Walk in Unity

4 I, therefore, the prisoner ^[a]of the Lord, ^[b]beseech you to ^(A)walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ² with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, ³ endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit ^(B)in the bond of peace. ^4 (C)There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ^5 (D)one Lord, ^(E)one faith, ^(F)one baptism; ^6 (G)one God and Father of all, who is above all, and ^(H)through all, and in ^[c]you all.

Spiritual Gifts

⁷ But ^(I)to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore He says:

^9 (K)(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also ^[d]first descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is also the One ^(L)who ascended far above all the heavens, ^(M)that He might fill all things.)

¹¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, ^(N)for the ^[e]edifying of ^(O)the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith ^(P)and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to ^(Q)a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ¹⁴ that we should no longer be ^(R)children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of ^(S)deceitful plotting, ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the ^(T)head—Christ— ^16 (U)from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

The New Man

¹⁷ This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should ^(V)no longer walk as ^[f]the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, ¹⁸ having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the ^(W)blindness of their heart; ^19 (X)who, being past feeling, ^(Y)have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

²⁰ But you have not so learned Christ, ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you ^(Z)put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and ^(AA)be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you ^(AB)put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Do Not Grieve the Spirit

²⁵ Therefore, putting away lying, ^(AC)“Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for ^(AD)we are members of one another. ^26 (AE)“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ^27 (AF)nor give ^[g]place to the devil. ²⁸ Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather ^(AG)let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something ^(AH)to give him who has need. ^29 (AI)Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but ^(AJ)what is good for necessary ^[h]edification, ^(AK)that it may impart grace to the hearers. ³⁰ And ^(AL)do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ^31 (AM)Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, ^[i]clamor, and ^(AN)evil speaking be put away from you, ^(AO)with all malice. ³² And ^(AP)be kind to one another, tenderhearted, ^(AQ)forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Children and Parents^(A)

6 Children, ^(B)obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ^2 (C)“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: ³ “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

⁴ And ^(D)you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but ^(E)bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Bondservants and Masters

^5 (F)Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, ^(G)with fear and trembling, ^(H)in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; ^6 (I)not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, ^8 (J)knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

⁹ And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that ^[a]your own ^(K)Master also is in heaven, and ^(L)there is no partiality with Him.

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ^11 (M)Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the ^[b]wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ^(N)principalities, against powers, against ^(O)the rulers of ^[c]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ^13 (P)Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand ^(Q)in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, ^(R)having girded your waist with truth, ^(S)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ^15 (T)and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking ^(U)the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And ^(V)take the helmet of salvation, and ^(W)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ^18 (X)praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, ^(Y)being watchful to this end with all perseverance and ^(Z)supplication for all the saints— ¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, ^(AA)that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which ^(AB)I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

A Gracious Greeting

²¹ But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, ^(AC)Tychicus, a beloved brother and ^(AD)faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; ^22 (AE)whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may ^(AF)comfort your hearts.

²³ Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.