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.
παρακαλω ουν υμασ εγω ο δεσμιοσ εν κυριω αξιωσ περιπατησαι τησ κλησεωσ ησ εκληθητε
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).
μετα πασησ ταπεινοφροσυνησ και πραοτητοσ μετα μακροθυμιασ ανεχομενοι αλληλων εν αγαπη
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].
σπουδαζοντεσ τηρειν την ενοτητα του πνευματοσ εν τω συνδεσμω τησ ειρηνησ
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].
εν σωμα και εν πνευμα καθωσ και εκληθητε εν μια ελπιδι τησ κλησεωσ υμων
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.
εισ κυριοσ μια πιστισ εν βαπτισμα
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.
εισ θεοσ και πατηρ παντων ο επι παντων και δια παντων και εν πασιν ημιν
7 Christ has generously given to each one of us spiritual gifts, just like he decided to give them.
ενι δε εκαστω ημων εδοθη η χαρισ κατα το μετρον τησ δωρεασ του χριστου
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:
διο λεγει αναβασ εισ υψοσ ηχμαλωτευσεν αιχμαλωσιαν και εδωκεν δοματα τοισ ανθρωποισ
9 The words ‘he ascended’ certainly imply/indicate [RHQ] that Christ had also previously descended to the earth.
το δε ανεβη τι εστιν ει μη οτι και κατεβη πρωτον εισ τα κατωτερα μερη τησ γησ
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.
ο καταβασ αυτοσ εστιν και ο αναβασ υπερανω παντων των ουρανων ινα πληρωση τα παντα
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].
και αυτοσ εδωκεν τουσ μεν αποστολουσ τουσ δε προφητασ τουσ δε ευαγγελιστασ τουσ δε ποιμενασ και διδασκαλουσ
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.
προσ τον καταρτισμον των αγιων εισ εργον διακονιασ εισ οικοδομην του σωματοσ του χριστου
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]).
μεχρι καταντησωμεν οι παντεσ εισ την ενοτητα τησ πιστεωσ και τησ επιγνωσεωσ του υιου του θεου εισ ανδρα τελειον εισ μετρον ηλικιασ του πληρωματοσ του χριστου
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.
ινα μηκετι ωμεν νηπιοι κλυδωνιζομενοι και περιφερομενοι παντι ανεμω τησ διδασκαλιασ εν τη κυβεια των ανθρωπων εν πανουργια προσ την μεθοδειαν τησ πλανησ
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.
αληθευοντεσ δε εν αγαπη αυξησωμεν εισ αυτον τα παντα οσ εστιν η κεφαλη ο χριστοσ
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].
εξ ου παν το σωμα συναρμολογουμενον και συμβιβαζομενον δια πασησ αφησ τησ επιχορηγιασ κατ ενεργειαν εν μετρω ενοσ εκαστου μερουσ την αυξησιν του σωματοσ ποιειται εισ οικοδομην εαυτου εν αγαπη
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].
τουτο ουν λεγω και μαρτυρομαι εν κυριω μηκετι υμασ περιπατειν καθωσ και τα λοιπα εθνη περιπατει εν ματαιοτητι του νοοσ αυτων
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].
εσκοτισμενοι τη διανοια οντεσ απηλλοτριωμενοι τησ ζωησ του θεου δια την αγνοιαν την ουσαν εν αυτοισ δια την πωρωσιν τησ καρδιασ αυτων
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.
οιτινεσ απηλγηκοτεσ εαυτουσ παρεδωκαν τη ασελγεια εισ εργασιαν ακαθαρσιασ πασησ εν πλεονεξια
20 But when you learned [about] Christ, you did not learn [to behave] like that.
υμεισ δε ουχ ουτωσ εμαθετε τον χριστον
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].
ειγε αυτον ηκουσατε και εν αυτω εδιδαχθητε καθωσ εστιν αληθεια εν τω ιησου
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].
αποθεσθαι υμασ κατα την προτεραν αναστροφην τον παλαιον ανθρωπον τον φθειρομενον κατα τασ επιθυμιασ τησ απατησ
23 Others taught you that instead, you must let [God’s Spirit] change the way you think,
ανανεουσθαι δε τω πνευματι του νοοσ υμων
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.
και ενδυσασθαι τον καινον ανθρωπον τον κατα θεον κτισθεντα εν δικαιοσυνη και οσιοτητι τησ αληθειασ
25 Therefore, quit lying to one another. Instead, because we all belong to just one group [of believers], speak truthfully to each other.
διο αποθεμενοι το ψευδοσ λαλειτε αληθειαν εκαστοσ μετα του πλησιον αυτου οτι εσμεν αλληλων μελη
26 If you get angry, do not sin [as a result of] getting angry. Before the end of the day [MTY], stop being angry;
οργιζεσθε και μη αμαρτανετε ο ηλιοσ μη επιδυετω επι τω παροργισμω υμων
27 [by doing that], you will not allow the devil to make you do evil.
μηδε διδοτε τοπον τω διαβολω
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.
ο κλεπτων μηκετι κλεπτετω μαλλον δε κοπιατω εργαζομενοσ το αγαθον ταισ χερσιν ινα εχη μεταδιδοναι τω χρειαν εχοντι
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.
πασ λογοσ σαπροσ εκ του στοματοσ υμων μη εκπορευεσθω αλλ ει τισ αγαθοσ προσ οικοδομην τησ χρειασ ινα δω χαριν τοισ ακουουσιν
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]).
και μη λυπειτε το πνευμα το αγιον του θεου εν ω εσφραγισθητε εισ ημεραν απολυτρωσεωσ
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.
πασα πικρια και θυμοσ και οργη και κραυγη και βλασφημια αρθητω αφ υμων συν παση κακια
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].
γινεσθε δε εισ αλληλουσ χρηστοι ευσπλαγχνοι χαριζομενοι εαυτοισ καθωσ και ο θεοσ εν χριστω εχαρισατο ημιν
