| | | | |
Ephesians
4
I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that
you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called,
With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting
one another in charity.
Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond
of peace.
One body and one Spirit; as you are called in one hope
of your calling.
One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through
all, and in us all.
But to every one of us is given grace, according to
the measure of the giving of Christ.
Wherefore he saith: Ascending on high, he led captivity
captive; he gave gifts to men.
Now that he ascended, what is it, but because he also
descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
He that descended is the same also that ascended above
all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other
some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors,
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto
the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ;
That henceforth we be no more children tossed to and
fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by
the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness, by which
they lie in wait to deceive
But doing the truth in charity, we may in all things
grow up in him who is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body, being compacted and fitly
joined together, by what every joint supplieth, according
to the operation in the measure of every part, maketh
increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in
charity.
This then I say and testify in the Lord: That henceforward
you walk not as also the Gentiles walk in the vanity
of their mind,
Having their understanding darkened, being alienated
from the life of God through the ignorance that is in
them, because of the blindness of their hearts.
Who despairing, have given themselves up to lasciviousness,
unto the working of all uncleanness, unto the working
of all uncleanness, unto covetousness.
But you have not so learned Christ;
If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught
in him, as the truth is in Jesus:
To put off, according to former conversation, the old
man, who is corrupted according to the desire of error.
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind:
And put on the new man, who according to God is created
in justice and holiness of truth.
Wherefore putting away lying, speak ;ye the truth every
man with his neighbour; for we are members one of another.
Be angry, and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon
your anger.
Give not place to the devil.
He that stole, let him now steal no more; but rather
let him labour, working with his hands the thing which
is good, that he may have something to give to him that
suffereth need.
Let no evil speech proceed from your mouth; but that
which is good, to the edification of faith, that it
may administer grace to the hearers.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God: whereby you are
sealed unto the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, and anger, and indignation, and
clamour, and blasphemy, be put away from you, with all
malice.
And be ye kind one to another; merciful, forgiving one
another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ.
|