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Ephesians



The epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians, chapter 4, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 4

New English Translation


   Live in Unity
   1 I, therefore, the prisoner for the LORD, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the 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 to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he captured captives; he gave gifts to men." 9 Now what is the meaning of "he ascended, " except that he also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth? 10 He, the very one who descended, is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things. 11 It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God - a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ's full stature. 14 So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes. 15 But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head. 16 From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love.
   Live in Holiness
   17 So I say this, and insist in the LORD, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. 19 Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn about Christ like this, 21 if indeed you heard about him and were taught in him, just as the truth is in Jesus. 22 You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and to put on the new man who has been created in God's image - in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.
   25 Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger. 27 Do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need. 29 You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk. 32 Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

King James Version


   1 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.
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