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 for the sake of the Lord, exhort you to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all humility and meekness;

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).

and with long-suffering forbear one 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].

endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: for there is but one body and one Spirit,

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].

even as ye are called in 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.

one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

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.

one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all.

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

But grace is given to each of us, according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

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, "When he ascended on high, He led 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 this expression "He ascended" what does it mean, but that He descended first into the lower parts 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 that descended is the same also that ascended far above all heavens, that he might fill 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 therefore He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; to qualify holy men for the work of the ministry,

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.

to the edifying of the body of Christ:

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]).

till we all arrive in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, at perfect maturity, even to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

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.

That we may be no longer children fluctuating and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the artful insinuations of men, and their crafty methods of deceiving;

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 holding the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him, who is the head, even Christ:

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].

from whom the whole body being fitly joined together and compacted by the aid of every joint, according to the operation proportioned to every part, maketh an increase to the edification of itself 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].

This I say therefore, and charge you in the name of the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk,

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].

in the vanity of their mind, darkened in their understanding, and alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, by reason of the hardness 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.

who, being past feeling, have given themselves up to lasciviousness, to commit all uncleanness with greediness.

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

But ye have not so learned Christ;

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 indeed hearkened to Him, and been instructed in Him, as the truth is in Jesus; to put off the old man,

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].

which according to your former conversation was corrupted with deceitful lusts,

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

and be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

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 to put on the new man, which according to the image of God is created in righteousness, and true holiness.

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

Wherefore putting away lying, speak ye every one truth to his neighbor; for we are all members of one society.

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 angry, and sin not: 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 not the devil room to ensnare you.

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.

Let him that stole steal no more; but rather let him labour, doing some good with his hands, that he may have something to bestow on him that hath need of it.

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 corrupt word come out of your mouth; but what is good to useful edification, that it may benefit the hearers.

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 to 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 wrath, and fury, and clamor, and calumny, be put away from you, with all malice: and be kind one to another,

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].

tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgiveth you.