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.

Not Carnality but Christ

3 If then you were ^(A)raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, ^(B)where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the ^(C)earth. ^3 (D)For you died, ^(E)and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ^4 (F)When Christ who is ^(G)our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in ^(H)glory.

^5 (I)Therefore put to death ^(J)your members which are on the earth: ^(K)fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, ^(L)which is idolatry. ^6 (M)Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon ^(N)the sons of disobedience, ^7 (O)in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

^8 (P)But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, ¹⁰ and have put on the new man who ^(Q)is renewed in knowledge ^(R)according to the image of Him who ^(S)created him, ¹¹ where there is neither ^(T)Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, ^(U)but Christ is all and in all.

Character of the New Man

¹² Therefore, ^(V)as the elect of God, holy and beloved, ^(W)put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ^13 (X)bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ^14 (Y)But above all these things ^(Z)put on love, which is the ^(AA)bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let ^(AB)the peace of God rule in your hearts, ^(AC)to which also you were called ^(AD)in one body; and ^(AE)be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another ^(AF)in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And ^(AG)whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The Christian Home^(AH)

^18 (AI)Wives, submit to your own husbands, ^(AJ)as is fitting in the Lord.

^19 (AK)Husbands, love your wives and do not be ^(AL)bitter toward them.

^20 (AM)Children, obey your parents ^(AN)in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

^21 (AO)Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

^22 (AP)Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ^23 (AQ)And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ^24 (AR)knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; ^(AS)for^[a] you serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and ^(AT)there is no partiality.

Christian Graces; Final Greetings

4 Masters,^(AU) give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Christian Graces

^2 (AV)Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it ^(AW)with thanksgiving; ^3 (AX)meanwhile praying also for us, that God would ^(AY)open to us a door for the word, to speak ^(AZ)the ^[b]mystery of Christ, ^(BA)for which I am also in chains, ⁴ that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

^5 (BB)Walk in ^(BC)wisdom toward those who are outside, ^(BD)redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be ^(BE)with grace, ^(BF)seasoned with salt, ^(BG)that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Final Greetings^(BH)

^7 (BI)Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. ^8 (BJ)I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that ^[c]he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, ⁹ with ^(BK)Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

^10 (BL)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with ^(BM)Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹ and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.

^12 (BN)Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always ^(BO)laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand ^(BP)perfect and ^[d]complete in all the will of God. ¹³ For I bear him witness that he has a great ^[e]zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. ^14 (BQ)Luke the beloved physician and ^(BR)Demas greet you. ¹⁵ Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and ^[f]Nymphas and ^(BS)the church that is in ^[g]his house.

Closing Exhortations and Blessing

¹⁶ Now when ^(BT)this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. ¹⁷ And say to ^(BU)Archippus, “Take heed to ^(BV)the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

^18 (BW)This salutation by my own hand—Paul. ^(BX)Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.