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16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body’s growth and builds itself up in love.(A)

Renewal in Christ.[a] 17 So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds;(B) 18 darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart,(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 4:17–24 Paul begins to indicate how the new life in Christ contrasts with the Gentiles’ old way of existence. Literally, the old self (Eph 4:22) and the new self (Eph 4:24) are “the old man” and “the new man” (anthrōpos, person), as at Eph 2:15; cf. note on Eph 4:13.

16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows(A) and builds itself up(B) in love,(C) as each part does its work.

Instructions for Christian Living

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer(D) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.(E) 18 They are darkened in their understanding(F) and separated from the life of God(G) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.(H)

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