Ephesians 4

1 Therefore I, who am in prison because [I serve] the Lord [Jesus], urge you, whom God has chosen [to be his people, to do these things]: Conduct your lives as [God’s people] should.

I therefore, a prisoner in our Lord, beseech of you, that ye walk, (as it becometh the calling wherewith ye are called, )

2 Always be humble, and do not demand your own rights. Be patient [with each other], and, because you love each other, endure each other’s ([irritating] behavior/behavior that you do not like).

with all lowliness of mind, and quietness, and long suffering; and that ye be forbearing one towards another, in love.

3 [God’s] Spirit has caused you to be united [with one another], so do all that you can to remain united [with one another] by acting peacefully [toward each other].

And be ye solicitous to keep the unity of the Spirit, in a bond of peace;

4 [All we believers form just one group] [MET], and we have only one [Holy] Spirit. Similarly, you were chosen {[God] chose you} in order that you all might confidently keep expecting one [set of good] things [from God].

so that ye may become one body, and one Spirit; even as ye are called unto one hope of your calling.

5 There is only one Lord, [Jesus Christ]. We all believe the same [teaching about him. It was to show that we belong to him] alone that [we had someone] baptize us.

For, the Lord is one, and the faith one, and the baptism one;

6 There is one God, who is the [spiritual] Father of all [us believers]. He [rules] over all his people; he enables all his people [to do powerful things] (OR, he sustains all his people); and his [Spirit lives] in all his people.

and one God is the Father of all, and over all, and by all, and in us all.

7 Christ has generously given to each one of us spiritual gifts, just like he decided to give them.

And to each of us grace is given, according to the measure of the gift of the Messiah.

8 [When Christ gave] gifts to his people, [it was similar to what the Psalmist said about God receiving tribute money] from those whom he had conquered, When he ascended to heaven, he gave as gifts to people the things [that he had taken] from the people whom he captured:

Wherefore it is said: He ascended on high, and carried captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.

9 The words ‘he ascended’ certainly imply/indicate [RHQ] that Christ had also previously descended to the earth.

Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also previously descended to the interior regions of the earth?

10 Christ, who descended [to earth], is also the one who ascended to the most exalted position in heaven, in order that he might show his power [MTY] throughout the universe.

He who descended, is also the same that ascended up, high above all the heavens, that he might fulfill all things.

11 He appointed some people to be apostles. He appointed some people to be (prophets/ones who reveal messages that come directly from God). He appointed some people to be (evangelists/ones whose work is to tell others the message about Christ). He appointed some people to lead and teach [the congregations].

And he gave some, legates; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers:

12 [He appointed all of these] in order that they would prepare God’s people to do [God’s] work, so that all the people who belong to Christ [MET] might become [spiritually] mature.

for perfecting the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of the Messiah;

13 He wants all of us [believers] to be united [because] we all believe in the Son of God (OR, the man who was also God) and [because] we all know [him]. He wants us to become spiritually mature; that is, he wants us to be (perfect/all that God wants us to be), [just like] Christ was ([perfect/all that God wanted him to be]).

until we all become one and the same, in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, and one complete man according to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Messiah:

14 Then we will no longer be [spiritually immature], like [MET] little children [are immature]. We will no longer be constantly [changing what we believe, like] [MET] waves of the sea are [constantly changing as the wind blows and] tosses them back and forth. We will not allow people who teach [what is false] and who scheme to deceive/influence us.

and that we might not be children, agitated and turned about by every wind of the crafty doctrines of men who plot to seduce by their subtilty:

15 Instead, by loving [others] as we behave as [God’s] truth requires (OR, speak in a loving manner what is true), we will become more and more like Christ in every way. He is the one [who controls/guides all his people] [MET], [just like a person’s] head [controls/guides his] body.

but that we might be established in our love; and that every thing in us might progress in the Messiah, who is the head:

16 He [enables all those who belong to him to mature spiritually. A person’s body grows stronger, as] each part of the body is joined to the others by the ligaments and as each part (functions properly/works as it should). Similarly, believers will become mature [spiritually] by loving each other and by each of them doing the work [that God wants them to do] [MET].

and from him it is, the whole body is framed together and compacted by all the junctures, according to the gift that is imparted by measure to each member, for the growth of the body; that his edifice may be perfected in love.

17 The Lord [Jesus] has authorized me to strongly tell you that you must no longer conduct your lives like unbelievers do. The futile/worthless way in which they think [MET] [controls how they conduct their lives].

And this I say, and testify in the Lord, that henceforth ye walk not as the other Gentiles, who walk in the vanity of their mind:

18 They are unable to think clearly [MET] [about what is right and what is wrong]. Because they have decided that they do not want to know about God and because they stubbornly [IDM] refuse to [listen to his message], they do not have the [eternal] life that God [gives us].

and they are dark in their understandings, and are alienated from the life of God, because there is not in them knowledge, and because of the blindness of their heart.

19 The result is that because they have ceased (to care/to be concerned) [about what is right and what is wrong], they have (deliberately committed themselves to doing/wholeheartedly decided to do) the shameful things that their bodies want, and they commit all kinds of immoral acts, and continually are eager to do more of those things.

They have cut off their hope, and have given themselves over to lasciviousness, and to the practice of all uncleanness in their greediness.

20 But when you learned [about] Christ, you did not learn [to behave] like that.

But ye have not so learned the Messiah;

21 I am sure that you heard the message about [Christ], and because you are people who have a close relationship with him, you were taught {[others] taught you} the true [way to live] that Jesus [showed us].

if ye have truly heard him, and by him have learned as the truth is in Jesus.

22 [You were taught] {[They taught you]} that you must put aside [MET] your evil nature; [that is, that you must not behave like you formerly did]. Your evil desires deceived you, making you want to do evil things and causing you to think that [doing that was good for you]; and your thinking like that was destroying you [spiritually].

But ye have learned, that ye should lay aside your former practices, the old man that is corrupted with the lusts of error;

23 Others taught you that instead, you must let [God’s Spirit] change the way you think,

and should be renewed in the spirit of your minds;

24 and that you must start being [MET] the new persons that God made you to become. That is, your [behavior] must be righteous and truly/genuinely devout.

and should put on the new man, that is created by God in righteousness and in the holiness of truth.

25 Therefore, quit lying to one another. Instead, because we all belong to just one group [of believers], speak truthfully to each other.

Wherefore, put away from you lying, and speak ye the truth each with his neighbor; for we are members one of another.

26 If you get angry, do not sin [as a result of] getting angry. Before the end of the day [MTY], stop being angry;

Be ye angry, and sin not: and let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

27 [by doing that], you will not allow the devil to make you do evil.

And give no place to the Accuser.

28 Those who have been stealing must not steal any longer. Instead, they should work hard to earn (their living/what they need) ([by] their own efforts/[by] what they do themselves) [MTY], in order that they may have [something] to give to those who are needy.

And let him that stole, steal no more; but let him labor with his hands, and do good acts; that he may have to give to him who needeth.

29 Do not use [MTY] foul language. Instead, say only things that are useful for helping people when they need help, things that will help [spiritually] the people that you talk to.

Let no hateful language come from your mouth, but that which is decorous, and useful for edification, that it may convey grace to those who hear.

30 [God has given you his] Spirit (to confirm/to assure you) that some day [God will claim all] you people [whom Christ has] redeemed [MET], [just like people confirm that something belongs to them by] putting their seal on it. So do not cause God’s Holy Spirit to be sad ([by the way you talk/by the things that you say]).

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Do not be resentful at all towards others. Do not become angry in any way. Never shout abusively at others. Never (slander/say bad things about) others. Never act maliciously/be mean in any way.

Let all bitterness, and anger, and wrath, and clamoring, and reviling, be taken from you, with all malice:

32 Be kind to one another. Act mercifully toward each other. Forgive each other, just like God forgave you because of [what] Christ [has done].

and be ye affectionate towards one another, and sympathetic; and forgive ye one another, as God by the Messiah hath forgiven us.