Ephesians 4

Unity in the Body of Christ

1 # Eph 3.1; Col 1.10 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2#Eph 1.4; Col 3.12with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: 4#1 Cor 12.12; Eph 1.18; 2.16there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.#4.6 Other ancient authorities read in us all

7 # Rom 12.3 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8#Judg 5.12; Ps 68.18; Col 2.15Therefore it is said,

“When he ascended on high, he made captivity itself a captive;#4.8 Or he led captive a host of captives

he gave gifts to his people.”

9(When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended#4.9 Other ancient authorities add first into the lower parts of the earth?#4.9 Or parts, to the earth 10He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) 11#1 Cor 12.28He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers 12#1 Cor 12.27; 2 Cor 13.9; Eph 1.23to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13#1 Cor 14.20; Col 1.28; 2.2until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity,#4.13 Gk to a mature man to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14#1 Cor 14.20; Eph 6.11We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15#2 Cor 4.2; Col 1.18but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

The Old Life and the New

17 # Rom 1.21; Col 3.7 Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer walk as the#4.17 Other ancient authorities add other gentiles walk, in the futility of their minds; 18#2 Cor 3.14; Eph 2.1, 12they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. 19They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20That is not the way you learned Christ! 21For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, 22#Rom 6.6; 1 Pet 2.1to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24#Rom 6.4; 2 Cor 5.17and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Rules for the New Life

25 # Zech 8.16; Rom 12.5 So then, putting away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26Be angry but do not sin;#4.26 Or If you are angry, do not sin do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and do not make room for the devil. 28Those who steal must give up stealing; rather, let them labor, doing good work with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is good for building up,#4.29 Other ancient authorities read building up faith as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30#Rom 8.23; 1 Thess 5.19And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31#Col 3.8; Titus 3.3Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice. 32#Mt 6.14, 15; 2 Cor 2.10Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.#4.32 Other ancient authorities read us

Currently Selected:

Ephesians 4: NRSVUE

Highlight

Copy