Ephesians 4-6
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
4 I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called,
2 With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity.
3 Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 One body and one Spirit; as you are called in one hope of your calling.
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all.
7 But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the giving of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith: Ascending on high, he led captivity captive; he gave gifts to men.
9 Now that he ascended, what is it, but because he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
11 And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors,
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ;
14 That henceforth we be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive.
15 But doing the truth in charity, we may in all things grow up in him who is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body, being compacted and fitly joined together, by what every joint supplieth, according to the operation in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in charity.
17 This then I say and testify in the Lord: That henceforward you walk not as also the Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts.
19 Who despairing, have given themselves up to lasciviousness, unto the working of all uncleanness, unto the working of all uncleanness, unto covetousness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 To put off, according to former conversation, the old man, who is corrupted according to the desire of error.
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind:
24 And put on the new man, who according to God is created in justice and holiness of truth.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak ye the truth every man with his neighbour; for we are members one of another.
26 Be angry, and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your anger.
27 Give not place to the devil.
28 He that stole, let him now steal no more; but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have something to give to him that suffereth need.
29 Let no evil speech proceed from your mouth; but that which is good, to the edification of faith, that it may administer grace to the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God: whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and anger, and indignation, and clamour, and blasphemy, be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be ye kind one to another; merciful, forgiving one another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ.
5 Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints:
4 Or obscenity, or foolish talking, or scurrility, which is to no purpose; but rather giving of thanks.
5 For know you this and understand, that no fornicator, or unclean, or covetous person (which is a serving of idols), hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words. For because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the children of unbelief.
7 Be ye not therefore partakers with them.
8 For you were heretofore darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk then as children of the light.
9 For the fruit of the light is in all goodness, and justice, and truth;
10 Proving what is well pleasing to God:
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For the things that are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of.
13 But all things that are reproved, are made manifest by the light; for all that is made manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith: Rise thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead: and Christ shall enlighten thee.
15 See therefore, brethren, how you walk circumspectly: not as unwise,
16 But as wise: redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore become not unwise, but understanding what is the will of God.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury; but be ye filled with the holy Spirit,
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God and the Father:
21 Being subject one to another, in the fear of Christ.
22 Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord:
23 Because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. He is the saviour of his body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the church, and delivered himself up for it:
26 That he might sanctify it, cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life:
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish.
28 So also ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife, loveth himself.
29 For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as also Christ doth the church:
30 Because we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh.
32 This is a great sacrament; but I speak in Christ and in the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular love his wife as himself: and let the wife fear her husband.
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is just.
2 Honour thy father and thy mother, which is the first commandment with a promise:
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest be long lived upon earth.
4 And you, fathers, provoke not your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and correction of the Lord.
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your lords according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to Christ:
6 Not serving to the eye, as it were pleasing men, but, as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart,
7 With a good will serving, as to the Lord, and not to men.
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man shall do, the same shall he receive from the Lord, whether he be bond, or free.
9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, forbearing threatenings, knowing that the Lord both of them and you is in heaven; and there is no respect of persons with him.
10 Finally, brethren, be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of his power.
11 Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil.
12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.
13 Therefore take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of justice,
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace:
16 In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one.
17 And take unto you the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God).
18 By all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the spirit; and in the same watching with all instance and supplication for all the saints:
19 And for me, that speech may be given me, that I may open my mouth with confidence, to make known the mystery of the gospel.
20 For which I am an ambassador in a chain, so that therein I may be bold to speak according as I ought.
21 But that you also may know the things that concern me, and what I am doing, Tychicus, my dearest brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make known to you all things:
22 Whom I have sent to you for this same purpose, that you may know the things concerning us, and that he may comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brethren and charity with faith, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption. Amen.
Ephesians 4-6
King James Version
4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
5 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Ephesians 4-6
English Standard Version
Unity in the Body of Christ
4 I therefore, (A)a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to (B)walk in a manner worthy of (C)the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all (D)humility and (E)gentleness, with (F)patience, (G)bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in (H)the bond of peace. 4 There is (I)one body and (J)one Spirit—just as you were called to the one (K)hope that belongs to your call— 5 (L)one Lord, (M)one faith, (N)one baptism, 6 (O)one God and Father of all, (P)who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But (Q)grace was given (R)to each one of us (S)according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,
9 ((V)In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into (W)the lower regions, the earth?[b] 10 He who descended is the one who also (X)ascended (Y)far above all the heavens, that he might (Z)fill all things.) 11 And (AA)he gave the (AB)apostles, the prophets, the (AC)evangelists, the (AD)shepherds[c] and teachers,[d] 12 (AE)to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for (AF)building up (AG)the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to (AH)the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, (AI)to mature manhood,[e] to the measure of the stature of (AJ)the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, (AK)tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in (AL)deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, (AM)speaking the truth in love, we are to (AN)grow up in every way into him who is (AO)the head, into Christ, 16 (AP)from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, (AQ)when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
The New Life
17 Now this I say and (AR)testify in the Lord, (AS)that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, (AT)in the futility of their minds. 18 They (AU)are darkened in their understanding, (AV)alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to (AW)their hardness of heart. 19 They (AX)have become callous and (AY)have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you (AZ)learned Christ!— 21 assuming that (BA)you have heard about him and (BB)were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to (BC)put off (BD)your old self,[f] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through (BE)deceitful desires, 23 and (BF)to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on (BG)the new self, (BH)created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you (BI)speak the truth with his neighbor, for (BJ)we are members one of another. 26 (BK)Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and (BL)give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather (BM)let him labor, (BN)doing honest work with his own hands, so (BO)that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 (BP)Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give (BQ)grace to those who hear. 30 And (BR)do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, (BS)by whom you were sealed for the day of (BT)redemption. 31 (BU)Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 (BV)Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, (BW)forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Walk in Love
5 (BX)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And (BY)walk in love, (BZ)as Christ loved us and (CA)gave himself up for us, a (CB)fragrant (CC)offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But (CD)sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness (CE)must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be (CF)no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, (CG)which are out of place, but instead (CH)let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that (CI)everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ((CJ)that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 (CK)Let no one (CL)deceive you with empty words, for because of these things (CM)the wrath of God comes upon (CN)the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore (CO)do not become partners with them; 8 for (CP)at one time you were (CQ)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. (CR)Walk as children of light 9 (for (CS)the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and (CT)try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 (CU)Take no part in the (CV)unfruitful (CW)works of darkness, but instead (CX)expose them. 12 For (CY)it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when (CZ)anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
15 (DD)Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 (DE)making the best use of the time, because (DF)the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what (DG)the will of the Lord is. 18 And (DH)do not get drunk with wine, for that is (DI)debauchery, but (DJ)be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in (DK)psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 (DL)giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father (DM)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 (DN)submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives and Husbands
22 (DO)Wives, (DP)submit to your own husbands, (DQ)as to the Lord. 23 For (DR)the husband is the head of the wife even as (DS)Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is (DT)himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit (DU)in everything to their husbands.
25 (DV)Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and (DW)gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by (DX)the washing of water (DY)with the word, 27 so (DZ)that he might present the church to himself in splendor, (EA)without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.[g] 28 In the same way (EB)husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because (EC)we are members of his body. 31 (ED)“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and (EE)the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, (EF)let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she (EG)respects her husband.
Children and Parents
6 (EH)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 (EI)“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, (EJ)but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Bondservants and Masters
5 (EK)Bondservants,[h] obey your earthly masters[i] with fear and trembling, (EL)with a sincere heart, (EM)as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as (EN)people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 (EO)knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, (EP)whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, (EQ)and stop your threatening, knowing that (ER)he who is both their Master[j] and yours is in heaven, and that (ES)there is no partiality with him.
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, (ET)be strong in the Lord and in (EU)the strength of his might. 11 (EV)Put on (EW)the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against (EX)the schemes of the devil. 12 For (EY)we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against (EZ)the rulers, against the authorities, against (FA)the cosmic powers over (FB)this present darkness, against (FC)the spiritual forces of evil (FD)in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore (FE)take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in (FF)the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, (FG)having fastened on the belt of truth, and (FH)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, (FI)as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up (FJ)the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all (FK)the flaming darts of (FL)the evil one; 17 and take (FM)the helmet of salvation, and (FN)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying (FO)at all times (FP)in the Spirit, (FQ)with all prayer and supplication. To that end, (FR)keep alert with all perseverance, making (FS)supplication for all the saints, 19 and (FT)also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth (FU)boldly to proclaim (FV)the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I (FW)am an ambassador (FX)in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Final Greetings
21 (FY)So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, (FZ)Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may (GA)encourage your hearts.
23 (GB)Peace be to the brothers,[k] and (GC)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who (GD)love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 4:8 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women
- Ephesians 4:9 Or the lower parts of the earth?
- Ephesians 4:11 Or pastors
- Ephesians 4:11 Or the shepherd-teachers
- Ephesians 4:13 Greek to a full-grown man
- Ephesians 4:22 Greek man; also verse 24
- Ephesians 5:27 Or holy and blameless
- Ephesians 6:5 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 6; likewise for bondservant in verse 8
- Ephesians 6:5 Or your masters according to the flesh
- Ephesians 6:9 Greek Lord
- Ephesians 6:23 Or brothers and sisters
Ephesians 4-6
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 4
Unity in the Body. 1 [a]I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,(A) 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love,(B) 3 striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:(C) 4 [b]one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call;(D) 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;(E) 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.(F)
Diversity of Gifts. 7 But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.(G) 8 Therefore, it says:
9 What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended into the lower [regions] of the earth? 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
11 [d]And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,(I) 12 to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,[e] for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,[f] to the extent of the full stature of Christ,(J) 14 so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.(K) 15 Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head,(L) Christ,[g] 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body’s growth and builds itself up in love.(M)
Renewal in Christ.[h] 17 So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds;(N) 18 darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart,(O) 19 they have become callous and have handed themselves over to licentiousness for the practice of every kind of impurity to excess.(P) 20 That is not how you learned Christ, 21 assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, 22 that you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires,(Q) 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your minds,(R) 24 and put on[i] the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.(S)
IV. Daily Conduct, an Expression of Unity[j]
Rules for the New Life. 25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members one of another.(T) 26 Be angry but do not sin;(U) do not let the sun set on your anger,[k] 27 and do not leave room for the devil.(V) 28 The thief must no longer steal, but rather labor, doing honest work[l] with his [own] hands, so that he may have something to share with one in need.(W) 29 No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear.(X) 30 And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.[m] 31 All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.(Y) 32 [And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.(Z)
Chapter 5
1 So be imitators of God,[n] as beloved children,(AA) 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.(AB) 3 Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones,(AC) 4 no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving.(AD) 5 Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.(AE)
Duty to Live in the Light. 6 (AF)Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.[o] 7 So do not be associated with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,(AG) 9 for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.(AH) 10 Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.(AI) 11 Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them,(AJ) 12 for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; 13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,(AK) 14 for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says:(AL)
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”[p]
15 [q]Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise,(AM) 16 making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. 18 And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,(AN) 19 addressing one another [in] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts,(AO) 20 giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.(AP)
Wives and Husbands. 21 [r]Be subordinate to one another(AQ) out of reverence for Christ.[s] 22 Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.(AR) 23 For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body.(AS) 24 As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her(AT) 26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,(AU) 27 that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.(AV) 28 So [also] husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body.(AW)
31 “For this reason a man shall leave [his] father and [his] mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.”(AX)
32 This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.(AY) 33 In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.
Chapter 6
Children and Parents. 1 Children, obey your parents [in the Lord], for this is right.(AZ) 2 “Honor your father and mother.”(BA) This is the first commandment with a promise, 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on earth.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.(BB)
Slaves and Masters. 5 Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ,(BC) 6 not only when being watched, as currying favor, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,(BD) 7 willingly serving the Lord and not human beings, 8 knowing that each will be requited from the Lord for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 9 Masters, act in the same way toward them, and stop bullying, knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven and that with him there is no partiality.(BE)
Battle Against Evil. 10 [t]Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. 11 Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.(BF) 12 For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.(BG) 13 Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.(BH) 14 So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,(BI) 15 and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.(BJ) 16 In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one.(BK) 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.(BL)
Constant Prayer. 18 With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones(BM) 19 and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel(BN) 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.(BO)
V. Conclusion
A Final Message.[u] 21 So that you also may have news of me and of what I am doing, Tychicus, my beloved brother and trustworthy minister in the Lord, will tell you everything.(BP) 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us and that he may encourage your hearts.(BQ)
23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in immortality.(BR)
Footnotes
- 4:1–16 A general plea for unity in the church. Christians have been fashioned through the Spirit into a single harmonious religious community (one body, Eph 4:4, 12; cf. Eph 4:16), belonging to a single Lord (in contrast to the many gods of the pagan world), and by one way of salvation through faith, brought out especially by the significance of baptism (Eph 4:1–6; cf. Rom 6:1–11). But Christian unity is more than adherence to a common belief. It is manifested in the exalted Christ’s gifts to individuals to serve so as to make the community more Christlike (Eph 4:11–16). This teaching on Christ as the source of the gifts is introduced in Eph 4:8 by a citation of Ps 68:18, which depicts Yahweh triumphantly leading Israel to salvation in Jerusalem. It is here understood of Christ, ascending above all the heavens, the head of the church; through his redemptive death, resurrection, and ascension he has become the source of the church’s spiritual gifts. The “descent” of Christ (Eph 4:9–10) refers more probably to the incarnation (cf. Phil 2:6–8) than to Christ’s presence after his death in the world of the dead (cf. 1 Pt 3:19).
- 4:4–6 The “seven unities” (church, Spirit, hope; Lord, faith in Christ [Eph 1:13], baptism; one God) reflect the triune structure of later creeds in reverse.
- 4:8–10 While the emphasis is on an ascension and gift-giving by Christ, there is also a reference in taking prisoners captive to the aeons and powers mentioned at Eph 1:21; 2:2; 3:10; 6:12.
- 4:11 Concerning this list of ministers, cf. 1 Cor 12:28 and Rom 12:6–8. Evangelists: missionary preachers (cf. Acts 21:8; 2 Tm 4:5), not those who wrote gospels. Pastors and teachers: a single group in the Greek, shepherding congregations.
- 4:12 The ministerial leaders in Eph 4:11 are to equip the whole people of God for their work of ministry.
- 4:13 Mature manhood: literally, “a perfect man” (cf. Col 1:28), possibly the “one new person” of Eph 2:15, though there anthrōpos suggests humanity, while here anēr is the term for male. This personage becomes visible in the church’s growing to its fullness in the unity of those who believe in Christ.
- 4:15–16 The head, Christ: cf. Col 1:18 and contrast 1 Cor 12:12–27 and Rom 12:4–5 where Christ is identified with the whole body, including the head. The imagery may derive from ancient views in medicine, the head coordinating and caring for the body, each ligament (perhaps the ministers of Eph 4:11) supporting the whole. But as at Eph 2:19–22, where the temple is depicted as a growing organism, there may also be the idea here of growing toward the capstone, Christ.
- 4:17–24 Paul begins to indicate how the new life in Christ contrasts with the Gentiles’ old way of existence. Literally, the old self (Eph 4:22) and the new self (Eph 4:24) are “the old man” and “the new man” (anthrōpos, person), as at Eph 2:15; cf. note on Eph 4:13.
- 4:24 Put on: in baptism. See note on Gal 3:27.
- 4:25–6:20 For similar exhortations to a morally good life in response to God’s gift of faith, see notes on Rom 12:1–13:14 and Gal 5:13–26.
- 4:26 If angry, seek reconciliation that day, not giving the devil (Eph 6:11) opportunity to lead into sin.
- 4:28 Honest work: literally, “the good.” His [own] hands: some manuscripts have the full phrase as in 1 Cor 4:12.
- 4:30 See note on Eph 1:13.
- 5:1 Imitators of God: in forgiving (Eph 4:32) and in loving (as exhibited in how Christ loved us).
- 5:6 See note on Eph 2:2.
- 5:14 An early Christian hymn, possibly from a baptismal liturgy. For the content compare Eph 2:5–6; 3:9 and Is 60:1.
- 5:15–16, 19–20 The wording is similar to Col 4:5 and Eph 3:16–17.
- 5:21–6:9 Cf. notes on Col 3:18–4:1 and 1 Pt 2:18–3:7 for a similar listing of household duties where the inferior is admonished first (wives, Eph 5:22; children, Eph 6:1; slaves, Eph 6:5), then the superior (husbands, Eph 5:25; fathers, Eph 6:4; masters, Eph 6:9). Paul varies this pattern by an emphasis on mutuality (see Eph 5:20); use of Old Testament material about father and mother in Eph 6:2; the judgment to come for slave-owners (you have a Master in heaven, Eph 6:9); and above all the initial principle of subordination to one another under Christ, thus effectively undermining exclusive claims to domination by one party. Into the section on wives and husbands an elaborate teaching on Christ and the church has been woven (Eph 5:22–33).
- 5:21–33 The apostle exhorts married Christians to a strong mutual love. Holding with Gn 2:24 that marriage is a divine institution (Eph 5:31), Paul sees Christian marriage as taking on a new meaning symbolic of the intimate relationship of love between Christ and the church. The wife should serve her husband in the same spirit as that of the church’s service to Christ (Eph 5:22, 24), and the husband should care for his wife with the devotion of Christ to the church (Eph 5:25–30). Paul gives to the Genesis passage its highest meaning in the light of the union of Christ and the church, of which Christlike loyalty and devotion in Christian marriage are a clear reflection (Eph 5:31–33).
- 6:10–20 A general exhortation to courage and prayer. Drawing upon the imagery and ideas of Is 11:5; 59:16–17; and Wis 5:17–23, Paul describes the Christian in terms of the dress and equipment of Roman soldiers. He observes, however, that the Christian’s readiness for combat is not directed against human beings but against the spiritual powers of evil (Eph 6:10–17; cf. Eph 1:21; 2:2; 3:10). Unique importance is placed upon prayer (Eph 6:18–20).
- 6:21–24 Tychicus: the bearer of the letter; see note on Col 4:7. Eph 6:21–22 parallel Col 4:7–8, often word for word. If Ephesians is addressed to several Christian communities (see Introduction), it is understandable that no greetings to individual members of these communities should have been included in it.
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