1 I urge you, therefore, as a prisoner of the Lord, to live in a way that measures up to [the standard required by] God when He called you.
1 Therefore I, (A)the prisoner of the Lord, (B)implore you to (C)walk in a manner worthy of the (D)calling with which you have been (E)called,
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
1 Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord,(A) urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received,
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to live in a way that is worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
2 Live in a humble, gentle and patient way, showing tolerance [for the weaknesses] of one another out of love [for them].
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
2 demonstrating all expressions of humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another in love.
4 There is [only] one body [i.e., church] and one Holy Spirit, just as God also gave you one hope when He called you [See Titus 3:7].
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
4 There is one body and one Spirit. Likewise, you were called to the one hope of your calling.
8 Therefore, it says [Psa. 68:18], "When He ascended on high [i.e., to heaven], He led a procession of captured prisoners [behind Him] [Note: This originally referred to God leading His people in triumph over Israel's enemies, but here is applied to Christ], and gave gifts to [various] people."
8 Therefore (a)it says,“(P)When He ascended on high,He (Q)led captive a host of captives,And He gave gifts to men.”
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
8 For it says:When He ascended(Q) on high,He took prisoners into captivity;(c)He gave gifts to people.(R)(d)
8 That is why God says, "When he went up to the highest place, he led captives into captivity and gave gifts to people."
9 (But what does "He ascended" mean if not that He also [first] descended to the lower parts of the earth [i.e., to the earth below]? [Note: Of the three principal interpretations given to this verse: a) Christ descended to earth, b) Christ descended to the grave, c) Christ descended to Mary's womb. The first is to be preferred. See John 3:13; 6:38, 62].
9 (Now this expression, “He (R)ascended,” what (b)does it mean except that He also (c)had descended into (S)the lower parts of the earth?
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
9 But what does “He ascended” mean except that He(e) descended to the lower parts of the earth?(f)(S)
9 Now what does this "he went up" mean except that he also had gone down into the lower parts of the earth?
10 The One who descended [i.e., from heaven to earth] is the same One [i.e., Christ] who also ascended high above the all the heavens, so that He could fill the entire universe [with His presence]).
10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended (T)far above all the heavens, so that He might (U)fill all things.)
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
10 The One who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens,(T) that He might fill(g) all things.(U)
10 The one who went down is the same one who went up above all the heavens so that all things would be fulfilled.
11 And He gave some people [the gift of being] apostles; and some people prophets; and some people evangelists; and some people pastors [i.e., elders] and teachers,
11 And He (V)gave (W)some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as (X)evangelists, and some as pastors and (Y)teachers,
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
11 And it is he who gifted some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, and still others to be pastors and teachers,
12 for the purpose of equipping the saints [i.e., God's holy people] for the work of serving [others], in order to build up the [spiritual] body of Christ [i.e., the church].
12 (Z)for the equipping of the (d)saints for the work of service, to the building up of (AA)the body of Christ;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
12 to equip the saints, to do the work of ministry, and to build up the body of the Messiah
13 [This is to be done] until we all [eventually] arrive at unity of the faith and full knowledge of the Son of God; at complete [spiritual] maturity; at the [full] height of Christ's [spiritual] stature.
13 until we all attain to (AB)the unity of the faith, and of the (e)(AC)knowledge of the Son of God, to a (AD)mature man, to the measure of the stature (f)which belongs to the (AE)fullness of Christ.
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son,(W) growing into a mature man with a stature(X) measured by Christ’s fullness.
13 until all of us are united in the faith and in the full knowledge of God's Son, and until we attain mature adulthood and the full standard of development in the Messiah.
14 Then we will no longer be [spiritual] babies, tossed back and forth [by waves], and blown around by every wind of [false] teaching, [deceived] by the clever trickery of people using deceptive schemes.
14 (g)As a result, we are (AF)no longer to be children, (AG)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by (AH)craftiness (h)in (AI)deceitful scheming;
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching,(Y) by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.
14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed like waves and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, or by clever strategies that would lead us astray.
15 But [instead], we should speak [and practice] truth in a loving way, so that we can, in all respects, grow up [spiritually] into [union with] Christ, who is the head [i.e., of His body, the church].
15 but (i)speaking the truth (AJ)in love, (j)we are to (AK)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the (AL)head, even Christ,
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
15 Instead, by speaking the truth in love, we will grow up completely and become one with the head, that is, one with the Messiah,
16 From Him all [members of] the body are properly joined together by every supporting ligament, as each part contributes to the growth of the body and builds itself up through [mutual] love.
16 from whom (AM)the whole body, being fitted and held together (k)by what every joint supplies, according to the (l)proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself (AN)in love.
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
16 From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together(AA) by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth(AB) of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.
16 in whom the whole body is united and held together by every ligament with which it is supplied. As each individual part does its job, the body builds itself up in love.
17 So, I tell you this, and insist [on it] by [the authority of] the Lord: Do not continue to live with worthless thoughts as [unconverted] Gentiles do.
17 (AO)So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, (AP)that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the (AQ)futility of their mind,
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
17 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts.
17 Therefore, I tell you and insist on in the Lord not to live any longer like the gentiles live, thinking worthless thoughts.
18 Their understanding [of spiritual things] is darkened and excluded from the [spiritual] life that God gives, because of the ignorance in their minds and the stubbornness in their hearts.
18 being (AR)darkened in their understanding, (m)(AS)excluded from the life of God because of the (AT)ignorance that is in them, because of the (AU)hardness of their heart;
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts.
18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart.
19 They have stopped caring [i.e., about morality], so God has abandoned them to lives of unrestrained indecency and to engage in all kinds of [moral] impurity, with a constant desire for more.
19 and they, having (AV)become callous, (AW)have given themselves over to (AX)sensuality (n)for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity(AC) with a desire for more and more.(h)
19 Since they have lost all sense of shame, they have abandoned themselves to sensuality and practice every kind of sexual perversion without restraint.
21 [I am] assuming that you have heard Him [i.e., through the Gospel message] and were taught the truth that is in [harmony with] Jesus.
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
21 Surely you have listened to him and have been taught by him, since truth is in Jesus.
22 You were [taught] to put away [the conduct of] your former lifestyle, your old person who is being corrupted by deceitful desires,
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you (BB)lay aside the (BC)old (p)self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the (BD)lusts of deceit,
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
22 You took off(i)(AE) your former way of life,(AF) the old self(j)(AG) that is corrupted by deceitful desires;
22 Regarding your former way of life, you were taught to strip off your old nature, which is being ruined by its deceptive desires,
24 And you should put on the new person who has been [re-] created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
24 and (BF)put on the (BG)new (q)self, which (r)(BH)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
24 you put on(l)(AI) the new self, the one created(AJ) according to God’s likeness(AK) in righteousness and purity of the truth.
24 and to clothe yourselves with the new nature, which was created according to God's image in righteousness and true holiness.
25 So then, put away lying and [Zech 8:16], "Each one should speak truthfully with his neighbor," because we are parts of one another [i.e., in the one body].
25 Therefore, (BI)laying aside falsehood, (BJ)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are (BK)members of one another.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
25 Since you put away(AL) lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor,(AM)(m) because we are members of one another.
25 Therefore, stripping off falsehood, "let each of us speak the truth to his neighbor," for we belong to one another.
26 [Psa. 4:4 says], "Be angry [i.e., at wrongdoing. See Mark 3:5], but do not sin" [i.e., by harboring bitterness or retaliation]. Do not allow the sun to go down while you are still provoked.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
26 "Be angry, yet do not sin." Do not let the sun set while you are still angry,
28 The person who has stolen must stop doing it; instead, he should work hard, doing something worthwhile with his own hands, so that he can have [money] to share with the person who needs it.
28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather (BN)he must labor, (BO)performing with his own hands what is good, (BP)so that he will have something to share with (t)one who has need.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
28 The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share(AO) with anyone in need.
28 The thief must no longer steal but must work hard and do what is good with his own hands, so that he might earn something to give to the needy.
29 Do not allow unwholesome [Note: The Greek word for "unwholesome" is "rotten, diseased"] language to come from your mouth, but only what is helpful for building up those who need it, so that you can impart favor [i.e., benefit] to those who listen [to you].
29 Let no (u)(BQ)unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for (BR)edification (v)according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
29 No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need,(o) so that it gives grace to those who hear.
29 Let no filthy talk be heard from your mouths, but only what is good for building up people and meeting the need of the moment. This way you will administer grace to those who hear you.
30 And do not grieve God's Holy Spirit by whom you were sealed [i.e., given evidence of God's ownership] until the day of redemption [i.e., until you receive your new body in heaven. See 1:14].
30 (BS)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, (w)by whom you were (BT)sealed for the day of redemption.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.
31 So, put away from you all [kinds of] bitterness and anger and wrath and brawling and slander, along with all [kinds of] malice [i.e., bad attitudes],
31 (BU)Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be (BV)put away from you, along with all (BW)malice.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
31 All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, and slander be put away from you, along with all hatred.
32 and be kind and compassionate toward one another, forgiving each other, just as God also forgave you [because of your fellowship] in Christ.
32 (BX)Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, (BY)just as God in Christ also has forgiven (x)you.
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
32 And be kind(AR) and compassionate(AS) to one another, forgiving(AT) one another, just as God also forgave you(q) in Christ.
32 And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another just as God has forgiven you in the Messiah.
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