Ephesians 4-6

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Unity in the Body of Christ

4 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,^{(A) 2} with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,^{(B) 3} making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: ⁴ there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling,^{(C) 5} one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.^[a]

⁷ But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.^{(D) 8} Therefore it is said,

⁹ (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended^[c] into the lower parts of the earth?^{[d] 10} He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) ¹¹ He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers^{(F) 12} to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,^{(G) 13} until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity,^[e] to the measure of the full stature of Christ.^{(H) 14} We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming;^{(I) 15} but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,^{(J) 16} from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

The Old Life and the New

¹⁷ Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer walk as the^[f] gentiles walk, in the futility of their minds;^{(K) 18} they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart.^{(L) 19} They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰ That is not the way you learned Christ! ²¹ For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, ²² to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts,^{(M) 23} and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.^(N)

Rules for the New Life

²⁵ So then, putting away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are members of one another.^{(O) 26} Be angry but do not sin;^[g] do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and do not make room for the devil. ²⁸ Those who steal must give up stealing; rather, let them labor, doing good work with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. ²⁹ Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is good for building up,^[h] as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.^{(P) 31} Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice.^{(Q) 32} Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.^[i](R) 5 ¹ Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,^{(S) 2} and walk in love, as Christ loved us^[j] and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(T)

Renounce Pagan Ways

³ But sexual immorality and impurity of any kind or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints.^{(U) 4} Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. ⁵ Be sure of this, that no sexually immoral or impure person or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^(V)

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient.^{[k](W) 7} Therefore do not be associated with them, ⁸ for once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light,^{(X) 9} for the fruit of the light^[l] is found in all that is good and right and true. ¹⁰ Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness; rather, expose them.^{(Y) 12} For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly, ¹³ but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴ for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

¹⁵ Be careful, then, how you live,^[m] not as unwise people but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of the time, because the days are evil.^{(AA) 17} So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.^{(AB) 18} Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,^{(AC) 19} as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,^{(AD) 20} giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,^{(AE) 21} being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

The Christian Household

²² Wives, be subject^[n] to your husbands as to the Lord,^{(AF) 23} for the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.^{(AG) 24} Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, so that she may be holy and without blemish.^{(AH) 28} In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hates his own flesh, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, ³⁰ because we are members of his body.^{[o](AI) 31} “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{(AJ) 32} This is a great mystery, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. ³³ Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect^[p] her husband.

Children and Parents

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord,^[q] for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise^(AK)— ³ “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

⁴ And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.^(AL)

Slaves and Masters

⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect^[r] and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ,^{(AM) 6} not with a slavery performed merely for looks, to please people, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul. ⁷ Render service with enthusiasm, as for the Lord and not for humans, ⁸ knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are enslaved or free.

⁹ And, masters,^[s] do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Lord^[t] in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.^(AN)

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power; ¹¹ put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, ¹² for our^[u] struggle is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present^[v] darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.^{[w](AO) 13} Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day and, having prevailed against everything, to stand firm.^{(AP) 14} Stand, therefore, and belt your waist with truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness^{(AQ) 15} and lace up your sandals in preparation for the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ With all of these,^[x] take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(AR) 17} Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.^{(AS) 18} Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.^{(AT) 19} Pray also for me, so that when I speak a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,^{[y](AU) 20} for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.^(AV)

Personal Matters and Benediction

²¹ So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus will tell you everything. He is a dear brother and a faithful minister in the Lord.^{(AW) 22} I am sending him to you for this very purpose, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts.

²³ Peace be to the brothers and sisters and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^{(AX) 24} Grace be with all who have an undying love for^[z] our Lord Jesus Christ.^[aa]