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I egō therefore oun, the ho prisoner desmios in en the Lord kyrios, exhort parakaleō you hymeis to lead a life peripateō worthy axiōs of the ho calling klēsis with which hos you were called kaleō, with meta all pas humility tapeinophrosynē and kai gentleness prautēs, with meta patience makrothumia, bearing with anechōmai one allēlōn another in en love agapē, making every effort spoudazō to preserve tēreō the ho unity henotēs of the ho Spirit pneuma by en the ho bond syndesmos of ho peace eirēnē. There is one heis body sōma and kai one heis Spirit pneuma, just as kathōs you also kai were called kaleō to en the one heis hope elpis of ho your hymeis calling klēsis; one heis Lord kyrios, one heis faith pistis, one heis baptism baptisma; one heis God theos and kai Father patēr of all pas, who ho is above epi all pas and kai through dia all pas and kai in en all pas.

But de to each hekastos one heis of us hēmeis grace charis was given didōmi · ho according kata to the ho measure metron of the ho gift dōrea of ho Christ Christos. Therefore dio it says legō, “ When he ascended anabainō on eis high hypsos he led aichmalōteuō a host of prisoners aichmalōsia captive ; he gave didōmi gifts doma to ho men anthrōpos.” Now de the ho expression “ he ascended anabainō,” what tis does eimi it imply except ei mē that hoti he also kai descended katabainō to eis the ho lower katōteros regions meros, to the ho earth ? 10 He ho who descended katabainō is eimi himself autos the ho one who also kai ascended anabainō far above hyperanō all pas the ho heavens ouranos, so that hina he might fill plēroō · ho all pas things . 11 And kai it was he autos who gave didōmi the ho apostles apostolos, the ho · de prophets prophētēs, the ho · de evangelists euangelistēs, the ho · de pastors poimēn and kai teachers didaskalos, 12 to pros · ho equip katartismos the ho saints hagios for eis the work ergon of ministry diakonia, to eis build oikodomē up the ho body sōma of ho Christ Christos, 13 until mechri we all pas attain katantaō · ho to eis the ho unity henotēs of the ho faith pistis and kai of the ho knowledge epignōsis of the ho Son hyios of ho God theos, to eis mature teleios adulthood anēr, to eis the measure metron of the stature hēlikia of the ho fullness plērōma of ho Christ Christos, 14 so that hina we may no longer mēketi be eimi children nēpios, tossed klydōnizomai to and fro and kai blown peripherō about by every pas wind anemos of ho doctrine didaskalia, by en · ho human anthrōpos cunning kybeia, · ho by en craftiness panourgia in pros · ho deceitful planē scheming methodeia; · ho 15 but de, speaking the truth alētheuō in en love agapē, may grow auxanō up in every way pas into eis him autos · ho who hos is eimi the ho head kephalē, Christ Christos, 16 from ek whom hos the ho whole pas body sōma, joined synarmologeō and kai brought symbibazō together by dia every pas supporting epichorēgia ligament haphē, · ho according kata to the working energeia of en each hekastos individual heis part meros, makes poieō the ho body sōma · ho grow auxēsis so eis that it builds oikodomē itself heautou up in en love agapē.

17 Now oun this houtos I say legō and kai testify martyromai in en the Lord kyrios, that you hymeis are no longer mēketi to live peripateō as kathōs · kai the ho Gentiles ethnos live peripateō, in en the futility mataiotēs of ho their autos minds nous, 18 being eimi darkened skotoō in their ho understanding dianoia, separated apallotrioō from the ho life zōē of ho God theos because dia of the ho ignorance agnoia that ho is eimi in en them autos due dia to the ho hardening pōrōsis of ho their autos hearts kardia. 19 Having lost all feeling of shame apalgeō, they hostis have given themselves heautou over paradidōmi to ho debauchery aselgeia for eis the practice ergasia of every kind pas of impurity akatharsia with en covetousness pleonexia. 20 But de that is houtōs not ou the way houtōs you hymeis learned manthanō · ho Christ Christos!— 21 assuming ei ge that you have heard of akouō him autos and kai were taught didaskō in en him autos, as kathōs the truth alētheia is eimi in en · ho Jesus Iēsous. 22 Regarding kata your ho former proteros way of life anastrophē, you hymeis were taught to put away apotithēmi your ho old palaios self anthrōpos, which ho is being corrupted phtheirō and deluded apatē by kata its ho desires epithumia, · ho 23 and de to be renewed ananeoō in the ho spirit pneuma of ho your hymeis minds nous. 24 And kai to put on endyō the ho new kainos self anthrōpos, · ho created ktizō in kata God’ s theos likeness, in en the righteousness dikaiosynē and kai holiness hosiotēs that come from the ho truth alētheia.

25 Therefore dio put off apotithēmi · ho falsehood pseudos and let each one hekastos speak laleō the truth alētheia with meta · ho his autos neighbor plēsion, for hoti we are eimi members melos of one another allēlōn. 26 If you get angry orgizō, · kai do not sin hamartanō; do not allow the ho sun hēlios to go down epidyō on epi · ho your hymeis anger parorgismos 27 and mēde do not give didōmi an opportunity topos to the ho devil diabolos. 28 Let the ho thief kleptō no longer mēketi steal kleptō, but de rather mallon let him work hard kopiaō, doing ergazomai good agathos with ho his own idios hands cheir, · ho so that hina he may have echō something to share metadidōmi with the ho one in echō need chreia. 29 Let ekporeuomai no evil sapros talk pas logos come ekporeuomai out ek of · ho your hymeis mouth stoma, but alla only ei what tis is useful agathos for pros building oikodomē up , as the ho need chreia arises, that hina it may benefit didōmi those ho who hear akouō. 30 And kai do not grieve lypeō the ho Holy hagios Spirit pneuma · ho of ho God theos, in en whom hos you were sealed sphragizō for eis the day hēmera of redemption apolytrōsis. 31 Let all pas bitterness pikria and kai wrath thumos and kai anger orgē and kai clamor kraugē and kai slander blasphēmia be removed airō from apo you hymeis, along with syn all pas malice kakia. 32 Instead de, be ginomai kind chrēstos to eis one another allēlōn, tenderhearted eusplanchnos, forgiving charizomai one another heautou, just as kathōs · kai · ho God theos in en Christ Christos forgave charizomai you hymeis.

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

As a prisoner(A) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy(B) of the calling(C) you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another(D) in love.(E) Make every effort to keep the unity(F) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.(G) There is one body(H) and one Spirit,(I) just as you were called to one hope when you were called(J); one Lord,(K) one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all,(L) who is over all and through all and in all.(M)

But to each one of us(N) grace(O) has been given(P) as Christ apportioned it. This is why it[a] says:

“When he ascended on high,
    he took many captives(Q)
    and gave gifts to his people.”[b](R)

(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.

Instructions for Christian Living

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)

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:8 Or God
  2. Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:18
  3. Ephesians 4:9 Or the depths of the earth
  4. Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:4 (see Septuagint)