BSB EPH Chapter 4

Unity in the Body

(Psalm 133:1–3, 1 Corinthians 1:10–17)

[As a] prisoner in [the] Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling vvv you have received: 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 [and] with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

4 

[There is] one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope [when] you were called; 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 

Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 This is why it says:[fn]

“When He ascended on high,

He led captives away,

and gave gifts to men.”[fn]

9 

What [does]“He ascended” [mean], except that vvv He also descended[fn] to the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is vvv the very [One] who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.

11 

And [it was] He who gave some [to be] apostles, some [to be] prophets, some [to be] evangelists, and some [to be] pastors and teachers, 12 vvv vvv to equip the saints for works of ministry [and] to build up the body of Christ, 13 until vvv we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, vvv vvv [as we] mature to the full measure of [the] stature of Christ.

14 

Then {we will} no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching [and] by the vvv clever cunning of men in [their] vvv deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, {we will} in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. 16 From [Him] the whole body, fitted and held together by every vvv supporting ligament, grows [and] builds itself up in love through [the] work vvv vvv of each individual part.

17 

New Life in Christ

(Colossians 3:1–17)

So I tell [you] this, and insist [on it] in [the] Lord, [that] you {must} no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in [the] futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in [their] understanding [and] alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sense of shame, [they] have given themselves over to sensuality for [the] practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.

20 

But this is not the way you came to know Christ. 21 Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him— in keeping with [the] truth that is in Jesus—22 to put off your former way of life, [your] old self, which is being corrupted by [its] deceitful desires; 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 

Therefore each [of you] must put off falsehood [and] speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another. 26 “Be angry, yet {do} not sin.”[fn] {Do} not {let} the sun set upon your anger, 27 [and] {do} not give the devil a foothold.

28 

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with [his] own hands, that he may have [something] to share with the [one] [in] need.

29 

{Let} no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the [one] in need [and] bringing grace to those who listen.

30 

And {do} not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for [the] day of redemption.

31 

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind [and] tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.