)when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

The New Life

17 Now this I say and (R)testify in the Lord, (S)that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, (T)in the futility of their minds. 18 They (U)are darkened in their understanding, (V)alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to (W)their hardness of heart. 19 They (X)have become callous and (Y)have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you (Z)learned Christ!— 21 assuming that (AA)you have heard about him and (AB)were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to (AC)put off (AD)your old self,[d] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through (AE)deceitful desires, 23 and (AF)to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on (AG)the new self, (AH)created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you (AI)speak the truth with his neighbor, for (AJ)we are members one of another.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:11 Or pastors
  2. Ephesians 4:11 Or the shepherd-teachers
  3. Ephesians 4:13 Greek to a full-grown man
  4. Ephesians 4:22 Greek man; also verse 24

11 So Christ himself gave(A) the apostles,(B) the prophets,(C) the evangelists,(D) the pastors and teachers,(E) 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ(F) may be built up(G) 13 until we all reach unity(H) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God(I) and become mature,(J) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.(K)

14 Then we will no longer be infants,(L) tossed back and forth by the waves,(M) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.(N) 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love,(O) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,(P) that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows(Q) and builds itself up(R) in love,(S) 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(T) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.(U) 18 They are darkened in their understanding(V) and separated from the life of God(W) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.(X) 19 Having lost all sensitivity,(Y) they have given themselves over(Z) to sensuality(AA) 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(AB) your old self,(AC) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;(AD) 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;(AE) 24 and to put on(AF) the new self,(AG) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.(AH)

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully(AI) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.(AJ)

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