He exhorts them to unity, to put on the new man, and to fly sin.
4:1. I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk
worthy of the vocation in which you are called:
4:2. With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one
another in charity.
4:3. Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4:4. One body and one Spirit: as you 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 us all.
4:7. But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of
the giving of Christ.
4:8. Wherefore he saith: Ascending on high, he led captivity captive: he
gave gifts to men.
4:9. Now that he ascended, what is it, but because he also descended
first into the lower parts of the earth?
4:10. He that descended is the same also that ascended above all the
heavens: that he might fill all things.
4:11. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some
evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors:
Gave some apostles--Until we all meet, etc... Here it is plainly
expressed, that Christ has left in his church a perpetual succession of
orthodox pastors and teachers, to preserve the faithful in unity and
truth.
4:12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the word of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ:
4:13. 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:
4:14. 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.
4:15. But doing the truth in charity, we may in all things grow up in
him who is the head, even Christ:
4:16. 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.
4:17. 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:
4:18. 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.
4:19. Who despairing have given themselves up to lasciviousness, unto
the working of all uncleanness, unto covetousness.
4:20. But you have not so learned Christ:
4:21. If so be that you have heard him and have been taught in him, as
the truth is in Jesus:
4:22. To put off, according to former conversation, the old man, who is
corrupted according to the desire of error.
4:23. And be renewed in spirit of your mind:
4:24. And put on the new man, who according to God is created in justice
and holiness of truth.
4:25. Wherefore, putting away lying, speak ye the truth, every man with
his neighbour. For we are members one of another.
4:26. Be angry: and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your anger.
4:27. Give not place to the devil.
4:28. 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.
4:29. 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.
4:30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God: whereby you are sealed unto
the day of redemption.
4:31. Let all bitterness and anger and indignation and clamour and
blasphemy be put away from you, with all malice.
4:32. And be ye kind one to another: merciful, forgiving one another,
even as God hath forgiven you in Christ.