Ephesians 4

Christians Should Live in Unity

1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to live in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, putting up with one another in love,3 being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;4 one body and one Spirit (just as also you were called with one hope of your calling),5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.

Gifted Leaders Bring the Church to Maturity

7 Now to each one of us was given this grace, according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

8 Therefore it says,
“Ascending on high he led captivity captive;
he gave gifts to men.”t
9 Now “he ascended,” what is it, except that he also descendedt to the lower regions of the earth?

10 The one who descended himself is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order that he might fill all things.
11 And he himself gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers12 for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ,13 until we all reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to a measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ,14 so that we may no longer be infants, tossed about by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching, by the trickery of people, by craftiness with reference to the scheming of deceit.15 But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow into him with reference to all things, who is the head, Christ,

16 from whom the whole body, joined together and held together by every supporting ligament, according to the working by measure of each single part, the growth of the body makes for the building up of itself in love.

Appeal for New Behavior

17 This therefore I say and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the Gentiles walk: in the futility of their mind,18 being darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart,

19 who, becoming callous, gave themselves over to licentiousness, for the pursuit of all uncleanness in greediness.
20 But you did not learn Christ in this way,21 if indeed you have heard about him, and you were taught by him (just as truth is in Jesus),22 that you take off, according to your former way of life, the old man, who is being destroyed according to deceitful desires,23 be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

24 and put on the new man (in accordance with God), who is created in righteousness and holiness from the truth.

Old Behavior, New Behavior, and Motivation

25 Therefore, putting aside the lie, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor,t because we are members of one another.26 Be angry and do not sin;t do not let the sun set on your anger,27 nor give place to the devil.28 The one who steals must steal no longer, but instead must labor, working with his own hands what is good, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need.29 No rotten word must proceedt from your mouth, but only something good for the building up of the need, in order that it may give grace to those who hear,30 and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.31 All bitterness, and rage, and wrath, and clamor, and abusive speech, must be removed from you, together with all wickedness.

32 Becomet kind toward one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as also God in Christ has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4

1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called,2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;3 giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling;5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.7 But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men.9 (Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?10 He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)11 And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;12 for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:13 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:14 that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ;16 from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind,18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart;19 who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.20 But ye did not so learn Christ;21 if so be that ye heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:22 that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit;23 and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind,24 and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.25 Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: 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 labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need.29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice:32 and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.