Ephesians 4:11-32
New American Standard Bible 1995
11 And He (A)gave (B)some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as (C)evangelists, and some as pastors and (D)teachers, 12 (E)for the equipping of the [a]saints for the work of service, to the building up of (F)the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to (G)the unity of the faith, and of the [b](H)knowledge of the Son of God, to a (I)mature man, to the measure of the stature [c]which belongs to the (J)fullness of Christ. 14 [d]As a result, we are (K)no longer to be children, (L)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by (M)craftiness [e]in (N)deceitful scheming; 15 but [f]speaking the truth (O)in love, [g]we are to (P)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the (Q)head, even Christ, 16 from whom (R)the whole body, being fitted and held together [h]by what every joint supplies, according to the [i]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself (S)in love.
The Christian’s Walk
17 (T)So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, (U)that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the (V)futility of their mind, 18 being (W)darkened in their understanding, [j](X)excluded from the life of God because of the (Y)ignorance that is in them, because of the (Z)hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having (AA)become callous, (AB)have given themselves over to (AC)sensuality [k]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not (AD)learn [l]Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you (AE)have heard Him and have (AF)been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you (AG)lay aside the (AH)old [m]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the (AI)lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be (AJ)renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and (AK)put on the (AL)new [n]self, which [o](AM)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
25 Therefore, (AN)laying aside falsehood, (AO)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are (AP)members of one another. 26 (AQ)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not (AR)give the devil [p]an opportunity. 28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather (AS)he must labor, (AT)performing with his own hands what is good, (AU)so that he will have something to share with [q]one who has need. 29 Let no [r](AV)unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for (AW)edification [s]according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 (AX)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, [t]by whom you were (AY)sealed for the day of redemption. 31 (AZ)Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be (BA)put away from you, along with all (BB)malice. 32 (BC)Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, (BD)just as God in Christ also has forgiven [u]you.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ephesians 4:12 Or holy ones
- Ephesians 4:13 Or true knowledge
- Ephesians 4:13 Lit of the fullness
- Ephesians 4:14 Lit So that we will no longer be
- Ephesians 4:14 Lit with regard to the scheming of deceit
- Ephesians 4:15 Or holding to or being truthful in
- Ephesians 4:15 Or let us grow up
- Ephesians 4:16 Lit through every joint of the supply
- Ephesians 4:16 Lit working in measure
- Ephesians 4:18 Or alienated
- Ephesians 4:19 Or greedy for the practice of every kind of impurity
- Ephesians 4:20 I.e. the Messiah
- Ephesians 4:22 Lit man
- Ephesians 4:24 Lit man
- Ephesians 4:24 Lit according to God
- Ephesians 4:27 Lit a place
- Ephesians 4:28 Lit the one
- Ephesians 4:29 Lit rotten
- Ephesians 4:29 Lit of the need
- Ephesians 4:30 Lit in
- Ephesians 4:32 Two early mss read us
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
