Chapter 4

1Therefore I, a prisoner because I serve the Lord, urge you to live in a way worthy of the call you received from God.

2Be completely humble and gentle. Be patient, putting up with one another in love.

3Make every effort to preserve the unity given by the Spirit, held together by the peace among you.

4There is one body and one Spirit, just as God called you to share one hope.

5There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.

6There is one God and Father of all, who is over all, works through all, and is in all.

7Yet each one of us has received grace according to the measure of the Messiah’s gift.

8That is why Scripture says, “When he went up to the heights, he led away a host of captives and gave gifts to people.”

9What does “he went up” mean, except that he also went down to the lower regions of the earth?

10The one who went down is also the one who went up far above all the heavens, so that he might fill everything.

11He appointed some to be apostles—messengers commissioned by him—some to be prophets, some to announce the good news, and some to care for and teach his people.

12Their purpose is to equip God’s people for the work of serving others and to build up the Messiah’s body, the community of his followers.

13This work continues until all of us become united in faith and in knowing the Son of God. Then we will reach full maturity, measured by the complete fullness of the Messiah.

14Then we will no longer be like children, tossed by waves and blown around by every wind of teaching. We will not be misled by people who use clever tricks and schemes to spread error.

15Instead, by speaking and living the truth in love, we are to grow in every way toward the Messiah, who is the head.

16From him the whole body is fitted and held together by every supporting connection. As each part does its proper work, the body grows and builds itself up in love.

17Therefore I tell you this, and I insist on it in the Lord: no longer live as the non-Jewish world lives, following empty ways of thinking.

18Their understanding has grown dark, and they are cut off from the life God gives because of their ignorance and their stubborn hearts.

19They have lost all sense of shame and have given themselves over to uncontrolled behavior, greedily practicing every kind of moral corruption.

20But that is not how you came to know the Messiah.

21Surely you heard him and were taught in him, since the truth is found in Jesus.

22You were taught to take off your old self—the person shaped by your former way of life—which is being ruined by deceptive desires.

23You were taught to be made new in the deepest attitude of your minds,

24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in the right living and holiness that come from truth.

25Therefore, put away falsehood. Each of you must speak truthfully with your neighbor, because we are parts of one another.

26Be angry, but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still provoked,

27and do not give the devil an opportunity.

28Anyone who has been stealing must stop. Instead, that person should work hard, doing honest work with their own hands, so they will have something to share with anyone in need.

29Do not let any harmful talk come from your mouths. Say only what is good for building people up according to their needs, so that your words benefit those who hear them.

30Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit, God marked you as his own for the day when he will set you completely free.

31Get rid of every kind of bitterness, rage, anger, shouting, insulting speech, and hateful intent.

32Be kind and compassionate to one another. Forgive each other, just as God forgave you through the Messiah.