Chapter 4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of
the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness,
with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavouring to keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your
calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above
all, and through all, and in you all.
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of
Christ.
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive,
and gave gifts unto men.
Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower
parts of the earth?
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens,
that he might fill all things.
And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists,
and some pastors and teachers.
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ, 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 fullness of Christ, that we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of
men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ, 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.
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other
Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 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, who being past feeling, have given
themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
But ye have not so learned Christ, if so be that ye have heard him,
and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus.
That ye put off concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is
corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness.
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor, for we are
members one of another.
Be ye angry, and sin not, let not the sun go down upon your wrath, neither give
place to the devil.
Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his
hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that
needeth.
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.
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of
redemption.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking
be put away from you with all malice.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.