1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of
the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and
humility, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love; 3 being
eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one
body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in 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 us all. 7 But to each one of
us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive,
and gave gifts to men.” 9 Now this, “He ascended,” what is it but that he
also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who
descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he
might fill all things.
11 He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;
and some, shepherds*1 and teachers; 12 for the perfecting of
the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ; 14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and
forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men,
in craftiness, after the wiles of error; 15 but speaking truth in love, we
may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ; 16 from whom
all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint
supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes
the body increase to the building up of itself in love.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer
walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God,
because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their
hearts; 19 who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work
all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ that
way; 21 if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as
truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put away, as concerning your former
way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit;
23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put
on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness
and holiness of truth.
25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his
neighbor. For we are members one of another. 26 “Be angry, and don’t
sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 neither give place to
the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor,
working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to
give to him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your
mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may
give grace to those who hear. 30 Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in
whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all
bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all
malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each
other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
1 The word for “shepherds” (poimenas) can also be
correctly translated “pastors.”
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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