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Ephesians 4
New Catholic Bible
Ephesians 4
New Catholic Bible
New Life in the Church
For Christians in General[a]
Chapter 4
Christian Unity and Maturity.[b] 1 Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, I implore you to behave in a manner worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in a spirit of love. 3 Make every possible effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, as well as one hope to which you have been called by your vocation, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure in which Christ allotted it. 8 Therefore, it is written,
“When he ascended to the heights,
he took prisoners into captivity
and gave gifts to men.”
9 Now the word “ascended” implies that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth. 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.
11 It was he who established some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,[c] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry in building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us attain to the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to full maturity, as measured by the full stature of Christ.
14 In this way, we will no longer be like children, tossed back and forth by the waves and swept along by every new wind of teaching, emanating from human cunning and craftiness and leading people into error. 15 Rather, professing truth and love, we will in all things grow into him who is the head, Christ. 16 From him, the entire body, joined and held together by every ligament, continues to grow and to build itself up in love, as each part performs its particular function.
17 The Newness of the Christian Life. Therefore, I declare and attest in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and their hardness of heart. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have abandoned themselves to vice, committing every kind of impurity in growing excess.
20 That is not how you learned Christ. 21 Clearly, you were told about him and were taught what the truth is in Jesus. 22 You were taught to cast aside the old self of your former way of life that had been corrupted by its captivating desires. 23 You are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to clothe yourselves with the new self created in God’s image, in the way of uprightness and holiness that belong to the truth.
25 A Life Based on Love. Therefore, cease your lying and speak the truth to each other, for we are all members of one another. 26 If you are angry, do not sin. Do not let the sun set on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opening. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must no longer do so; rather, let him labor, performing some honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with those in need.
29 Let no foul word ever pass your lips. Say only what is useful for edification, so that your words may benefit your listeners. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God who has marked you with his seal for the day of redemption. 31 Remove all forms of bitterness and wrath and anger and shouting and slander, as well as all malice from your lives. 32 Rather, be kind to one another and compassionate, and forgive one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 4:1 Christians must conduct themselves in a manner that befits their calling. First of all, they must have unity in the one body of the Church. Unity requires humility as a preliminary condition and meekness and loving patience in bearing with one another. The chief gifts that Paul has in mind are those that Christ communicates to us after the Ascension.
The Spirit of Christ allots to each Christian the measure of Christ needed to fulfill the function of each. This entails a change from one’s old self to a new self in Christ. In this connection, six vices are specified to be avoided: lying, anger, stealing, bad language, uncurbed temper, and lust. Although Paul singles out lying to be described as unbecoming for fellow-members of the body of Christ, the same could be said of all vices. - Ephesians 4:1 The plan of God, which Paul has just revealed, is a vision of unity. To explain this, Paul follows rabbinical practice in taking a passage from Ps 18 and commenting on the two words that strike him: “ascended” and “gave.” In his interpretation, the text announces the Ascension of Christ, who had first descended in the Incarnation on earth and even down to the subterranean regions, the place of the shadowy survival of the dead (see 1 Pet 3:9); the text then proclaims the sovereignty of Christ over all powers; finally, it speaks of the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost.
- Ephesians 4:11 Other lists of ministers in the Church are found in Rom 12:6-8 and 1 Cor 12:28. Apostles: mentioned here because of their role in establishing the Church (see Eph 2:20). In a broader sense, the term “apostle” is also applied to Paul (see Eph 1:1). Prophets: those who brought a message from God appropriate to their people’s situation. Evangelists: missionary preachers (see Acts 2:8 and 2 Tim 4:5), not the writers of the Gospels. Pastors and teachers: those who have pastoral care of the people and feed them with the food of the Scriptures.
Ephesians 4
New International Version
Ephesians 4
New International Version
Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
4 As a prisoner(A) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy(B) of the calling(C) you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another(D) in love.(E) 3 Make every effort to keep the unity(F) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.(G) 4 There is one body(H) and one Spirit,(I) just as you were called to one hope when you were called(J); 5 one Lord,(K) one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all,(L) who is over all and through all and in all.(M)
7 But to each one of us(N) grace(O) has been given(P) as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says:
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended(S) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)(T) 11 So Christ himself gave(U) the apostles,(V) the prophets,(W) the evangelists,(X) the pastors and teachers,(Y) 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ(Z) may be built up(AA) 13 until we all reach unity(AB) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God(AC) and become mature,(AD) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.(AE)
14 Then we will no longer be infants,(AF) tossed back and forth by the waves,(AG) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.(AH) 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love,(AI) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,(AJ) that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows(AK) and builds itself up(AL) in love,(AM) as each part does its work.
Instructions for Christian Living
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer(AN) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.(AO) 18 They are darkened in their understanding(AP) and separated from the life of God(AQ) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.(AR) 19 Having lost all sensitivity,(AS) they have given themselves over(AT) to sensuality(AU) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off(AV) your old self,(AW) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;(AX) 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;(AY) 24 and to put on(AZ) the new self,(BA) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.(BB)
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully(BC) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.(BD) 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]:(BE) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.(BF) 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,(BG) doing something useful with their own hands,(BH) that they may have something to share with those in need.(BI)
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,(BJ) but only what is helpful for building others up(BK) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,(BL) with whom you were sealed(BM) for the day of redemption.(BN) 31 Get rid of(BO) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.(BP) 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(BQ) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(BR)
Footnotes
- Ephesians 4:8 Or God
- Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:18
- Ephesians 4:9 Or the depths of the earth
- Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:4 (see Septuagint)
New International Version (NIV) 
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