I
therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the
vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all
lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace.
4 There
is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your
calling;
5 One
Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God
and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto
every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore
he saith, When he ascended
up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now
that he ascended, what is it but that he also
descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He
that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he
might fill all things.)
11 And he
gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;
12 For
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of
the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge
of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That
we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But
speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in
all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From
whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every
joint supplieth, according to the effectual working
in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the
body unto the edifying of itself in love.
17 This I
say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other
Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having
the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the
ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who
being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all
uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye
have not so learned Christ;
21 If so
be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in
Jesus:
22 That
ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be
renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And
that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and
true holiness.
25 Wherefore
putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye
angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your
wrath:
27 Neither
give place to the devil.
28 Let
him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour,
working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give
to him that needeth.
29 Let no
corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the
use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And
grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are
sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let
all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour,
and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be
ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for
Christ's sake hath forgiven you.