Christians Should Live In Unity
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,
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
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 Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord,(A) urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received,
1 So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation],
Gifted Leaders Bring The Church To Maturity
7 Now to each one of us grace has been given proportionate to the measure of the Messiah's gift.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
7 Yet grace [God’s undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and abundant] gift.
8 That is why God says, "When he went up to the highest place, he led captives into captivity and gave gifts to people."
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
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.”
9 Now what does this "he went up" mean except that he also had gone down into 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 (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 But what does “He ascended” mean except that He(e) descended to the lower parts of the earth?(f)(S)
9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had previously descended [from the heights of heaven] into the lower parts of the earth?
10 The one who went down is the same one who went up above all the heavens so that all things would be fulfilled.
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
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 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 He who descended is the very same as He who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things [that is, the whole universe]).
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,
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors 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 personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
11 And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct],
12 to equip the saints, to do the work of ministry, and to build up the body of the Messiah
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
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 [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church];
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.
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 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 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 we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].
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.
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 (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 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 So that we are no longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything [for personal profit].
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,
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
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 [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ.
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.
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 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.
Appeal For New Behavior
17 Therefore, I tell you and insist on in the Lord not to live any longer like the gentiles live, thinking worthless thoughts.
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 (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 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 So this I say, and solemnly affirm together with the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the [unbelieving] Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds [and in the foolishness and emptiness of their souls],
18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of 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 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 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 for their [moral] understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded; [they are] alienated and self-banished from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the [willful] ignorance and spiritual blindness that is [deep-seated] within them, because of the hardness and insensitivity of their heart.
19 Since they have lost all sense of shame, they have abandoned themselves to sensuality and practice every kind of sexual perversion without restraint.
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
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 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 And they, [the ungodly in their spiritual apathy], having become callous and unfeeling, have given themselves over [as prey] to unbridled sensuality, eagerly craving the practice of every kind of impurity [that their desires may demand].
21 Surely you have listened to him and have been taught by him, since truth is in Jesus.
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
21 If in fact you have [really] heard Him and have been taught by Him, just as truth is in Jesus [revealed in His life and personified in Him],
22 Regarding your former way of life, you were taught to strip off your old nature, which is being ruined by its deceptive desires,
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
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 You took off(i)(AE) your former way of life,(AF) the old self(j)(AG) that is corrupted by deceitful desires;
22 that, regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires,
24 and to clothe yourselves with the new nature, which was created according to God's image in righteousness and true holiness.
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true 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 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 put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation].
Old Behavior, New Behavior, And Motivation
25 Therefore, stripping off falsehood, "let each of us speak the truth to his neighbor," for we belong to one another.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
25 Therefore, (BI)laying aside falsehood, (BJ)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are (BK)members of one another.
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.
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 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 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 [who has become a believer] must no longer steal, but instead he must work hard [making an honest living], producing that which is good with his own hands, so that he will have something to share with those in need.
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.
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 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 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 Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, and slander be put away from you, along with all hatred.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
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 All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence].
32 And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another just as God has forgiven you in the Messiah.
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
32 (BX)Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, (BY)just as God in Christ also has forgiven (x)you.