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.

Ephesians 4

Chapter 4

Unity in the Body

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.
7 However, he has given each one of us a special giftt through the generosity of Christ.

8 That is why the Scriptures say,
“When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people.”t9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.t

10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Living as Children of Light

17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.

19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ.21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”t Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,

27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own,t guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.