God's New Bible

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians

Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 4 -

(Psalm 133:1–3; 1 Corinthians 1:10–17)
1
I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called,
2
With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity.
3
Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4
One body and one Spirit; as you are called in one hope of your calling.
5
One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
6
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all.
7
But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the giving of Christ.
8
Wherefore he saith: Ascending on high, he led captivity captive; he gave gifts to men.
9
Now that he ascended, what is it, but because he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10
He that descended is the same also that ascended above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
11
And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors,
12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13
Until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ;
14
That henceforth we be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive.
15
But doing the truth in charity, we may in all things grow up in him who is the head, even Christ:
16
From whom the whole body, being compacted and fitly joined together, by what every joint supplieth, according to the operation in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in charity.

New Life in Christ

(Colossians 3:1–17)
17
This then I say and testify in the Lord: That henceforward you walk not as also the Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind,
18
Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts.
19
Who despairing, have given themselves up to lasciviousness, unto the working of all uncleanness, unto the working of all uncleanness, unto covetousness.
20
But you have not so learned Christ;
21
If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22
To put off, according to former conversation, the old man, who is corrupted according to the desire of error.
23
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind:
24
And put on the new man, who according to God is created in justice and holiness of truth.
25
Wherefore putting away lying, speak; ye the truth every man with his neighbour; for we are members one of another.
26
Be angry, and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your anger.
27
Give not place to the devil.
28
He that stole, let him now steal no more; but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have something to give to him that suffereth need.
29
Let no evil speech proceed from your mouth; but that which is good, to the edification of faith, that it may administer grace to the hearers.
30
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God: whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31
Let all bitterness, and anger, and indignation, and clamour, and blasphemy, be put away from you, with all malice.
32
And be ye kind one to another; merciful, forgiving one another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ.
(Psalm 133:1–3; 1 Corinthians 1:10–17)
1
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,
2
with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
3
being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4
There is one body and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling,
5
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in us all.
7
But to each one of us, the grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8
Therefore he says,When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to people.”(a)
9
Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10
He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
11
He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds (b) and teachers;
12
for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ,
13
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
14
that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
15
but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ,
16
from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

New Life in Christ

(Colossians 3:1–17)
17
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
18
being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts.
19
They, having become callous, gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20
But you didn’t learn Christ that way,
21
if indeed you heard him and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:
22
that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit,
23
and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24
and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.
25
Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
26
Be angry, and don’t sin.”(c) Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,
27
and don’t give place (d) to the devil.
28
Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, producing with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.
29
Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.
30
Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice.
32
And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

Footnotes

(a)4:8 ℘ Psalms 68:18
(b)4:11 or, pastors
(c)4:26 ℘ Psalms 4:4
(d)4:27 or, opportunity