Worsley - Ephesians - 4

4:1  I therefore, a prisoner for the sake of the Lord, exhort you to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all humility and meekness;

4:2  and with long-suffering forbear one another in love,

4:3  endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: for there is but one body and one Spirit,

4:4  even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

4:5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

4:6  one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all.

4:7  But grace is given to each of us, according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

4:8  Wherefore it is said, "When he ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men."

4:9  Now this expression "He ascended" what does it mean, but that He descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

4:10  He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.

4:11  And therefore He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; to qualify holy men for the work of the ministry,

4:12  to the edifying of the body of Christ:

4:13  till we all arrive in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, at perfect maturity, even to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

4:14  That we may be no longer children fluctuating and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the artful insinuations of men, and their crafty methods of deceiving;

4:15  but holding the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him, who is the head, even Christ:

4:16  from whom the whole body being fitly joined together and compacted by the aid of every joint, according to the operation proportioned to every part, maketh an increase to the edification of itself in love.

4:17  This I say therefore, and charge you in the name of the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk,

4:18  in the vanity of their mind, darkened in their understanding, and alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, by reason of the hardness of their heart:

4:19  who, being past feeling, have given themselves up to lasciviousness, to commit all uncleanness with greediness.

4:20  But ye have not so learned Christ;

4:21  if ye have indeed hearkened to Him, and been instructed in Him, as the truth is in Jesus; to put off the old man,

4:22  which according to your former conversation was corrupted with deceitful lusts,

4:23  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

4:24  and to put on the new man, which according to the image of God is created in righteousness, and true holiness.

4:25  Wherefore putting away lying, speak ye every one truth to his neighbor; for we are all members of one society.

4:26  Be angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath;

4:27  and give not the devil room to ensnare you.

4:28  Let him that stole steal no more; but rather let him labour, doing some good with his hands, that he may have something to bestow on him that hath need of it.

4:29  Let no corrupt word come out of your mouth; but what is good to useful edification, that it may benefit the hearers.

4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption.

4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and fury, and clamor, and calumny, be put away from you, with all malice: and be kind one to another,

4:32  tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgiveth you.