4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
4:4 There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to one hope when you were called–
4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
4:7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
4:8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”
4:9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
4:10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
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,
4:12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
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.
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.
4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
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.
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.
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.
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.
4:20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
4:21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
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;
4:23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
4:26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
4:27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
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.
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.
4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
4:1 I beseech you therefore, I, the prisoner in the Lord, to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,
4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, bearing one another in love,
4:3 Being diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace:
4:4 One Body and one Spirit, even as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism;
4:6 One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
4:8 Therefore the Scripture says, Having ascended to the height, He led captive those taken captive and gave gifts to men.
4:9 (Now this, He ascended, what is it except that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
4:10 He who descended, He is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens that He might fill all things.)
4:11 And He Himself gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as shepherds and teachers,
4:12 For the perfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ,
4:13 Until we all arrive at the oneness of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, at a full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
4:14 That we may be no longer little children tossed by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching in the sleight of men, in craftiness with a view to a system of error,
4:15 But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ,
4:16 Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.
4:17 This therefore I say and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk in the vanity of their mind,
4:18 Being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance which is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
4:19 Who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lasciviousness to work all uncleanness in greediness.
4:20 But you did not so learn Christ,
4:21 If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him as the reality is in Jesus,
4:22 That you put off, as regards your former manner of life, the old man, which is being corrupted according to the lusts of the deceit,
4:23 And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind
4:24 And put on the new man, which was created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the reality.
4:25 Therefore having put off the lie, speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
4:26 Be angry, yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your indignation,
4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
4:28 He who steals should steal no more, but rather should labor, working with his own hands in that which is respectable, that he may have something to share with him who has need.
4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but only that which is good for building up, according to the need, that it may give grace to those who hear.
4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed unto the day of redemption.
4:31 Let all bitterness and anger and wrath and clamor and evil speaking be removed from you, with all malice.
4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ also forgave you.