4 I, therefore, being the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthily of the calling to which you were called,
2 with all humility and gentleness; with patience, bearing with one another in love,
3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called into one hope of your vocation;
5 one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism,
6 one God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in all.
7 But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Therefore it says, “When He ascended upon high, He captured captivity, and gave gifts to man.
9 (Now, in that He ascended, what is it but that He had also descended first into the lowest parts of the earth?
10 He Who descended is also the same Who ascended far above all heavens, so that He might complete all things.)
11 He, indeed, gave some to be Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors, and Teachers,
12 for the preparing of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edification of the body of Christ,
13 until we all reach the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature belonging to the fullness of Christ;
14 So that we are henceforth children no more, wavering and carried about with every wind of doctrine and by the deceit of man, who with craftiness lay in wait to deceive.
15 But let us follow the truth in love. And in all things grow up into Him Who is the Head, Christ;
16 by Whom all the body, being coupled and knit together by the supply of every joint, according to the measure of each individual part, makes increase to the body, to the edifying of itself in love.
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord: that you henceforth do not walk as other Gentiles walk (in the frivolity of their mind,
18 having their understanding darkened, and being strangers to the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart);
19 who, having grown numb to all feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness for the working of uncleanness with all greediness.
20 But, you have not so learned Christ,
21 if indeed you have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, just as truth is in Jesus.
22 As for your past life, you are to cast off the old man who is being corrupted through deceitful desires,
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
24 And put on the new man, who has been created according to God for righteousness and true holiness.
25 Therefore, having laid aside lying, everyone speak truth to his neighbor. For we are members one of another.
26 Be angry, but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down upon your irritation,
27 nor give place to the devil.
28 Let him who stole, steal no more. But rather, let him labor and work with his hands that which is good, so that he may have something to give to those in need.
29 Let no worthless word proceed out of your mouth, but only if it is good for edification, so that it may give grace to those who hear.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in Whom you are sealed for the Day of Redemption.
31 Let all bitterness and fury and anger, clamor, and slander be taken from you, along with all wickedness.
32 Be kind one to another, and tender-hearted, freely forgiving one another; even as God, for Christ’s sake, freely forgave you.