Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ

4 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord,^(A) urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, ² with all humility^(B) and gentleness, with patience,^(C) bearing^(D) with one another in love,^{(E) 3} making every effort to keep the unity^(F) of the Spirit^(G) through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit^(H)—just as you were called to one hope^[a](I) at your calling— ⁵ one Lord,^(J) one faith,^(K) one baptism, ⁶ one God^(L) and Father^(M) of all, who is above all and through all and in all.^(N)

⁷ Now grace was given to each one of us^(O) according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ For it says:

⁹ But what does “he ascended” mean except that he^[c] also descended to the lower parts of the earth?^{[d](R) 10} The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens,^(S) to fill all things.^{(T) 11} And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,^{(U) 13} until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son,^(V) growing into maturity with a stature^(W) measured by Christ’s fullness. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching,^(X) by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head^(Y)—Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, fitted and knit together^(Z) by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth^(AA) of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Living the New Life

¹⁷ Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because^[e] of the hardness of their hearts. ¹⁹ They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity^(AB) with a desire for more and more.^[f]

²⁰ But that is not how you came to know Christ, ²¹ assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth^(AC) is in Jesus, ²² to take off^[g](AD) your former way of life,^(AE) the old self^(AF) that is corrupted by deceitful desires, ²³ to be renewed^[h] in the spirit^(AG) of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on^[i](AH) the new self, the one created^(AI) according to God’s likeness^(AJ) in righteousness and purity of the truth.

²⁵ Therefore, putting away^(AK) lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor,^[j](AL) because we are members of one another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin.^[k](AM) Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and don’t give the devil an opportunity. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share^(AN) with anyone in need. ²⁹ No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need,^[l] so that it gives grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit.^(AO) You were sealed by him^[m] for the day of redemption.^{(AP) 31} Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. ³² And be kind^(AQ) and compassionate^(AR) to one another, forgiving^(AS) one another, just as God also forgave you^[n] in Christ.