15 but [a]speaking the truth (A)in love, [b]we are to (B)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the (C)head, that is, Christ,

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:15 Or holding to; or being truthful in
  2. Ephesians 4:15 Or let’s grow up

15 Instead, speaking the truth in love,(A) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,(B) that is, Christ.

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29 Let no [a](A)unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for (B)edification [b]according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:29 Lit rotten
  2. Ephesians 4:29 Lit of the need

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,(A) but only what is helpful for building others up(B) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

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31 (A)All bitterness, wrath, anger, [a]clamor, and slander must be (B)removed from you, along with all (C)malice.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:31 Or shouting

31 Get rid of(A) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.(B)

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and there must be no (A)filthiness [a]or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which (B)are not fitting, but rather (C)giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that (D)no sexually immoral or [b]impure or greedy person, which [c]amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom (E)of Christ and God.

(F)See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things (G)the wrath of God comes upon (H)the [d]sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become (I)partners with them; for (J)you were once (K)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as (L)children of light (for (M)the fruit of the light consists in all (N)goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 [e](O)as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:4 Lit and
  2. Ephesians 5:5 I.e., morally impure
  3. Ephesians 5:5 Lit is
  4. Ephesians 5:6 I.e., people opposed to God
  5. Ephesians 5:10 Lit putting to the test what

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk(A) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.(B) For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater(C)—has any inheritance(D) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a](E) Let no one deceive you(F) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath(G) comes on those who are disobedient.(H) Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once(I) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light(J) (for the fruit(K) of the light consists in all goodness,(L) righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.(M)

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Messiah and God

(A)Therefore, [a]treat (B)the parts of your earthly body as dead to (C)sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which [b]amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that (D)the wrath of God is coming [c]upon the [d]sons of disobedience, and (E)in them you also once walked, when you were living [e]in them. But now you also, (F)rid yourselves of all of them: (G)anger, wrath, malice, slander, and (H)obscene speech from your mouth.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:5 Lit put to death the parts of your body which are upon the earth
  2. Colossians 3:5 Lit is
  3. Colossians 3:6 Two early mss do not contain upon the sons of disobedience
  4. Colossians 3:6 I.e., people opposed to God
  5. Colossians 3:7 Or among these

Put to death,(A) therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:(B) sexual immorality,(C) impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,(D) which is idolatry.(E) Because of these, the wrath of God(F) is coming.[a] You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.(G) But now you must also rid yourselves(H) of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,(I) and filthy language from your lips.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:6 Some early manuscripts coming on those who are disobedient

22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to (A)the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘[a]You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to [b](B)the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the [c](C)fiery hell.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:22 Or You empty-head; Gr Raka (Raca) from Aramaic reqa
  2. Matthew 5:22 Lit the Sanhedrin; i.e., Jewish High Court
  3. Matthew 5:22 Lit Gehenna of fire

22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry(A) with a brother or sister[a][b] will be subject to judgment.(B) Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[c] is answerable to the court.(C) And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:22 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verse 23.
  2. Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts brother or sister without cause
  3. Matthew 5:22 An Aramaic term of contempt

12 “In everything, (A)therefore, [a]treat people the same way you want [b]them to treat you, for (B)this is the Law and the Prophets.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 7:12 Lit you, too, do so for them
  2. Matthew 7:12 Lit people

12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,(A) for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.(B)

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Or (A)do you not know that the unrighteous will not (B)inherit the kingdom of God? (C)Do not be deceived; (D)neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [a]homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will (E)inherit the kingdom of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 6:9 Two Gr words in the text, prob. submissive and dominant male homosexuals

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?(A) Do not be deceived:(B) Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers(C) nor men who have sex with men[a](D) 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers(E) will inherit the kingdom of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 6:9 The words men who have sex with men translate two Greek words that refer to the passive and active participants in homosexual acts.

The Excellence of Love

13 If I speak with the (A)tongues of mankind and of (B)angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a (C)clanging cymbal.

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13 If I speak in the tongues[a](A) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 13:1 Or languages

Now (A)if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their whole body as well. Look at the ships too: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are nevertheless directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot determines. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it (B)boasts of great things.

(C)See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And (D)the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among [a]our body’s parts as that which (E)defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our [b]life, and is set on fire by [c](F)hell. For every [d]species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human [e]race. But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of (G)deadly poison. With it we bless (H)our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, (I)who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring send out from the same opening both [f]fresh and bitter water? 12 (J)Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water produce [g]fresh.

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Footnotes

  1. James 3:6 Lit our parts
  2. James 3:6 Or existence, origin
  3. James 3:6 Gr Gehenna
  4. James 3:7 Lit nature
  5. James 3:7 Lit nature
  6. James 3:11 Lit sweet
  7. James 3:12 Lit sweet

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.(A) Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.(B) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire,(C) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(D) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(E)

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(F)

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.(G) 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?(H) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

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15 but [a]sanctify (A)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready (B)to make a [b]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the (C)hope that is in you, but (D)with gentleness and (E)respect;

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:15 I.e., set apart
  2. 1 Peter 3:15 Or argument; or explanation

15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer(A) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope(B) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

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