< Ephesians 4 >
1 I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, urge you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
所以我——作为主的囚徒——鼓励你们按照蒙受召唤所遵守的原则生活。
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love;
不要为自己而自豪,要温柔且有耐心,通过爱表达对彼此的宽容。
3 being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
通过将你们联系在一起的平安,尽其所能在灵里合而为一。
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling;
因为只有一个身体,一个灵魂,正如你们被一个希望所召唤。
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
主是唯一,我们对他的信任是唯一,洗礼也是唯一;
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.
只有一个上帝,他是每个人的父亲。他在一切之上,通过一切,在一切之中。
7 But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
我们每个人所获得的恩典,都与基督的慷慨馈赠成正比。
8 Therefore he says, "When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to people."
正如经文所说,“当他登上高处,带走了俘虏,将礼物送给了人类。”
9 Now this, "He ascended," what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
(关于这一点:它说他已经上升,但这也意味着他之前曾降临我们这个卑微的世界。
10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
那降临之人也是升至最高天堂之人,他通过这种方式让整个宇宙变得完整。)
11 He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
他所给予的恩赐,让有的人可以成为使徒、先知、福音传递者、牧师和教师,
12 for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;
这样做是为了让上帝的子民准备好帮助他人,帮助基督之躯的成长。
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature person, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
我们一起成长,直到我们对上帝之子的相信和知识,让我们达成合一的状态,完全成长,通过基督获得真正完全的成熟。
14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by cleverness in deceitful schemes;
我们不应该再是小孩子,因教义吹来的每一道微风而摇摆,被人的诡计所迷惑,被狡猾之人引入歧途;
15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ;
相反,要用爱心说实话,应该通过基督实现全面的成长,他就是我们的头。
16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.
整个身体因为他而运作,每个关节都将它连接在一起,因为每个单独的部分都在各行其责,整个身体都在成长,在爱中构建自我。
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the nations also walk, in the futility of their mind,
所以让我要对你们说——事实上,我通过主里坚持了这一点——你们不应该再像异族人那样过着空虚的生活。
18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts;
他们的思想处于一片黑暗。他们不明白,因为他们什么都不知道,他们固执地不想知道,所以与上帝的生命隔绝。
19 who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
因为不在乎,所以放纵肉欲,贪婪地做出各种令人作呕之事。
20 But you did not learn Christ that way;
但这并不是你们所知的基督!
21 if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:
你们难道没听说过他吗?你们没有人教过你们他的事情吗?你们没有学到耶稣的真理吗?
22 that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old self, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit;
所以,要摆脱你们以往的生活方式,它通过具有欺骗性的欲望毁掉了你们陈旧的天性!
23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
要让自己在灵性和心智重生,
24 and put on the new self, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.
拥有上帝创造的新天性,这样你就会像他一样,获得真理的正义和圣洁。
25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another.
所以要拒绝谎言,彼此说真话——因为我们属于彼此。
26 "Be angry, but do not sin." Do not let the sun go down on your anger,
不要因生气而犯罪;不要在黑夜来临时仍然感到愤怒——
27 neither give place to the devil.
不要给魔鬼任何机会。
28 Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.
窃贼要停止偷窃,用双手诚实工作,带来成果,这样你就能拥有可以送给他人的东西,满足他人的需要。
29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.
不要说脏话。根据需要说出鼓励他人的话,帮助那些倾听之人。
30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
你们属于圣灵,圣灵已对你们做出标记。在救赎之日到来之前,不要让圣灵感到失望。
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice.
摆脱各种怨恨、暴躁、愤怒、谩骂、侮辱以及各种邪恶。
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
善待彼此,彼此宽恕,就像上帝通过基督宽恕你们一样。