Add parallel Print Page Options

13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Living as Children of Light

17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Read full chapter

13 until we all reach unity(A) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God(B) and become mature,(C) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.(D)

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

Read full chapter