Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Ephesians 4
Walk Worthy of the Calling
Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope of your calling; one Lord, one trust, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Gifts for Building the Body
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high,
he took captivity captive
and gave gifts to people.”
Now what does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth?
The one who descended is the same one who also ascended far above all the heavens so that he might fill all things.
And he himself gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as shepherds and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up Christ’s body,
until we all reach unity of the trust and of the knowledge of God’s Son, mature humanity, the measure of the stature of Christ’s fullness.
Then we will no longer be children, tossed by waves and carried around by every wind of teaching, by human trickery and crafty schemes of deceit.
Instead, speaking truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.
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.
Put Off the Old Humanity
Therefore I say this and testify in the Lord: you must no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in understanding, alienated from God’s life because of the ignorance in them, because of the hardness of their hearts. Having become callous, they gave themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greed. But that is not how you learned Christ— if indeed you heard him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus: put off the old humanity, which belongs to your former way of life and is being corrupted through deceitful desires; be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new humanity, created according to God in righteousness and holiness of truth.
Speak and Live Truthfully
Therefore, putting away falsehood, “let each of you speak truth with your neighbor,” because we are members of one another. “Be angry and do not sin.” Do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. The one who steals must steal no longer; instead, let that person work, doing good with their own hands so they may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupt word come out of your mouth, but only what is good for building up as the need requires, so that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve God’s Holy Spirit, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, rage, anger, shouting, and slander be removed from you, along with every kind of malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.