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Ephesians 4
New International Version

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

4 As a prisoner(A) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy(B) of the calling(C) you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another(D) in love.(E) 3 Make every effort to keep the unity(F) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.(G) 4 There is one body(H) and one Spirit,(I) just as you were called to one hope when you were called(J); 5 one Lord,(K) one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all,(L) who is over all and through all and in all.(M)

7 But to each one of us(N) grace(O) has been given(P) as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says:

“When he ascended on high,
    he took many captives(Q)
    and gave gifts to his people.”[b](R)

9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended(S) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)(T) 11 So Christ himself gave(U) the apostles,(V) the prophets,(W) the evangelists,(X) the pastors and teachers,(Y) 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ(Z) may be built up(AA) 13 until we all reach unity(AB) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God(AC) and become mature,(AD) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.(AE)

14 Then we will no longer be infants,(AF) tossed back and forth by the waves,(AG) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.(AH) 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love,(AI) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,(AJ) that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows(AK) and builds itself up(AL) in love,(AM) 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(AN) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.(AO) 18 They are darkened in their understanding(AP) and separated from the life of God(AQ) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.(AR) 19 Having lost all sensitivity,(AS) they have given themselves over(AT) to sensuality(AU) 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(AV) your old self,(AW) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;(AX) 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;(AY) 24 and to put on(AZ) the new self,(BA) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.(BB)

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully(BC) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.(BD) 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]:(BE) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.(BF) 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,(BG) doing something useful with their own hands,(BH) that they may have something to share with those in need.(BI)

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,(BJ) but only what is helpful for building others up(BK) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,(BL) with whom you were sealed(BM) for the day of redemption.(BN) 31 Get rid of(BO) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.(BP) 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(BQ) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(BR)

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:8 Or God
  2. Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:18
  3. Ephesians 4:9 Or the depths of the earth
  4. Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:4 (see Septuagint)
Close WE

Ephesians 4
Worldwide English (New Testament)

4 I am a prisoner who belongs to the Lord. I beg you, live the way people should live who have been called by God.

2 Do not be proud at all. Be very humble. Love one another and be patient with each other.

3 The Spirit has made you all one. Try to stay like that. May you be at peace with one another.

4 There is one body of Christ and one Spirit. When God called you, there was one hope before you in your calling.

5 There is one Lord, one way to believe, and one baptism.

6 There is one God and Father of us all. He is over all. He works through all. And he is living in us all.

7 But each one of us has received a blessing, whatever amount Christ has given to each one.

8 So then, the holy writings say, `When Christ went up to heaven he took those he had won with him. And he gave gifts to men.'

9 Now, what does `he went up' mean? Does it not mean that he also came down to the earth below?

10 The one who came down is the same one who went up higher than all the heavens. He did this so that he would be everywhere.

11 The gifts he gave are these: some are to be apostles; some prophets; some evangelists; some pastors and teachers.

12 These gifts are to make God's people better able to do their work for him and to make the body of Christ become stronger.

13 The gifts are given so that we will all believe the one way and all know the Son of God. They are given so that we will be really grown-up Christians, like Christ himself.

14 The body of Christ must grow so that we will no longer be like children. We are like children when we are pushed this way and that way. We change our minds every time people bring a different teaching. Some teachers teach the lies of men and fool people so that they believe wrong things.

15 We must say what is true and say it with love. In that way we will grow up in all things to be like Christ, who is the head of this body.

16 The whole body is joined and held together by every joint that it has. It is from Christ that the whole body grows as each different part does its work. It grows so that it becomes stronger in love.

17 Here then is what the Lord has told me to say. You must not live like the people who do not believe in God. They do not think clearly.

18 Their minds are dark. They are far away from God's life because they do not know the truth. They have no love in their hearts.

19 Nothing makes them ashamed anymore. They live a very bad life. They do every kind of wrong thing. And they always want to do it more.

20 That is not what you have learned from Christ!

21 You were taught by him, and Jesus has the truth!

22 Stop being the person you used to be in your old life. That person was bad because he wanted to do wrong things.

23 Have a new mind and heart.

24 Be a new person. That new person has been made like God. He does what is right and holy because he knows the truth.

25 So stop telling lies. Tell the truth to each other. We all are parts of the same body.

26 When you are angry, do not do anything wrong. And do not stay angry after the sun goes down.

27 Do not let the devil control you.

28 The person who used to steal must not steal now. But he must do some good work with his own hands. Then he will have something to give to the poor people.

29 Do not let any bad words come out of your mouth. But say good things that will help people. Then those who hear you will also be blessed by what you say.

30 Do nothing that makes the Holy Spirit feel sad. He is the mark God has put on you until the day you will belong to God altogether.

31 You must stop all hate, big and small anger, loud talk, saying wrong things about people, and all wanting to do wrong things to people.

32 Be kind to one another. Have a loving and understanding heart. Forgive one another because God has forgiven you for Christ's sake.

Listen to Ephesians 4
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Ephesians 4
New King James Version

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:

(J)“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”

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.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:1 Lit. in
  2. Ephesians 4:1 exhort, encourage
  3. Ephesians 4:6 NU omits you; M us
  4. Ephesians 4:9 NU omits first
  5. Ephesians 4:12 building up
  6. Ephesians 4:17 NU omits the rest of
  7. Ephesians 4:27 an opportunity
  8. Ephesians 4:29 building up
  9. Ephesians 4:31 loud quarreling
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Ephesians 4
Legacy Standard Bible

Unity of the Spirit

4 Therefore I, (A)the prisoner in the Lord, (B)exhort you to (C)walk worthy of the (D)calling with which you have been (E)called, 2 with all (F)humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another (G)in love, 3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the (H)bond of peace. 4 There is (I)one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one (J)hope of your calling; 5 (K)one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all (L)who is over all and through all and in all.

7 But (M)to each one of us (N)grace was given (O)according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore [a]it says,

“(P)When He ascended on high,
He (Q)led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.”

9 (Now this expression, “He (R)ascended,” what [b]does it mean except that He also [c]descended into (S)the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended (T)far above all the heavens, so that He might (U)fill all things.) 11 And He Himself (V)gave (W)some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as (X)evangelists, and some as pastors and (Y)teachers, 12 (Z)for the equipping of the [d]saints for the work of service, to the building up of (AA)the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to (AB)the unity of the faith, and of the [e](AC)full knowledge of the Son of God, to a (AD)mature man, to the measure of the stature [f]which belongs to the (AE)fullness of Christ, 14 so that we are (AF)no longer to be children, (AG)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by (AH)craftiness [g]in (AI)deceitful scheming, 15 but [h]speaking the truth (AJ)in love, [i]we are to (AK)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the (AL)head, that is Christ, 16 from whom (AM)the whole body, being joined and held together [j]by what every joint supplies, according to the properly (AN)measured working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself (AO)in love.

Put On the New Man

17 (AP)Therefore this I say, and testify in the Lord, (AQ)that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the (AR)futility of their mind, 18 being (AS)darkened in their mind, (AT)alienated from the life of God because of the (AU)ignorance that is in them, because of the (AV)hardness of their heart. 19 And they, having (AW)become callous, (AX)have given themselves over to (AY)sensuality [k]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not (AZ)learn [l]Christ in this way— 21 if indeed you (BA)heard Him and were (BB)taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 [m]to (BC)lay aside, in reference to your former conduct, the (BD)old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the (BE)lusts of deceit, 23 and to be (BF)renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and to (BG)put on the (BH)new man, which [n](BI)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

25 Therefore, (BJ)laying aside falsehood, (BK)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are (BL)members of one another. 26 (BM)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not (BN)give the devil [o]an opportunity. 28 He who steals must steal no longer, but rather (BO)he must labor, (BP)performing with his own hands what is good, (BQ)so that he will have something to share with [p]one who has need. 29 Let no [q](BR)unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for (BS)building up [r]what is needed, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 (BT)And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, [s]by whom you were (BU)sealed for the day of redemption. 31 (BV)Let all bitterness and anger and wrath and shouting and slander be (BW)put away from you, along with all (BX)malice. 32 (BY)Instead, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, graciously forgiving each other, (BZ)just as God in Christ also has graciously forgiven [t]you.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:8 Or He
  2. Ephesians 4:9 Lit is it except
  3. Ephesians 4:9 One early ms had first descended
  4. Ephesians 4:12 Or holy ones
  5. Ephesians 4:13 Or true knowledge
  6. Ephesians 4:13 Lit of the fullness
  7. Ephesians 4:14 Lit with regard to the scheming of deceit
  8. Ephesians 4:15 Or holding to, being truthful in
  9. Ephesians 4:15 Or let us grow up
  10. Ephesians 4:16 Lit through every joint of the supply
  11. Ephesians 4:19 Or greedy for the practice of every kind of impurity
  12. Ephesians 4:20 Messiah
  13. Ephesians 4:22 Lit for you
  14. Ephesians 4:24 Lit according to God
  15. Ephesians 4:27 Lit a place
  16. Ephesians 4:28 Lit the one
  17. Ephesians 4:29 Lit rotten
  18. Ephesians 4:29 Or according to the need
  19. Ephesians 4:30 Lit in
  20. Ephesians 4:32 Two early mss us
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Ephesians 3
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