Ephesians 4 – NIV & CCBT

New International Version

Ephesians 4:1-32

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it4:8 Or God says:

“When he ascended on high,

he took many captives

and gave gifts to his people.”4:8 Psalm 68:18

9(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions4:9 Or the depths of the earth? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Instructions for Christian Living

17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26“In your anger do not sin”4:26 Psalm 4:4 (see Septuagint): Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)

以弗所書 4:1-32

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。