Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ

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

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

⁹ But what does “He ascended” mean except that He^[e] descended to the lower parts of the earth?^{[f](S) 10} The One who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens,^(T) that He might fill^[g] all things.^{(U) 11} And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,^{(V) 13} until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son,^(W) growing into a mature man with a stature^(X) 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,^(Y) 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^(Z)—Christ. ¹⁶ From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together^(AA) by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth^(AB) of the body for building up itself 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 walk, 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 of the hardness of their hearts. ¹⁹ They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity^(AC) with a desire for more and more.^[h]

²⁰ But that is not how you learned about the Messiah, ²¹ assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, because the truth^(AD) is in Jesus. ²² You took off^[i](AE) your former way of life,^(AF) the old self^[j](AG) that is corrupted by deceitful desires; ²³ you are being renewed^[k] in the spirit^(AH) of your minds; ²⁴ you put on^[l](AI) the new self, the one created^(AJ) according to God’s likeness^(AK) in righteousness and purity of the truth.

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