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.
Umoja Katika Mwili Wa Kristo
14:1 Efe 3:1; Kol 1:10; 1The 2:12Basi, mimi niliye mfungwa wa Bwana, nawasihi mwenende kama inavyostahili wito wenu mlioitiwa. 24:2 Kol 3:12, 13; Efe 1:4Kwa unyenyekevu wote na upole, mkiwa wavumilivu, mkichukuliana kwa upendo. 34:3 Kol 3:14; Rum 15:5Jitahidini kudumisha umoja wa Roho katika kifungo cha amani. 44:4 1Kor 12:13Kuna mwili mmoja na Roho mmoja, kama vile mlivyoitwa katika tumaini moja. 54:5 1Kor 8:6; 2Kor 11:4; Yud 3; Gal 3:27, 28; Ebr 6:6Tena kuna Bwana mmoja, imani moja, ubatizo mmoja, 64:6 Rum 11:36; 1Kor 12:6; Mal 2:10; 1Kor 8:6; 12:6; Rum 11:36Mungu mmoja ambaye ni Baba wa wote, aliye juu ya yote, katika yote na ndani ya yote.
74:7 1Kor 12:7, 11; Rum 12:3Lakini kila mmoja wetu amepewa neema kwa kadiri ya kipimo cha kipawa cha Kristo. 84:8 Kol 2:15; Za 68:18Kwa hiyo husema:
“Alipopaa juu zaidi, 4:8 Juu zaidi hapa ina maana mbingu za mbingu.
aliteka mateka,
akawapa wanadamu vipawa.”
94:9 Yn 3:13; 6:33, 62(Asemapo “alipaa juu,” maana yake nini isipokuwa ni kusema pia kwamba Kristo alishuka pande za chini sana za dunia?4:9 Pande za chini sana za dunia hapa maana yake Sheol kwa Kiebrania, yaani Kuzimu. 104:10 Mdo 1:9, 11; 1Tim 3:16; Ebr 4:14; 7:26; 9:24; Mdo 2:13; Mit 30:1-4; Efe 1:23Yeye aliyeshuka ndiye alipaa juu zaidi kupita mbingu zote, ili apate kuujaza ulimwengu wote.) 114:11 2Pet 3:2; Mdo 21:8Ndiye aliweka wengine kuwa mitume, wengine kuwa manabii, wengine kuwa wainjilisti, wengine kuwa wachungaji na walimu, 124:12 1Kor 12:27; 1Pet 2:5; 2Tim 3:17kwa kusudi la kuwakamilisha watakatifu kwa ajili ya kazi za huduma, ili kwamba mwili wa Kristo upate kujengwa 134:13 Kol 1:28mpaka sote tutakapoufikia umoja katika imani na katika kumjua sana Mwana wa Mungu na kuwa watu wazima kwa kufikia kimo cha ukamilifu wa Kristo.
144:14 1Kor 14:20; Yn 1:6; Efe 6:11Ili tusiwe tena watoto wachanga, tukitupwatupwa huku na huku na kuchukuliwa na kila upepo wa mafundisho kwa hila za watu, kwa ujanja, kwa kufuata njia zao za udanganyifu. 154:15 Efe 1:22Badala yake, tukiambiana kweli kwa upendo, katika mambo yote tukue, hata tumfikie yeye aliye kichwa, yaani, Kristo. 164:16 Kol 2:19Kutoka kwake, mwili wote ukiwa umeungamanishwa na kushikamanishwa pamoja kwa msaada wa kila kiungo, hukua na kujijenga wenyewe katika upendo, wakati kila kiungo kinafanya kazi yake.
Maisha Ya Zamani Na Maisha Mapya
174:17 Rum 1:21Hivyo nawaambia hivi, nami nasisitiza katika Bwana kwamba, msiishi tena kama watu wa Mataifa waishivyo, katika ubatili wa mawazo yao. 184:18 Rum 1:21; Efe 2:12; 2Kor 3:14Watu hao akili zao zimetiwa giza na wametengwa mbali na uzima wa Mungu kwa sababu ya ujinga wao kutokana na ugumu wa mioyo yao. 194:19 1Tim 4:2; Rum 1:24; Kol 3:5Wakiisha kufa ganzi, wamejitia katika mambo ya ufisadi na kupendelea kila aina ya uchafu, wakiendelea kutamani zaidi.
20Lakini ninyi, hivyo sivyo mlivyojifunza Kristo. 214:21 Efe 1:13Kama hivyo ndivyo ilivyo, ninyi mmemsikia, tena mmefundishwa naye, vile kweli ilivyo katika Yesu. 224:22 1Pet 2:1; Rum 6:6Mlifundishwa kuuvua mwenendo wenu wa zamani, utu wenu wa kale, ulioharibiwa na tamaa zake za udanganyifu, 234:23 Kol 3:10ili mfanywe upya roho na nia zenu, 244:24 Rum 6:4; Efe 2:10mkajivike utu mpya, ulioumbwa sawasawa na mfano wa Mungu katika haki yote na utakatifu.
Kanuni Za Maisha Mapya
254:25 Law 19:11; Rum 12:15Kwa hiyo kila mmoja wenu avue uongo na kuambiana kweli mtu na jirani yake, kwa maana sisi sote tu viungo vya mwili mmoja. 264:26 Za 4:4; Yak 1:19, 20; Mt 5:22Mkikasirika, msitende dhambi, wala jua lisichwe mkiwa bado mmekasirika, 274:27 Yak 4:7; 1Pet 5:9wala msimpe ibilisi nafasi. 284:28 Mdo 20:35; 1The 4:11; Lk 3:11Yeye ambaye amekuwa akiiba, asiibe tena, lakini lazima ajishughulishe, afanye kitu kifaacho kwa mikono yake mwenyewe, ili awe na kitu cha kuwagawia wahitaji.
294:29 Kol 3:8; Mt 12:36; Efe 5:4; Kol 3:8; 4:6; 1The 5:11Maneno mabaya yasitoke vinywani mwenu, bali yale yafaayo kwa ajili ya kuwajenga wengine kulingana na mahitaji yao, ili yawafae wale wasikiao. 304:30 1The 5:19; Rum 8:23Wala msimhuzunishe Roho Mtakatifu wa Mungu, ambaye kwake mlitiwa muhuri kwa ajili ya siku ya ukombozi. 314:31 Kol 3:8; Tit 3:2; Yak 4:11; 1Pet 2:1; Tit 3:3Ondoeni kabisa uchungu, ghadhabu, hasira, makelele na masingizio pamoja na kila aina ya uovu. 324:32 Mt 6:14, 15Kuweni wafadhili na wenye kuhurumiana ninyi kwa ninyi, mkisameheana, kama vile naye Mungu katika Kristo alivyowasamehe ninyi.
