4 Because I serve the Lord, I am here in prison. I really want you to live as God's own people should live. God has called you to come to him. He has chosen you to be his own people. 2 Do not think that you are better than other people. Always be kind and patient with each other. Love one another, so that you do not quickly become angry with each other. 3 Do your best to let God's Spirit keep you united. You belong together so live in peace with each other. 4 As God's people, you are like one body. There is one Spirit that gives you life. God has chosen you to be his own people. So you all expect to receive the same great things from God. 5 There is one Lord. There is one true message that we must believe. There is one baptism. [ a ] 6 There is one God, who is the Father of all of us. He has authority over all of us. He works through all of us. He is in all of us.
7 But God has been kind to all of us. Each of us has received a special gift, just as Christ has decided to give us. 8 This is what it says about him:
‘When he went up to the highest place,
he led many prisoners with him.
Then he gave gifts to his people.’ [ b ]
9 It says: ‘He went up.’ That must mean that Christ had also come down. He came down to a lower place, the earth. 10 So the man who came down is also the man who went up, high above all the heavens. He did that so that he would fill everything everywhere.
11 It was Christ who chose to give different gifts to his people. He chose some to be apostles. He chose some to speak messages from God. He chose some to tell God's good news to many people. He chose some to take care of his people, and to teach them. 12 He gave all these gifts to help God's people to serve him in different ways. As a result, the church, which is like Christ's body, would become strong. 13 In that way, all of us will become united, like one person. We will all believe in Jesus as the Son of God. We will all know him. We will become like a man who has grown up well. We will be completely as God wants us to be, just like Christ himself.
14 So then we will not be like children any more. Our minds will not become confused by strange ideas. We will not change what we believe, from one thing to another. Some people teach things that are not true. They do clever things to deceive people. But we will not agree with their false message. 15 Instead, we will love each other and we will speak God's true message. As a result, we will become more and more like Christ in every way. He is the head of his body, which is the church. 16 As its head, he helps the whole body to grow well. Each part joins with the other parts so that the whole body becomes strong. As each separate part does its proper work, we love each other more and more.
17 So I say this to you. I am sure that I have the Lord's authority to say it. You must not live any longer like the Gentile people who do not know God. They do whatever their silly ideas teach them to do. 18 They cannot understand God's true message because their minds are in the dark. They have not accepted the life that God gives. They have decided that they do not want to know about God. They do not even try to understand. 19 They do not feel ashamed when they do all kinds of disgusting things. They do more and more bad things just to please themselves.
20 But when you learned about Christ, you did not learn to do things like that! 21 I am sure that you have heard about him properly. People taught you the true message that comes from Jesus. 22 They taught you to change the way that you live. You must put away the nature that you had before. That old nature deceived you. As a result, you wanted to do things that would destroy you. 23 Instead, let God's Spirit make you think in a new way. 24 Take up the new nature that God has prepared for you. That nature is like God's own nature. Then you will live in a truly good way that pleases God.
25 So you must stop telling lies. Each of you must say only true things to one another. Remember that all of us belong to one another, like parts of the same body. 26 When you are angry, do not do anything bad as a result. Once the day comes to an end, do not continue to be angry. 27 Do not give the Devil a chance to hurt you like that.
28 Any of you who robbed people before must now stop taking things. Instead, you should work hard with your own hands. Then you will be able to share what you have with people who are poor.
29 Do not say bad things that hurt or insult people. Instead, say only good things that will help people. Your words should help people to become strong when they hear them.
30 Do not do anything that will make God's Holy Spirit sad. God gave his Holy Spirit to you to show that you belong to him. As a result you know that God will make you completely free one day.
31 Do not be jealous of other people. Do not become angry or shout at them. Do not quarrel with other people or insult them. Do not do anything or say anything that will hurt other people. 32 Instead, help one another and be kind to each other. Forgive one another. Remember that God has forgiven you because of what Christ has done.
4 So, as a prisoner for the Lord, I beg you to live the way God’s people should live, because he chose you to be his. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient and accept each other with love. 3 You are joined together with peace through the Spirit. Do all you can to continue as you are, letting peace hold you together. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, and God chose you to have one hope. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. 6 There is one God and Father of us all, who rules over everyone. He works through all of us and in all of us.
7 Christ gave each one of us a special gift. Everyone received what he wanted to give them. 8 That is why the Scriptures say,
“He went up high into the sky;
he took prisoners with him,
and he gave gifts to people.” ( A )
9 When it says, “He went up,” what does it mean? It means that he first came down low to earth. 10 So Christ came down, and he is the same one who went up. He went up above the highest heaven in order to fill everything with himself. 11 And that same Christ gave these gifts to people: He made some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to go and tell the Good News, and some to care for and teach God’s people. [ a ] 12 Christ gave these gifts to prepare God’s holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger. 13 This work must continue until we are all joined together in what we believe and in what we know about the Son of God. Our goal is to become like a full-grown man—to look just like Christ and have all his perfection.
14 Then we will no longer be like babies. We will not be people who are always changing like a ship that the waves carry one way and then another. We will not be influenced by every new teaching we hear from people who are trying to deceive us—those who make clever plans and use every kind of trick to fool others into following the wrong way. 15 No, we will speak the truth with love. We will grow to be like Christ in every way. He is the head, 16 and the whole body depends on him. All the parts of the body are joined and held together, with each part doing its own work. This causes the whole body to grow and to be stronger in love.
17 I have something from the Lord to tell you. I warn you: Don’t continue living like those who don’t believe. Their thoughts are worth nothing. 18 They have no understanding, and they know nothing because they refuse to listen. So they cannot have the life that God gives. 19 They have lost their feeling of shame and use their lives to do what is morally wrong. More and more they want to do all kinds of evil. 20 But that way of life is nothing like what you learned when you came to know Christ. 21 I know that you heard about him, and in him you were taught the truth. Yes, the truth is in Jesus. 22 You were taught to leave your old self. This means that you must stop living the evil way you lived before. That old self gets worse and worse, because people are fooled by the evil they want to do. 23 You must be made new in your hearts and in your thinking. 24 Be that new person who was made to be like God, truly good and pleasing to him.
25 So you must stop telling lies. “You must always speak the truth to each other,” [ b ] because we all belong to each other in the same body. 26 “When you are angry, don’t let that anger make you sin,” [ c ] and don’t stay angry all day. 27 Don’t give the devil a way to defeat you. 28 Whoever has been stealing must stop it and start working. They must use their hands for doing something good. Then they will have something to share with those who are poor.
29 When you talk, don’t say anything bad. But say the good things that people need—whatever will help them grow stronger. Then what you say will be a blessing to those who hear you. 30 And don’t make the Holy Spirit sad. God gave you his Spirit as proof that you belong to him and that he will keep you safe until the day he makes you free. 31 Never be bitter, angry, or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. 32 Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.
4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: 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 labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
4 Therefore I, ( A ) the prisoner of the Lord, ( B ) urge you to ( C ) walk in a manner worthy of the ( D ) calling with which you have been ( E ) called, 2 with all ( F ) humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another ( G ) in love, 3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the ( H ) bond of peace. 4 There is ( I ) one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one ( J ) hope of your calling; 5 ( K ) one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all ( L ) who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But ( M ) to each one of us ( N ) grace was given ( O ) according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore [ a ] it says,
“ ( P ) When He ascended on high ,
He ( Q ) led captive the captives ,
And He gave gifts to people .”
9 (Now this expression , “He ( R ) ascended,” what [ b ] does it mean except that He also [ c ] had descended into ( S ) the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended ( T ) far above all the heavens, so that He might ( U ) fill all things.) 11 And He ( V ) gave ( W ) some as apostles, some as prophets, some as ( X ) evangelists, some as [ d ] pastors and ( Y ) teachers, 12 ( Z ) for the equipping of the [ e ] saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of ( AA ) the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to ( AB ) the unity of the faith, and of the [ f ] ( AC ) knowledge of the Son of God, to a ( AD ) mature man, to the measure of the stature [ g ] which belongs to the ( AE ) fullness of Christ. 14 [ h ] As a result, we are ( AF ) no longer to be children, ( AG ) tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by ( AH ) craftiness [ i ] in ( AI ) deceitful scheming; 15 but [ j ] speaking the truth ( AJ ) in love, [ k ] we are to ( AK ) grow up in all aspects into Him who is the ( AL ) head, that is , Christ, 16 from whom ( AM ) the whole body, being fitted and held together [ l ] by what every joint supplies, according to the [ m ] proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself ( AN ) in love.
17 ( AO ) So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, ( AP ) that you are to no longer walk just as the [ n ] Gentiles also walk, in the ( AQ ) futility of their minds, 18 being ( AR ) darkened in their understanding, [ o ] ( AS ) excluded from the life of God because of the ( AT ) ignorance that is in them, because of the ( AU ) hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having ( AV ) become callous, ( AW ) have given themselves up to ( AX ) indecent behavior [ p ] for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not ( AY ) learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you ( AZ ) have heard Him and have ( BA ) been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to ( BB ) rid yourselves of the ( BC ) old [ q ] self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the ( BD ) lusts of deceit, 23 and that you are to be ( BE ) renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to ( BF ) put on the ( BG ) new [ r ] self, which [ s ] ( BH ) in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
25 Therefore, ( BI ) ridding yourselves of falsehood, ( BJ ) speak truth each one of you with his neighbor , because we are ( BK ) parts of one another. 26 ( BL ) Be angry, and yet do not sin ; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not ( BM ) give the devil [ t ] an opportunity. 28 The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather ( BN ) he must labor, ( BO ) producing with his own hands what is good, ( BP ) so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. 29 Let no [ u ] ( BQ ) unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for ( BR ) edification [ v ] according to the need of the moment, say that , so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 ( BS ) Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, [ w ] by whom you were ( BT ) sealed for the day of redemption. 31 ( BU ) All bitterness, wrath, anger, [ x ] clamor, and slander must be ( BV ) removed from you, along with all ( BW ) malice. 32 ( BX ) Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, ( BY ) just as God in Christ also has forgiven [ y ] you.
4 As a prisoner ( A ) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy ( B ) of the calling ( C ) you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another ( D ) in love. ( E ) 3 Make every effort to keep the unity ( F ) of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ( G ) 4 There is one body ( H ) and one Spirit, ( I ) just as you were called to one hope when you were called ( J ) ; 5 one Lord, ( K ) one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, ( L ) who is over all and through all and in all. ( M )
7 But to each one of us ( N ) grace ( O ) has been given ( P ) as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it [ a ] says:
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions [ c ] ? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended ( S ) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) ( T ) 11 So Christ himself gave ( U ) the apostles, ( V ) the prophets, ( W ) the evangelists, ( X ) the pastors and teachers, ( Y ) 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ ( Z ) may be built up ( AA ) 13 until we all reach unity ( AB ) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God ( AC ) and become mature, ( AD ) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. ( AE )
14 Then we will no longer be infants, ( AF ) tossed back and forth by the waves, ( AG ) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ( AH ) 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, ( AI ) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, ( AJ ) that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows ( AK ) and builds itself up ( AL ) in love, ( AM ) as each part does its work.
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer ( AN ) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ( AO ) 18 They are darkened in their understanding ( AP ) and separated from the life of God ( AQ ) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ( AR ) 19 Having lost all sensitivity, ( AS ) they have given themselves over ( AT ) to sensuality ( AU ) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off ( AV ) your old self, ( AW ) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ( AX ) 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ( AY ) 24 and to put on ( AZ ) the new self, ( BA ) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. ( BB )
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully ( BC ) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ( BD ) 26 “In your anger do not sin” [ d ] : ( BE ) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. ( BF ) 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, ( BG ) doing something useful with their own hands, ( BH ) that they may have something to share with those in need. ( BI )
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, ( BJ ) but only what is helpful for building others up ( BK ) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ( BL ) with whom you were sealed ( BM ) for the day of redemption. ( BN ) 31 Get rid of ( BO ) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ( BP ) 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, ( BQ ) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. ( BR )
