Ephesians 4:7-32 ▼

7 Now to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

8 Therefore it says: “Having ascended on high, He led captive captivity, and gave gifts to men.”

9 Now what is the saying “He ascended,” except that He also descended into the lower regions of the earth?

10 The One having descended is also the same One having ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.

11 And He gave some indeed as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as shepherds and teachers,

12 toward the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ,

13 until we all may come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a complete man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

14 so that no longer may we be infants, being tossed by waves and being carried around by every wind of teaching in the cunning of men in craftiness to the scheming of deceit.

15 But speaking the truth in love, we should grow in all things into Him who is the head, Christ,

16 from whom all the body, being fit together and being knit together by every joint of its supply, according to the working in the measure of each single part, the increase of the body makes for the building up of itself in love.

17 This therefore I say and testify in the Lord: You? are no longer to walk as also the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,

18 being darkened in the understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance being in them on account of the hardness of their heart,

19 who, having ceased to feel, gave themselves up to sensuality for the working of all impurity with covetousness.

20 But you? did not learn Christ this way,

21 if indeed you? heard Him and were taught in Him, just as the truth is in Jesus,

22 you? are to put off concerning the former way of life the old man, which is being corrupted according to the desires of deceit,

23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your? mind,

24 and to have put on the new man, having been created according to God in righteousness and holiness of truth.

25 Therefore, having put off falsehood, let each one speak truth with his neighbor, because we are members of one another.

26 “Be angry, and do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your? anger,

27 neither give place to the devil.

28 The one stealing, let him steal no longer, but rather let him toil, working with his own hands what is good, so that he may have something to impart to the one having need.

29 Do not let any rotten word go forth out of your? mouth, but if any is good for edification of the need, so that it may give grace to those hearing.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you? were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness and rage and wrath and outcry and slander be removed from you?, with all malice.

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as also God in Christ forgave you?.