Eph.4.1
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Eph.4.1
In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk--better yet, run!-on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere.
Eph.4.1
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Eph.4.1
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
Eph.4.1
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.
Eph.4.2
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Eph.4.2
And mark that you do this with humility and discipline--not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love,
Eph.4.2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Eph.4.2
with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
Eph.4.2
Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.
Eph.4.3
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph.4.3
alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
Eph.4.3
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Eph.4.3
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph.4.3
Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace.
Eph.4.4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph.4.4
You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly.
Eph.4.4
There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--
Eph.4.4
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
Eph.4.4
We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future.
Eph.4.5
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph.4.5
You have one Master, one faith, one baptism,
Eph.4.5
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Eph.4.5
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Eph.4.5
There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph.4.6
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Eph.4.6
one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.
Eph.4.6
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Eph.4.6
one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Eph.4.6
and there is only one God and Father, who is over us all and in us all and living through us all.
Eph.4.7
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Eph.4.7
But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift.
Eph.4.7
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
Eph.4.7
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
Eph.4.7
However, he has given each one of us a special gift according to the generosity of Christ.
Eph.4.8
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph.4.8
The text for this is, He climbed the high mountain, He captured the enemy and seized the booty, He handed it all out in gifts to the people.
Eph.4.8
This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."
Eph.4.8
Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."
Eph.4.8
That is why the Scriptures say, "When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people."
Eph.4.9
Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph.4.9
It's true, is it not, that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth?
Eph.4.9
(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
Eph.4.9
(Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph.4.9
Notice that it says "he ascended." This means that Christ first came down to the lowly world in which we live.
Eph.4.10
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Eph.4.10
And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts,
Eph.4.10
He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
Eph.4.10
He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
Eph.4.10
The same one who came down is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that his rule might fill the entire universe.
Eph.4.11
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph.4.11
filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher
Eph.4.11
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
Eph.4.11
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
Eph.4.11
He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
Eph.4.12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph.4.12
to train Christians in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church,
Eph.4.12
to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Eph.4.12
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
Eph.4.12
Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ,
Eph.4.13
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:
Eph.4.13
until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. 114No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors.
Eph.4.13
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Eph.4.13
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Eph.4.13
until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.
Eph.4.14
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;
Eph.4.14
No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors.
Eph.4.14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
Eph.4.14
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
Eph.4.14
Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth.
Eph.4.15
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph.4.15
God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love--like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do.
Eph.4.15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
Eph.4.15
but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--
Eph.4.15
Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Eph.4.16
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.
Eph.4.16
He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.
Eph.4.16
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Eph.4.16
from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Eph.4.16
Under his direction, the whole body is fitted 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.
Eph.4.17
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Eph.4.17
And so I insist--and God backs me up on this--that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd.
Eph.4.17
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
Eph.4.17
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
Eph.4.17
With the Lord's authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused.
Eph.4.18
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:
Eph.4.18
They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself.
Eph.4.18
They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
Eph.4.18
having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
Eph.4.18
Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him.
Eph.4.19
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Eph.4.19
They can't think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion.
Eph.4.19
Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
Eph.4.19
who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Eph.4.19
They don't care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed.
Eph.4.20
But ye have not so learned Christ;
Eph.4.20
But that's no life for you. You learned Christ!
Eph.4.20
You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
Eph.4.20
But you have not so learned Christ,
Eph.4.20
But that isn't what you were taught when you learned about Christ.
Eph.4.21
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Eph.4.21
My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus.
Eph.4.21
Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
Eph.4.21
if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Eph.4.21
Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus,
Eph.4.22
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph.4.22
Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything--and I do mean everything--connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life--a God-fashioned life,
Eph.4.22
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
Eph.4.22
that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
Eph.4.22
throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception.
Eph.4.23
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph.4.23
a life renewed from the inside
Eph.4.23
to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
Eph.4.23
and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
Eph.4.23
Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.
Eph.4.24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Eph.4.24
and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.
Eph.4.24
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Eph.4.24
and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Eph.4.24
You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness--righteous, holy, and true.
Eph.4.25
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Eph.4.25
What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
Eph.4.25
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Eph.4.25
Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.
Eph.4.25
So put away all falsehood and "tell your neighbor the truth" because we belong to each other.
Eph.4.26
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Eph.4.26
Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry--but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry.
Eph.4.26
"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
Eph.4.26
"Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
Eph.4.26
And "don't sin by letting anger gain control over you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry,
Eph.4.27
Neither give place to the devil.
Eph.4.27
Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
Eph.4.27
and do not give the devil a foothold.
Eph.4.27
nor give place to the devil.
Eph.4.27
for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil.
Eph.4.28
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.
Eph.4.28
Did you used to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work.
Eph.4.28
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
Eph.4.28
Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
Eph.4.28
If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need.
Eph.4.29
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.
Eph.4.29
Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
Eph.4.29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Eph.4.29
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Eph.4.29
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.
Eph.4.30
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph.4.30
Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.
Eph.4.30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Eph.4.30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Eph.4.30
And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
Eph.4.31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph.4.31
Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk.
Eph.4.31
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Eph.4.31
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
Eph.4.31
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior.
Eph.4.32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Eph.4.32
Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
Eph.4.32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Eph.4.32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Eph.4.32
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
