Ephesians 4

1 As a prisoner [held captive, in chains] in the Lord [the supreme Master], then [therefore, as a consequence], I urge [plead with, comfort] you to walk [live, conduct your life] in a manner [appropriately, worthily] worthy of the calling [invitation, vocation] you have received [been invited, summoned]: word study 2 with all [every, complete] humility [lowliness of mind, meekness] and gentleness [meekness, mildness], with patience [longsuffering, endurance], bearing [forbearing, enduring] with one another [each other, mutually] in love [unconditional, divine love], word study 3 and with diligence [being eager, making every effort] to preserve [keep, observe, watch over] the unity [oneness, harmony] of the Spirit [the vital principle or mental disposition] through the bond [tie, ligament] of peace [harmony, prosperity, freedom from war]. word study 4 There is one [single, unified] body and one [unique, holy] Spirit, just as [in the same way, similarly] you were called [invited, chosen] to one [shared, common] hope [confident expectation, trust] when you were called [summoned, invited]; word study 5 one [the only, unique] Lord [God, the supreme authority], one [unified, shared] faith [trust, confidence in God], one baptism [immersion, washing]; word study 6 one [unique, solitary] God [the supreme deity, Father of all] and Father [the male parent, divine caregiver] of all [everything, every person], who is [exists, abides] over [above, supreme to] all [everything, every person] and through [because of, by means of] all [everything, every person] and in [among, within] all [everything, every person]. word study 7 Now to each [every individual] one of us [as a collective body] grace [divine influence and favor] has been given [bestowed] according to [in line with] the measure [standard] of the gift [free and generous] of Christ [the Anointed One] [the generous gift, according to the measure of the gift]. word study 8 This is why [for this reason, therefore] it says: “When He ascended [went up, rose] on high [to the heights, in triumph], He led [took, carried away] captives [prisoners of war, those held captive] away, and gave [bestowed, granted] gifts [presents, spiritual abilities] to men [humanity, people, human beings].” word study 9 What does “He ascended [to a higher place, was lifted up]” mean, except that He also [previously, first] descended [came down, went to the lower parts] to the lower [inferior, earthly] parts of the earth [the world, the land]? word study 10 He who descended [to earth, from heaven] is the very One [the same person, Jesus] who ascended above [far above, to the highest position] all the heavens [the sky, the spiritual realm], in order to [that He might, for the purpose of] fill [make complete, fulfill] all things [everything, the whole universe]. word study 11 And it was He [the Lord, Jesus Christ] who gave some to be apostles [messengers, delegates of Jesus Christ], some to be prophets [speakers of God’s word, revealers of His will], some to be evangelists [preachers of the good news, proclaimers of the Gospel], and some to be pastors [shepherds, caregivers of God’s people] and teachers [instructors, guides in the faith], word study 12 to equip [prepare, train] the saints [holy ones, set apart] for works [acts, deeds] of ministry [service, helping others] and to build up [edify, construct] the body [church, community] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], word study 13 until we all reach [come to, attain] unity [oneness, harmony] in the faith [trust, confidence in God] and in the knowledge [deep understanding, recognition] of the Son [Child, Messiah] of God [the Father, Almighty], as we mature [grow up, become complete] to the full measure [standard, limit] of the stature [height, maturity] of Christ [the Anointed One, Jesus]. word study 14 Then we will no longer be infants [spiritually immature, like little children], tossed about by the waves [constantly changing, like the sea] and carried around by every wind [doctrine, teaching] of teaching [instruction, doctrine] and by the clever cunning [craftiness, trickery] of men [human beings] in their deceitful [crafty] scheming [plans, tricks]. word study 15 Instead, speaking the truth [in honesty and sincerity] in love [unconditional affection], we will in all things [every aspect of life] grow up [mature and increase] into Christ [the Messiah, our Lord] Himself, who is the head [the supreme authority, leader]. word study 16 From Him [the source of all life] the whole body [the entire community of believers], fitted [joined together, compacted] and held together [united, knit] by every supporting ligament [every joint, connection], grows [increases, builds itself up] and builds itself up [edifies, matures] in love [unconditional affection, charity] through the work [effectual working, operation] of each individual part [every single member, each one]. word study 17 So I tell you this [therefore, as a consequence], and insist on it [strongly testify, give witness] in the Lord [God, the supreme authority], that you must no longer walk [live, conduct your life] as the Gentiles [non-Jewish people, unbelievers] do, in the futility [vanity, emptiness] of their thinking [mind, intellect, understanding]. word study 18 They are darkened [in spiritual understanding, having a veil over their minds] in their understanding [mind, faculties of the heart] and alienated [separated, estranged] from the life [eternal, spiritual existence] of God [the one true deity] because of the ignorance [lack of knowledge, unawareness] that is in them due to the hardness [stubbornness, callousness] of their hearts [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions]. word study 19 Having lost [ceased to feel, become callous] all sense of shame [moral sensitivity], they have given themselves over [surrendered, abandoned] to sensuality [lasciviousness, debauchery] for the practice [working, occupation] of every kind [all, every type] of impurity [uncleanness, immorality], with a craving [greediness, covetousness] for more. word study 20 But this [not in this manner, differently] is not the way [thus, in this way] you [as direct objects of God’s teaching] came to know [learned, understood] Christ [the Anointed One, Jesus as Messiah]. word study 21 Surely you heard [gave ear to, were taught about] of Him [Christ, the Messiah] and were taught [instructed, guided] in Him [as His disciples]—in keeping with [according to, as] the truth [reality, sincerity] that is in Jesus [the Son of God, the Savior]— word study 22 to put off [to cast away, reject] your former way of life [previous manner of living, old behavior], your old self [the old man, corrupt nature], which is being corrupted [destroyed, ruined] by its deceitful [false, misleading] desires [lusts, longings]; word study 23 to be renewed [made new, transformed] in the spirit [the vital principle or mental disposition] of your minds; word study 24 and to put on [clothe yourselves with] the new [fresh, renewed] self, created [made, formed] to be like God [in His image, according to His nature] in true [genuine, authentic] righteousness [right living, moral integrity] and holiness [piety, devotion to God, set apart for His purpose]. word study 25 Therefore [for this reason, in consequence] each of you must put off [reject, cast away] falsehood [lies, deceit] and speak truthfully [speak the truth, be honest] to his neighbor [fellow believer, those near to him], for we are all members [parts, limbs] of one another [belonging to each other, united]. word study 26 “Be angry [without doing wrong, yet feeling wrath], yet do not sin [miss the mark, fall short].” Do not let the sun [the celestial body] set [go down, come to an end] upon your anger [strong feeling of rage, intense irritation], word study 27 and do not [nor, not even] give [bestow, grant] the devil [the false accuser, Satan] a foothold [place, opportunity, chance to act]. word study 28 He who has been stealing [as a habit, in the past] must steal no longer [never again, completely stop], but must work [labor, do honest work], doing good [beneficial, righteous] with his own hands [with his own effort, skill], that he may have something to share [give, impart] with the one in need [who is lacking, suffering want]. word study 29 Let no unwholesome [corrupt, rotten] talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful [good, beneficial] for building up [edifying, constructing spiritually] the one in need [those who require it, the necessitous] and bringing [to give, bestow] grace [divine favor, graciousness] to those who listen [hear, obey]. word study 30 And do not [cause sorrow or pain] grieve the Holy [set apart, dedicated to God] Spirit of God [the divine presence, breath of life], in whom [as a seal of ownership, a pledge of future redemption] you were sealed [marked, authenticated] for the day [a period of time, an era] of redemption [liberation, freedom from sin]. word study 31 Get rid of all [every form of] bitterness [strong, unpleasant feeling], rage [intense anger] and anger [wrath], outcry [loud shouting] and slander [evil speaking], along with every form of malice [evil]. word study 32 Be kind [tenderhearted, compassionate] and tenderhearted [full of pity, sympathetic] to one another [toward each other], forgiving [freely pardoning, showing mercy] each other [one another] just as [even as, in the same way] in Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] God [the Supreme Deity] forgave [graciously pardoned, showed kindness to] you. word study