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Ephesians 4 · Berean Standard Bible

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¹As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: ²with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ⁷Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. ⁸This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.” ⁹What does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things. ¹¹And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹²to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ. ¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. ¹⁶From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part. ¹⁷So 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. ¹⁸They 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. ¹⁹Having 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. ²⁰But this is not the way you came to know Christ. ²¹Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus— ²²to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; ²⁴and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. ²⁵Therefore 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.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, ²⁷and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸He 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. ²⁹Let 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. ³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. ³²Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Berean Standard Bible · public domain. More versions and languages in the Reading Plan.

Ephesians

Ephesians 4

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

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Detailed Analysis

Event Description

Paul urges the Ephesians to live in a manner worthy of their calling, emphasizing unity in the Spirit and diversity in gifts for the building up of the church.

Key Verse

Ephesians 4:1-3 - "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Vivid Artistic Descriptions

Living the New Life in Christ

Walking Together in Diversity: Envision the church as a vibrant body where each member uses their unique gifts in harmony, contributing to the growth and unity of the whole. Transformed Relationships and Behaviors: Picture believers actively putting off their old selves and living out the new self in practical ways: speaking truth, managing anger, and building each other up with kind words.

Living the New Life in Christ

Song

The Walk of Worthiness

Called to Unity

Called in one hope, in one faith to abide, In humble patience, our differences aside; Bearing in love, in peace we strive, In unity's bond, together we thrive.

Building Up in Love

Each word, each deed, to edify, In love's pursuit, our aims high; Forgiving each other, as He forgave, In Christ, a path of love we pave.

Putting on the New Self

Old ways discarded, in truth we live, To falsehood and anger, no more we give; Kindness and grace in our words ring, In our new self, His praises we sing.

Gifts for the Common Good

Gifts diverse, given to each hand, For the church's growth, as He planned; Apostles, prophets, evangelists, too, In Christ, our roles, we faithfully do.

Conclusion

Ephesians 4 serves as a practical guide for living out the Christian faith in community. It calls believers to embody the virtues of humility, patience, and love, utilizing their diverse gifts for the common good, and transforming their conduct to reflect their new identity in Christ.