Self-interpreting Bible

Ephesians 4

1Paul exhorteth to those virtues which become the Christian calling, particularly to unity: 7declaring that Christ gave his gifts differently, that his body the church might be built up and perfected in the true faith by the cooperation of the individual members with one another, and with him their head. 17He calleth men off from the vain and impure conversation of the heathen world, 22to renounce the old, and to put on the new, man: 25to discard lying, 26and sinful anger; 28to leave off dishonest practices, and to gain by honest labour what they have occasion for; 29to use no corrupt talk, 30nor grieve God's Spirit; 31to put away all expressions of ill will, and to practise mutual kindness and forgiveness.

1 I THEREFORE, the ^aprisoner ¹of the Lord, beseech you that ye ^bwalk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

a: Ep. 3:1 , 2Co. 5:20
1: Or, in the Lord.
b: Ge. 17:1 , Ge. 5:24 , Ge. 6:9 , 1Co. 7:24 , Phi. 1:27 , Phi. 4:8 , Col. 1:10 , 1Th. 2:12 , 1Th. 4:1 , 1Th. 4:2 , 1Th. 4:12 , Tit. 2:11 - 14 , 1Pe. 1:15 , 2Pe. 1:3 - 11

2 ^cWith all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

c: Mat. 11:29 , Ac. 20:19 , 1Co. 13:4 , 1Co. 13:7 , 2Co. 6:6 , Ga. 5:22 , Phi. 2:3 , Col. 1:11 , Col. 3:12 - 14 , 1Th. 5:14

3 ^dEndeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

d: 1Co. 1:10 , 1Co. 12:13 , 2Co. 13:11 , Phi. 3:3 , Phi. 3:15 , Col. 3:14 , Ro. 14:17 , Ro. 14:19

4 There is ^eone body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in ^fone hope of your calling;

e: Jn. 17:21 - 23 , Ro. 12:5 , Ep. 2:16 , Ep. 2:18 , Ep. 2:22 , 1Co. 10:17 , 1Co. 12:4 , 1Co. 12:11 - 13 , 2Co. 4:10 , 2Co. 4:11 , 2Co. 11:2 , 2Co. 11:4 , Col. 3:15
f: Ac. 15:11 , Ep. 1:18 , Ro. 8:23 , Ro. 8:25 , Ga. 5:5 , Tit. 2:2 , He. 6:17 - 19 , Ro. 5:4 , Ro. 5:5 , 1Pe. 1:13 , 1Jn. 3:2 , 1Jn. 3:3

5 ^gOne Lord, ^hone faith, ⁱone baptism,

g: 1Co. 1:2 , 1Co. 1:13 , 1Co. 8:6 , 1Co. 12:5
h: 2Co. 11:4 , Ga. 1:6 , Ga. 1:7 , vs. 3 , vs. 20 , Ro. 3:30 , 2Co. 4:13 , Ep. 4:13
i: Ga. 3:27 , Ga. 3:28 , Mat. 28:19

6 ^jOne God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

j: Mal. 2:10 , 1Co. 8:6 , 1Co. 12:6 , Ps. 83:18 , Da. 4:34 , Da. 4:35 , Ro. 11:36

7 But unto every one of us ^kis given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

k: Ro. 12:3 , Ro. 12:6 , 1Co. 12:11 , Ep. 4:8 - 14 , Ep. 1:3 , Ep. 1:9

8 Wherefore he saith, ^lWhen he ascended up on high, he led ²captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

l: Ps. 68:18 , Col. 2:15
2: Or, a multitude of captives, Ju 5.12. , Ju. 5:12

9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also ^mdescended first into the lower parts of the earth?

m: Jn. 3:13 , Jn. 3:31 , Jn. 6:38 , Jn. 7:29 , Jn. 13:3 , Jn. 16:28 , 1Ti. 1:15 , Ps. 139:15 , Mat. 12:40 , 1Pe. 3:19

10 He that descended is the same also that ⁿascended up far above all heavens, that he might ³fill all things.)

n: Ac. 1:11 , Ac. 2:33 , Ep. 1:20 , Ep. 1:23 , Col. 1:19 , 1Ti. 3:16 , He. 4:14 , He. 8:1 , He. 9:12 , He. 9:24 , Lu. 24:51
3: Or, fulfil.

11 ^oAnd he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, ^ppastors and ^qteachers;

o: 1Co. 12:28 - 30 , Ro. 12:6 - 8 , 1Co. 9:1 , 1Co. 9:2 , 1Co. 4:9 , Ac. 11:27 , 1 Corinthians 14 , Ac. 21:8 , 2Ti. 4:5 , 1Ti. 5:17 , Ep. 2:20
p: Ac. 20:28
q: Ac. 13:1

12 ^rFor the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the ^sbody of Christ:

r: Ro. 12:5 , 1Co. 12:7 , 1Co. 12:27 , 1Co. 14:26 , Col. 1:29 , 1Ti. 4:16
s: Ep. 1:23 , Ep. 5:23 , Ep. 5:30 , Col. 1:24 , Col. 2:19 , Ep. 4:16 , 1Co. 12:12

13 ^tTill we all come ⁴in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the ⁵stature of ^uthe fulness of Christ:

t: 1Co. 1:10 , Jn. 10:16 , 1Co. 14:20 , Phi. 3:9 - 14 , Ep. 2:15 , Col. 1:22 , Col. 1:28 , Col. 2:2 , Col. 2:10
4: Or, into.
5: Or, age.
u: Ep. 1:23

14 That we henceforth be no more ^vchildren, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the ^*sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

v: Is. 28:9 , 1Co. 14:20 , Ro. 16:18 , He. 13:9 , Ja. 1:6 , 2Ti. 3:6 , 2Th. 2:9 , 2Th. 2:10 , Ac. 20:29 , Ac. 20:30 , Mat. 24:5 , Mat. 24:11 , Mat. 24:24 , Mat. 11:7 , 2Co. 2:17 , 2Co. 4:2 , 2Co. 11:13 , Col. 2:4 , Col. 2:7 , Tit. 1:10 , 2Pe. 3:3 , vs. 4
*: sleight-deceitfulness, slyness.

15 But ^w⁶speaking the truth in love, ^xmay grow up into him in all things, which is ^ythe head, even Christ:

w: Zec. 8:16 , 2Co. 4:2 , Ga. 2:5 , Ga. 2:14 , Ga. 3:1 , Ga. 4:16 , Ga. 5:6
6: Or, being sincere, 1Jn. 3.18. , 1Jn. 3:18
x: Col. 1:10 , Col. 1:18 , Col. 2:10 , Col. 2:19 , 2Pe. 3:18 , 1Pe. 2:1 , 1Pe. 2:2 , 2Ti. 2:18 , 2Ti. 3:7 , 2Ti. 4:4 , Tit. 1:14
y: Ep. 1:10 , Ep. 1:13 , Ep. 1:22 , Ep. 2:21 , Ep. 5:23 , Col. 1:18 , Col. 1:19

16 ^zFrom whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

z: Jn. 15:5 , Col. 2:19 , Ro. 12:5 , 1Co. 12:27 , Ep. 2:21 , Ep. 2:22 , Zec. 10:12

17 ^aThis I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ^bye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

a: 1Co. 10:12 , Ac. 20:21 , Ro. 1:9 , 2Co. 6:1 , 1Pe. 5:12
b: Ep. 5:3 - 8 , Col. 3:5 - 14 , Ro. 13:11 - 14 , Ro. 1:21 - 32 , 1Co. 6:9 , 1Co. 6:10 , Ga. 5:19 - 21 , Ep. 2:2 , Ep. 2:3 , Ep. 2:12 , 1Pe. 4:3 , Ep. 4:18 , Ep. 4:19

18 ^cHaving the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through ^dthe ignorance that is in them, because of the ⁷blindness of their heart:

c: Ac. 26:18 , Ro. 1:21 , Ga. 4:8 , Ep. 2:12 , Ep. 5:8 , 1Th. 4:5 , Col. 1:13
d: Ac. 17:30 , 1Pe. 1:14
7: Or, hardness.

19 ^eWho being past feeling have given themselves over unto ^*lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

e: 1Ti. 4:2 , Ro. 1:24 , Ro. 1:26 , Ro. 1:28 , 1Pe. 4:3
*: lasciviousness-lustfulness, sexual wantonness, indecency.

20 ^fBut ye have not so learned Christ;

f: Romans 6 , Ro. 7:4 , Ro. 7:6 , Ro. 8:2 , Ro. 8:13 , Ro. 13:14 , 1Co. 1:30 , 1Co. 6:19 , 1Co. 6:20 , Ep. 5:1 - 8 , Col. 3:1 - 14 , Tit. 2:10 - 14 , Tit. 3:8 , 2Ti. 2:14 , Matthew 5 - 8 , Luke 6

21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, ^gas the truth is in Jesus:

g: 2Co. 1:20 , Mat. 26:28 , Jn. 1:14 , Jn. 1:16 , Jn. 14:6 , Ep. 1:13

22 That ye ^hput off concerning the former ⁱ^*conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

h: Col. 2:11 , Col. 3:8 , Col. 3:9 , Ro. 6:6 , Ro. 7:14 - 24 , Ro. 8:13 , Ep. 2:2 , Ep. 2:3 , Mat. 15:19 , He. 12:1 , 1Pe. 2:1 , 1Pe. 4:3 , Ga. 5:17 - 20 , Eze. 18:31 , Ep. 4:17
i: Ga. 1:13
*: conversation-behaviour.

23 And ^jbe renewed in the spirit of your mind;

j: Ro. 12:2 , Ro. 6:4 , 2Co. 4:16 , 2Co. 5:17 , Ga. 6:15 , Ep. 2:10 , Ep. 2:15 , Col. 3:10

24 And that ye put on ^kthe new man, which after God is created in righteousness and ⁸true holiness.

k: Ep. 2:15
8: Or, holiness of truth, Jn. 17.17. , Jn. 17:17

25 Wherefore ^lputting away lying, ^mspeak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are ⁿmembers one of another.

l: Zec. 8:16 , Is. 58:7 , Col. 3:9 , Re. 21:8 , Re. 21:27
m: Ep. 4:15
n: Ro. 12:5 , 1Co. 10:17 , 1Co. 12:12 , 1Co. 12:27 , Ep. 5:30 , 1Pe. 2:5

26 ^oBe ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

o: Ps. 4:4 , Ps. 37:8 , Mar. 3:5 , Pr. 19:11 , Ec. 7:9 , Ec. 11:10 , De. 24:15 , De. 21:23 , Pr. 14:29 , Pr. 29:8 , Ja. 1:19 , Ro. 12:19 - 21

27 ^pNeither ^*give place to the devil.

p: Ja. 4:7 , 1Pe. 5:8 , 1Pe. 5:9
*: give place-give way, yield.

28 ^qLet him that stole steal no more: but rather let him ^rlabour, working with his hands the thing which is good, ^sthat he may have ⁹to give to him that needeth.

q: Ex. 20:15 , Ex. 20:17 , Ep. 5:5
r: Ac. 20:34 , Ac. 20:35 , 1Th. 4:11 , 2Th. 3:8 , 2Th. 3:11 , 2Th. 3:12
s: Ro. 12:13
9: Or, to distribute.

29 ^tLet no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good ¹⁰to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

t: Ep. 5:3 , Ep. 5:4 , Col. 3:8 , Col. 4:6 , 1Co. 15:33 , Mat. 12:34 - 37 , Ec. 10:12 , Pr. 10:32 , Ps. 45:2 , Lu. 4:4 , Lu. 4:22 , 1Co. 14:5 , 1Co. 14:19 , Col. 3:16 , 1Th. 5:11 , Ep. 5:19
10: Or, to edify profitably.

30 And ^ugrieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are ^vsealed unto the day of redemption.

u: Is. 7:13 , Is. 63:10 , Eze. 16:43 , Mi. 2:7 , Ac. 7:51 , He. 10:29
v: Ro. 8:16 , Ro. 8:23 , 2Co. 1:22 , 2Co. 5:5 , Ep. 1:13 , Ep. 1:14 , Lu. 21:28 , Ro. 13:11

31 ^wLet all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

w: Col. 3:8 , Col. 3:19 , 1Pe. 2:1 , Tit. 3:2 , Tit. 3:3 , Ps. 37:8 , Ja. 4:11 , Ja. 1:21

32 And ^xbe ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

x: 2Co. 2:10 , Phi. 2:1 , Col. 3:12 , Col. 3:13 , Mat. 6:14 , Mat. 18:35 , Mar. 11:25 , Mar. 11:26 , 1Pe. 3:8 , 1Pe. 3:9 , 1Pe. 4:8 , Ro. 12:10 , Ro. 12:15 , Ro. 12:19 - 21