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I egō therefore oun, the ho prisoner desmios in en the Lord kyrios, exhort parakaleō you hymeis to lead a life peripateō worthy axiōs of the ho calling klēsis with which hos you were called kaleō, with meta all pas humility tapeinophrosynē and kai gentleness prautēs, with meta patience makrothumia, bearing with anechōmai one allēlōn another in en love agapē, making every effort spoudazō to preserve tēreō the ho unity henotēs of the ho Spirit pneuma by en the ho bond syndesmos of ho peace eirēnē. There is one heis body sōma and kai one heis Spirit pneuma, just as kathōs you also kai were called kaleō to en the one heis hope elpis of ho your hymeis calling klēsis; one heis Lord kyrios, one heis faith pistis, one heis baptism baptisma; one heis God theos and kai Father patēr of all pas, who ho is above epi all pas and kai through dia all pas and kai in en all pas.

But de to each hekastos one heis of us hēmeis grace charis was given didōmi · ho according kata to the ho measure metron of the ho gift dōrea of ho Christ Christos. Therefore dio it says legō, “ When he ascended anabainō on eis high hypsos he led aichmalōteuō a host of prisoners aichmalōsia captive ; he gave didōmi gifts doma to ho men anthrōpos.” Now de the ho expression “ he ascended anabainō,” what tis does eimi it imply except ei mē that hoti he also kai descended katabainō to eis the ho lower katōteros regions meros, to the ho earth ? 10 He ho who descended katabainō is eimi himself autos the ho one who also kai ascended anabainō far above hyperanō all pas the ho heavens ouranos, so that hina he might fill plēroō · ho all pas things . 11 And kai it was he autos who gave didōmi the ho apostles apostolos, the ho · de prophets prophētēs, the ho · de evangelists euangelistēs, the ho · de pastors poimēn and kai teachers didaskalos, 12 to pros · ho equip katartismos the ho saints hagios for eis the work ergon of ministry diakonia, to eis build oikodomē up the ho body sōma of ho Christ Christos, 13 until mechri we all pas attain katantaō · ho to eis the ho unity henotēs of the ho faith pistis and kai of the ho knowledge epignōsis of the ho Son hyios of ho God theos, to eis mature teleios adulthood anēr, to eis the measure metron of the stature hēlikia of the ho fullness plērōma of ho Christ Christos, 14 so that hina we may no longer mēketi be eimi children nēpios, tossed klydōnizomai to and fro and kai blown peripherō about by every pas wind anemos of ho doctrine didaskalia, by en · ho human anthrōpos cunning kybeia, · ho by en craftiness panourgia in pros · ho deceitful planē scheming methodeia; · ho 15 but de, speaking the truth alētheuō in en love agapē, may grow auxanō up in every way pas into eis him autos · ho who hos is eimi the ho head kephalē, Christ Christos, 16 from ek whom hos the ho whole pas body sōma, joined synarmologeō and kai brought symbibazō together by dia every pas supporting epichorēgia ligament haphē, · ho according kata to the working energeia of en each hekastos individual heis part meros, makes poieō the ho body sōma · ho grow auxēsis so eis that it builds oikodomē itself heautou up in en love agapē.

17 Now oun this houtos I say legō and kai testify martyromai in en the Lord kyrios, that you hymeis are no longer mēketi to live peripateō as kathōs · kai the ho Gentiles ethnos live peripateō, in en the futility mataiotēs of ho their autos minds nous, 18 being eimi darkened skotoō in their ho understanding dianoia, separated apallotrioō from the ho life zōē of ho God theos because dia of the ho ignorance agnoia that ho is eimi in en them autos due dia to the ho hardening pōrōsis of ho their autos hearts kardia. 19 Having lost all feeling of shame apalgeō, they hostis have given themselves heautou over paradidōmi to ho debauchery aselgeia for eis the practice ergasia of every kind pas of impurity akatharsia with en covetousness pleonexia. 20 But de that is houtōs not ou the way houtōs you hymeis learned manthanō · ho Christ Christos!— 21 assuming ei ge that you have heard of akouō him autos and kai were taught didaskō in en him autos, as kathōs the truth alētheia is eimi in en · ho Jesus Iēsous. 22 Regarding kata your ho former proteros way of life anastrophē, you hymeis were taught to put away apotithēmi your ho old palaios self anthrōpos, which ho is being corrupted phtheirō and deluded apatē by kata its ho desires epithumia, · ho 23 and de to be renewed ananeoō in the ho spirit pneuma of ho your hymeis minds nous. 24 And kai to put on endyō the ho new kainos self anthrōpos, · ho created ktizō in kata God’ s theos likeness, in en the righteousness dikaiosynē and kai holiness hosiotēs that come from the ho truth alētheia.

25 Therefore dio put off apotithēmi · ho falsehood pseudos and let each one hekastos speak laleō the truth alētheia with meta · ho his autos neighbor plēsion, for hoti we are eimi members melos of one another allēlōn. 26 If you get angry orgizō, · kai do not sin hamartanō; do not allow the ho sun hēlios to go down epidyō on epi · ho your hymeis anger parorgismos 27 and mēde do not give didōmi an opportunity topos to the ho devil diabolos. 28 Let the ho thief kleptō no longer mēketi steal kleptō, but de rather mallon let him work hard kopiaō, doing ergazomai good agathos with ho his own idios hands cheir, · ho so that hina he may have echō something to share metadidōmi with the ho one in echō need chreia. 29 Let ekporeuomai no evil sapros talk pas logos come ekporeuomai out ek of · ho your hymeis mouth stoma, but alla only ei what tis is useful agathos for pros building oikodomē up , as the ho need chreia arises, that hina it may benefit didōmi those ho who hear akouō. 30 And kai do not grieve lypeō the ho Holy hagios Spirit pneuma · ho of ho God theos, in en whom hos you were sealed sphragizō for eis the day hēmera of redemption apolytrōsis. 31 Let all pas bitterness pikria and kai wrath thumos and kai anger orgē and kai clamor kraugē and kai slander blasphēmia be removed airō from apo you hymeis, along with syn all pas malice kakia. 32 Instead de, be ginomai kind chrēstos to eis one another allēlōn, tenderhearted eusplanchnos, forgiving charizomai one another heautou, just as kathōs · kai · ho God theos in en Christ Christos forgave charizomai you hymeis.

Unity of the body of Christ

Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, I encourage you to live as people worthy of the call you received from God. Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love, and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together. You are one body and one spirit, just as God also called you in one hope. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all.

God has given his grace to each one of us measured out by the gift that is given by Christ. That’s why scripture says, When he climbed up to the heights, he captured prisoners, and he gave gifts to people.[a]

What does the phrase “he climbed up” mean if it doesn’t mean that he had first gone down into the lower regions, the earth? 10 The one who went down is the same one who climbed up above all the heavens so that he might fill everything.

11 He gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. 12 His purpose was to equip God’s people for the work of serving and building up the body of Christ 13 until we all reach the unity of faith and knowledge of God’s Son. God’s goal is for us to become mature adults—to be fully grown, measured by the standard of the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we aren’t supposed to be infants any longer who can be tossed and blown around by every wind that comes from teaching with deceitful scheming and the tricks people play to deliberately mislead others. 15 Instead, by speaking the truth with love, let’s grow in every way into Christ, 16 who is the head. The whole body grows from him, as it is joined and held together by all the supporting ligaments. The body makes itself grow in that it builds itself up with love as each one does its part.

The old and new life

17 So I’m telling you this, and I insist on it in the Lord: you shouldn’t live your life like the Gentiles anymore. They base their lives on pointless thinking, 18 and they are in the dark in their reasoning. They are disconnected from God’s life because of their ignorance and their closed hearts. 19 They are people who lack all sense of right and wrong, and who have turned themselves over to doing whatever feels good and to practicing every sort of corruption along with greed.

20 But you didn’t learn that sort of thing from Christ. 21 Since you really listened to him and you were taught how the truth is in Jesus, 22 change the former way of life that was part of the person you once were, corrupted by deceitful desires. 23 Instead, renew the thinking in your mind by the Spirit 24 and clothe yourself with the new person created according to God’s image in justice and true holiness.

25 Therefore, after you have gotten rid of lying, Each of you must tell the truth to your neighbor[b] because we are parts of each other in the same body. 26 Be angry without sinning.[c] Don’t let the sun set on your anger. 27 Don’t provide an opportunity for the devil. 28 Thieves should no longer steal. Instead, they should go to work, using their hands to do good so that they will have something to share with whoever is in need.

29 Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say. 30 Don’t make the Holy Spirit of God unhappy—you were sealed by him for the day of redemption. 31 Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil. 32 Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.