信徒同屬一體
1所以，我這為主被囚禁的勸你們，既然蒙了上帝的呼召，就要過與所蒙的呼召相稱的生活。 2凡事要謙虛、溫柔、忍耐，用愛心互相寬容， 3以和平彼此聯結，竭力持守聖靈所賜的合一。 4正如你們蒙召後有同一個盼望，你們同屬一個身體，有同一位聖靈、 5同一位主、同一個信仰、同一種洗禮、 6同一位上帝，就是萬物之父。祂超越萬物，貫穿萬物，且在萬物之中。
7然而，我們各人都是按照基督所賜的分量領受恩典。 8因此聖經上說：
「祂升上高天時，
帶著許多俘虜，
將恩賜賞給眾人。」
9既然說「升上」，豈不表示祂曾經降到地上嗎？ 10降下的是祂，升到諸天之上的也是祂，祂充滿萬物。 11祂賜恩讓一些人作使徒，一些人作先知，一些人作傳福音的，一些人作牧師和教師， 12為要裝備信徒，使他們各盡其職，建立基督的身體， 13直到我們對上帝的兒子有一致的信仰和認識，逐漸成熟，達到基督那樣完美的生命。 14這樣，我們就不再像小孩子，被各種異端邪說之風吹得飄來飄去，被人的陰謀詭計欺騙，隨波逐流。 15相反，我們說話要憑愛心堅持真理，在各方面都要追求長進，更像元首基督。 16整個身體靠祂巧妙地結合在一起，筋骨相連，彼此供應，使各部位各盡其職，身體便漸漸長大，在愛中建立起來。
新人新生命
17因此，我奉主的名鄭重地勸告各位，不要再像不信的外族人一樣過著心靈空虛的日子。 18他們因為愚昧無知，頑固不化，理智受到蒙蔽，與上帝所賜的生命隔絕了。 19他們喪盡天良，放縱情慾，沉溺於各種污穢的事。 20但基督絕不是這樣教導你們的。
21如果你們聽過祂的事，領受了祂的教誨，就是在祂裡面的真理， 22就應該與從前的生活方式一刀兩斷，脫去因私慾的迷惑而漸漸敗壞的舊人， 23洗心革面， 24穿上照著上帝形像所造的新人。這新人有從真理而來的公義和聖潔。
25所以不要再說謊，大家都要彼此說真話，因為我們都是一個身體的肢體。 26不要因生氣而犯罪，不要到日落時還怒氣未消， 27不要讓魔鬼有機可乘。 28從前偷竊的要改過自新，自食其力，做正當事，以便能夠分給有需要的人。 29污言穢語一句都不可出口，要隨時隨地說造就人的好話，使聽的人得益處。 30不要讓上帝的聖靈擔憂，你們已經蓋上了聖靈的印記，將來必蒙救贖。 31要從你們當中除掉一切的苦毒、惱恨、怒氣、爭吵、毀謗和邪惡。 32總要以恩慈、憐憫的心彼此相待，要互相饒恕，正如上帝在基督裡饒恕了你們一樣。
Growing Up Together in the Body of Christ
1I am a prisoner because of the Lord. So I am asking you to live a life worthy of what God chose you for. 2Don’t be proud at all. Be completely gentle. Be patient. Put up with one another in love. 3The Holy Spirit makes you one in every way. So try your best to remain as one. Let peace keep you together. 4There is one body and one Spirit. You were appointed to one hope when you were chosen. 5There is one Lord, one faith and one baptism. 6There is one God and Father of all. He is over everything. He is through everything. He is in everything.
7But each one of us has received a gift of grace. These gifts are given to us by Christ. 8That is why Scripture says,
“When he went up to his place on high,
he took many prisoners.
He gave gifts to his people.” (Psalm 68:18)
9What does “he went up” mean? It can only mean that he also came down to the lower, earthly places. 10The one who came down is the same one who went up. He went up higher than all the heavens. He did it in order to fill all creation. 11So Christ himself gave the gift of the apostles to the church. He gave the prophets and those who preach the good news. And he also gave the pastors and teachers as a gift to the church. 12He gave all these people so that they might prepare God’s people to serve. Then the body of Christ will be built up. 13That will continue until we all become one in the faith. We will also become one in the knowledge of God’s Son. Then we will be grown up in the faith. We will receive everything that Christ has for us.
14We will no longer be babies in the faith. We won’t be like ships tossed around by the waves. We won’t be blown here and there by every new teaching. We won’t be blown around by cleverness and tricks. Certain people use them to hide their evil plans. 15Instead, we will speak the truth in love. So we will grow up in every way to become the body of Christ. Christ is the head of the body. 16He makes the whole body grow and build itself up in love. Under the control of Christ, each part of the body does its work. It supports the other parts. In that way, the body is joined and held together.
Teachings for Living as Christians
17Here is what I’m telling you. I am speaking for the Lord as I warn you. You must no longer live as the Gentiles do. Their thoughts don’t have any purpose. 18They can’t understand the truth. They are separated from the life of God. That’s because they don’t know him. And they don’t know him because their hearts are stubborn. 19They have lost all feeling for what is right. So they have given themselves over to all kinds of evil pleasures. They take part in every kind of unclean act. And they are full of greed.
20But that is not the way of life in Christ that you learned about. 21You heard about Christ and were taught about life in him. What you learned was the truth about Jesus. 22You were taught not to live the way you used to. You must get rid of your old way of life. That’s because it has been made impure by the desire for things that lead you astray. 23You were taught to be made new in your thinking. 24You were taught to start living a new life. It is created to be truly good and holy, just as God is.
25So each of you must get rid of your lying. Speak the truth to your neighbor. We are all parts of one body. 26Scripture says, “When you are angry, do not sin.” (Psalm 4:4) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. 27Don’t give the devil a chance. 28Anyone who has been stealing must never steal again. Instead, they must work. They must do something useful with their own hands. Then they will have something to give to people in need.
29Don’t let any evil talk come out of your mouths. Say only what will help to build others up and meet their needs. Then what you say will help those who listen. 30Do not make God’s Holy Spirit mourn. The Holy Spirit is the proof that you belong to God. And the Spirit is the proof that God will set you completely free. 31Get rid of all hard feelings, anger and rage. Stop all fighting and lying. Don’t have anything to do with any kind of hatred. 32Be kind and tender to one another. Forgive one another, just as God forgave you because of what Christ has done.
