以弗所書 4

身體的合一

1 我為主作囚徒的勸你們，既然蒙召，行事為人就要與你們所蒙的呼召相稱。 2 凡事要謙虛、溫柔、忍耐，用愛心互相寬容， 3 以和平彼此聯繫，竭力保持聖靈所賜的合一。 4 身體只有一個，聖靈只有一位，正如你們蒙召，是為同有一個指望而蒙召， 5 一主，一信，一洗， 6 一上帝－就是萬人之父，超越萬有之上，貫通萬有，在萬有之中。 7 我們每個人蒙恩都是照基督所量給每個人的恩賜。 8 所以有話說： 「他升上高天的時候，擄掠了俘虜， 將各樣的恩賜賞給人。」

9 既說「他升上」，豈不是指他曾降到地底下嗎？ 10 那降下的，就是高升遠超越諸天之上的，為要充滿萬有。 11 他所賜的有使徒，有先知，有傳福音的，有牧者和教師， 12 為要裝備聖徒，做事奉的工作，建立基督的身體， 13 直等到我們眾人在信仰上同歸於一，認識上帝的兒子，得以長大成人，達到基督完全長成的身量。 14 這樣，我們不再作小孩子，中了人的詭計和欺騙的法術，被一切邪說之風搖動，飄來飄去。 15 我們反而要用愛心說誠實話，各方面向著基督長進，連於元首基督， 16 靠著他全身都連接得緊湊，百節各按各職，照著各體的功用彼此相助，使身體漸漸增長，在愛中建立自己。

舊我和新我

17 所以我這樣說，且在主裏鄭重地說，你們行事為人，不要再像外邦人存虛妄的心而活。 18 他們心地昏昧，因自己無知，心裏剛硬而與上帝所賜的生命隔絕了。 19 既然他們已經麻木，就放縱情慾，貪婪地行種種污穢的事。 20 但你們從基督學的不是這樣。 21 如果你們聽過他的道，領了他的教，因為真理就在耶穌裏， 22 你們要脫去從前的行為，脫去舊我；這舊我是因私慾的迷惑而漸漸敗壞的。 23 你們要把自己的心志更新， 24 並且穿上新我；這新我是照著上帝的形像造的，有從真理來的公義和聖潔。

新生活的守則

25 所以，你們要棄絕謊言，每個人要與鄰舍說誠實話，因為我們是互為肢體。 26 即使生氣也不要犯罪；不可含怒到日落， 27 不可給魔鬼留地步。 28 偷竊的，不要再偷；總要勤勞，親手t做正當的事，這樣才可以把自己有的，分給有缺乏的人。 29 一句壞話也不可出口，只要隨著需要說造就人的好話，讓聽見的人得益處。 30 不要使上帝的聖靈擔憂，你們原是受了他的印記，等候得救贖的日子來到。 31 一切苦毒、憤怒、惱恨、嚷鬧、毀謗，和一切的惡毒都要從你們中間除掉。 32 要仁慈相待，存憐憫的心，彼此饒恕，正如上帝在基督裏饒恕了你們一樣。

EPHESIANS 4

Unity with Christ

1 As a prisoner of the Lord, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own. 2 t Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. 3 Try your best to let God's Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace. 4 All of you are part of the same body. There is only one Spirit of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God's people. 5 We have only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.

6 There is one God who is the Father of all people. Not only is God above all others, but he works by using all of us, and he lives in all of us.
7 Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us.

8 t As the Scriptures say,
“When he went up
to the highest place,
he led away many prisoners
and gave gifts to people.”
9 When it says, “he went up,” it means that Christ had been deep in the earth.

10 This also means that the one who went deep into the earth is the same one who went into the highest heaven, so he would fill the whole universe.
11 Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, 12 so his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong.

13 This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.t
14 We must stop acting like children. We must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which are like winds that toss us around from place to place. 15 Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head

16 t of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love.

The Old Life and //the New Life

17 As a follower of the Lord, I order you to stop living like stupid, godless people. 18 Their minds are in the dark, and they are stubborn and ignorant and have missed out on the life that comes from God. They no longer have any feelings about what is right,

19 and they are so greedy they do all kinds of indecent things.
20-21 But this isn't what you were taught about Jesus Christ. He is the truth, and you heard about him and learned about him. 22 t You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. 23 Let the Spirit change your way of thinking

24 t and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy.

Rules for the New Life

25  t We are part of the same body. Stop lying and start telling each other the truth. 26 t Don't get so angry that you sin. Don't go to bed angry

27 and don't give the devil a chance.

28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Be honest and work hard, so you will have something to give to people in need.

29 Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.

30 Don't make God's Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins.
31 Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. 32 t Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.