1 So|strong="G3767", as|strong="G1722" a|strong="G3739" prisoner|strong="G1198" for|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962", I|strong="G1473" beg|strong="G3870" you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G1722" live|strong="G4043" the|strong="G3588" way|strong="G1722" God’s people|strong="G3588" should live|strong="G4043", because|strong="G1722" he|strong="G3739" chose you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G1722" be|strong="G3767" his|strong="G3739".
2 Always|strong="G3956" be|strong="G2532" humble and|strong="G2532" gentle. Be|strong="G2532" patient and|strong="G2532" accept each|strong="G0240" other|strong="G0240" with|strong="G3326" love|strong="G0026".
3 You|strong="G1722" are|strong="G3588" joined together|strong="G1722" with|strong="G1722" peace|strong="G1515" through|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151". Do|strong="G4704" all|strong="G3588" you|strong="G1722" can to|strong="G1722" continue|strong="G5083" as|strong="G1722" you|strong="G1722" are|strong="G3588", letting peace|strong="G1515" hold you|strong="G1722" together|strong="G1722".
4 There|strong="G1722" is|strong="G3588" one|strong="G1520" body|strong="G4983" and|strong="G2532" one|strong="G1520" Spirit|strong="G4151", and|strong="G2532" God chose you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" one|strong="G1520" hope|strong="G1680".
5 There is|strong="G2962" one|strong="G1520" Lord|strong="G2962", one|strong="G1520" faith|strong="G4102", and|strong="G2962" one|strong="G1520" baptism|strong="G0908".
6 There|strong="G1722" is|strong="G2316" one|strong="G1520" God|strong="G2316" and|strong="G2532" Father|strong="G3962" of|strong="G1223" us|strong="G1722" all|strong="G3956", who|strong="G3588" rules over|strong="G1909" everyone|strong="G3956". He|strong="G2532" works through|strong="G1223" all|strong="G3956" of|strong="G1223" us|strong="G1722" and|strong="G2532" in|strong="G1722" all|strong="G3956" of|strong="G1223" us|strong="G1722".
7 Christ|strong="G5547" gave|strong="G1325" each|strong="G1538" one|strong="G1520" of|strong="G5485" us|strong="G1325" a|strong="G1325" special gift|strong="G1431". Everyone|strong="G1538" received what|strong="G3588" he|strong="G1161" wanted to|strong="G2596" give|strong="G1325" them|strong="G1325".
8 That|strong="G3004" is|strong="G0444" why|strong="G1352" the|strong="G3588" Scriptures say|strong="G3004",
9 When|strong="G2532" it|strong="G1161" says, “He|strong="G2532" went|strong="G0305" up|strong="G0305",” what|strong="G5101" does|strong="G1510" it|strong="G1161" mean|strong="G1510"? It|strong="G1161" means|strong="G1510" that|strong="G3754" he|strong="G2532" first came|strong="G2597" down|strong="G2597" low to|strong="G1519" earth|strong="G1093".
10 So|strong="G2443" Christ|strong="G0846" came|strong="G2597" down|strong="G2597", and|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3956" same|strong="G0846" one|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" went|strong="G0305" up|strong="G0305". He|strong="G2532" went|strong="G0305" up|strong="G0305" above|strong="G5231" the|strong="G3956" highest heaven|strong="G3772" in|strong="G2532" order|strong="G2443" to|strong="G2443" fill|strong="G4137" everything|strong="G3956" with|strong="G2532" himself|strong="G0846".
11 And|strong="G2532" that|strong="G0846" same|strong="G0846" Christ|strong="G0846" gave|strong="G1325" these|strong="G3588" gifts to|strong="G2532" people|strong="G0846": He|strong="G2532" made some|strong="G3588" to|strong="G2532" be|strong="G2532" apostles|strong="G0652", some|strong="G3588" to|strong="G2532" be|strong="G2532" prophets|strong="G4396", some|strong="G3588" to|strong="G2532" go and|strong="G2532" tell the|strong="G3588" Good News, and|strong="G2532" some|strong="G3588" to|strong="G2532" care for|strong="G2532" and|strong="G2532" teach God’s|strong="G0846" people|strong="G0846".
12 Christ|strong="G5547" gave these|strong="G3588" gifts to|strong="G1519" prepare God’s holy|strong="G0040" people|strong="G3588" for|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" work|strong="G2041" of|strong="G2041" serving|strong="G1248", to|strong="G1519" make the|strong="G3588" body|strong="G4983" of|strong="G2041" Christ|strong="G5547" stronger.
13 This|strong="G3588" work must|strong="G3588" continue|strong="G2532" until|strong="G3360" we|strong="G2532" are|strong="G3956" all|strong="G3956" joined together|strong="G2532" in|strong="G1519" what|strong="G3588" we|strong="G2532" believe and|strong="G2532" in|strong="G1519" what|strong="G3588" we|strong="G2532" know about|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3956" Son|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" God|strong="G2316". Our|strong="G2316" goal is|strong="G2316" to|strong="G1519" become like|strong="G5207" a|strong="G2532" full-grown man|strong="G0435"—to|strong="G1519" look just|strong="G2532" like|strong="G5207" Christ|strong="G5547" and|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" all|strong="G3956" his|strong="G3956" perfection.
14 Then|strong="G2532" we|strong="G2532" will|strong="G1510" no|strong="G3371" longer|strong="G3371" be|strong="G1510" like|strong="G4314" babies. We|strong="G2532" will|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" people|strong="G0444" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" always|strong="G3956" changing like|strong="G4314" a|strong="G1510" ship that|strong="G2443" the|strong="G3956" waves|strong="G2831" carry|strong="G4064" one|strong="G0444" way|strong="G1722" and|strong="G2532" then|strong="G2532" another. We|strong="G2532" will|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" influenced by|strong="G1722" every|strong="G3956" new teaching|strong="G1319" we|strong="G2532" hear from|strong="G1722" people|strong="G0444" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" trying to|strong="G4314" deceive us|strong="G1722"—those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" make clever plans and|strong="G2532" use every|strong="G3956" kind|strong="G3956" of|strong="G3956" trick to|strong="G4314" fool others|strong="G0444" into|strong="G1722" following|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" wrong way|strong="G1722".
15 No, we|strong="G3739" will|strong="G1510" speak the|strong="G3956" truth|strong="G0226" with|strong="G1722" love|strong="G0026". We|strong="G3739" will|strong="G1510" grow|strong="G0837" to|strong="G1519" be|strong="G1510" like|strong="G0846" Christ|strong="G5547" in|strong="G1722" every|strong="G3956" way|strong="G1722". He|strong="G0846" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3956" head|strong="G2776",
16 and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" whole|strong="G3956" body|strong="G4983" depends|strong="G1537" on|strong="G1722" him|strong="G0846". All|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" parts|strong="G3313" of|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3956" body|strong="G4983" are|strong="G3956" joined and|strong="G2532" held|strong="G4822" together|strong="G4822", with|strong="G1722" each|strong="G1538" part|strong="G3313" doing|strong="G4160" its|strong="G0846" own|strong="G1438" work. This|strong="G3588" causes|strong="G4160" the|strong="G3956" whole|strong="G3956" body|strong="G4983" to|strong="G1519" grow and|strong="G2532" to|strong="G1519" be|strong="G2532" stronger in|strong="G1722" love|strong="G0026".
17 I|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" something from|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962" to|strong="G3004" tell|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210". I|strong="G2532" warn you|strong="G5210": Don’t|strong="G3371" continue|strong="G2532" living|strong="G4043" like|strong="G2531" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" don’t|strong="G3371" believe. Their|strong="G0846" thoughts are|strong="G3778" worth nothing.
18 They|strong="G0846" have|strong="G1510" no understanding|strong="G1271", and|strong="G2316" they|strong="G0846" know nothing because|strong="G1223" they|strong="G0846" refuse to|strong="G1722" listen. So|strong="G1223" they|strong="G0846" cannot have|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" life|strong="G2222" that|strong="G0846" God|strong="G2316" gives|strong="G1223".
19 They|strong="G3748" have|strong="G3748" lost their|strong="G1438" feeling of|strong="G3956" shame and|strong="G3956" use their|strong="G1438" lives to|strong="G1519" do what|strong="G3588" is|strong="G3588" morally wrong. More|strong="G3956" and|strong="G3956" more|strong="G3956" they|strong="G3748" want to|strong="G1519" do all|strong="G3956" kinds|strong="G3956" of|strong="G3956" evil.
20 But|strong="G1161" that|strong="G1161" way|strong="G3779" of|strong="G3588" life is|strong="G3588" nothing|strong="G3756" like|strong="G3779" what|strong="G3588" you|strong="G5210" learned|strong="G3129" when|strong="G1161" you|strong="G5210" came to|strong="G5547" know Christ|strong="G5547".
21 I|strong="G2532" know that|strong="G0191" you|strong="G1487" heard|strong="G0191" about|strong="G1722" him|strong="G0846", and|strong="G2532" in|strong="G1722" him|strong="G0846" you|strong="G1487" were|strong="G1510" taught|strong="G1321" the|strong="G3588" truth|strong="G0225". Yes, the|strong="G3588" truth|strong="G0225" is|strong="G1510" in|strong="G1722" Jesus|strong="G2424".
22 You|strong="G5210" were|strong="G3588" taught to|strong="G2596" leave your|strong="G3588" old|strong="G3820" self|strong="G0444". This|strong="G3588" means that|strong="G0444" you|strong="G5210" must|strong="G3588" stop living the|strong="G3588" evil way|strong="G2596" you|strong="G5210" lived before|strong="G4387". That|strong="G0444" old|strong="G3820" self|strong="G0444" gets worse and|strong="G0444" worse, because|strong="G2596" people|strong="G0444" are|strong="G3588" fooled by|strong="G2596" the|strong="G3588" evil they want to|strong="G2596" do.
23 You|strong="G5210" must|strong="G3588" be made new in|strong="G1161" your|strong="G1161" hearts and|strong="G1161" in|strong="G1161" your|strong="G1161" thinking|strong="G3563".
24 Be|strong="G2532" that|strong="G2316" new|strong="G2537" person|strong="G0444" who|strong="G3588" was|strong="G3588" made to|strong="G2596" be|strong="G2532" like|strong="G2596" God|strong="G2316", truly|strong="G1722" good and|strong="G2532" pleasing to|strong="G2596" him|strong="G2532".
25 So|strong="G1352" you|strong="G3754" must|strong="G1538" stop telling|strong="G2980" lies|strong="G0846". “You|strong="G3754" must|strong="G1538" always speak|strong="G2980" the|strong="G3588" truth|strong="G0225" to|strong="G2980" each|strong="G1538" other|strong="G0240",” because|strong="G3754" we|strong="G3754" all|strong="G3588" belong|strong="G1510" to|strong="G2980" each|strong="G1538" other|strong="G0240" in|strong="G2980" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G0846" body.
26 “When|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" are|strong="G3588" angry|strong="G3710", don’t|strong="G3361" let|strong="G1931" that|strong="G3361" anger|strong="G3950" make|strong="G3361" you|strong="G5210" sin|strong="G0264",” and|strong="G2532" don’t|strong="G3361" stay angry|strong="G3710" all|strong="G3588" day.
27 Don’t give|strong="G1325" the|strong="G3588" devil|strong="G1228" a|strong="G1325" way to|strong="G1325" defeat you|strong="G1325".
28 Whoever|strong="G3588" has|strong="G2192" been|strong="G2192" stealing|strong="G2813" must|strong="G3588" stop it|strong="G1161" and|strong="G1161" start working|strong="G2872". They|strong="G1161" must|strong="G3588" use|strong="G2192" their|strong="G2192" hands|strong="G5495" for|strong="G2443" doing|strong="G2038" something good|strong="G0018". Then|strong="G1161" they|strong="G1161" will|strong="G3123" have|strong="G2192" something to|strong="G2443" share|strong="G3330" with|strong="G2192" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3588" poor.
29 When|strong="G0191" you|strong="G5210" talk|strong="G3056", don’t|strong="G3361" say|strong="G3056" anything|strong="G5100" bad|strong="G4550". But|strong="G0235" say|strong="G3056" the|strong="G3956" good|strong="G0018" things|strong="G3956" that|strong="G2443" people|strong="G3956" need|strong="G5532"—whatever|strong="G3956" will|strong="G3956" help them|strong="G1325" grow stronger. Then|strong="G3956" what|strong="G3588" you|strong="G5210" say|strong="G3056" will|strong="G3956" be|strong="G3956" a|strong="G1325" blessing|strong="G5485" to|strong="G4314" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" hear|strong="G0191" you|strong="G5210".
30 And|strong="G2532" don’t|strong="G3361" make|strong="G3361" the|strong="G3588" Holy|strong="G0040" Spirit|strong="G4151" sad|strong="G3076". God|strong="G2316" gave you|strong="G3739" his|strong="G2532" Spirit|strong="G4151" as|strong="G1519" proof that|strong="G3739" you|strong="G3739" belong to|strong="G1519" him|strong="G3739" and|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" will|strong="G2316" keep|strong="G3361" you|strong="G3739" safe|strong="G1722" until|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" day|strong="G2250" he|strong="G2532" makes you|strong="G3739" free.
31 Never be|strong="G2532" bitter, angry|strong="G2372", or|strong="G2532" mad. Never shout|strong="G2906" angrily or|strong="G2532" say things|strong="G3956" to|strong="G2532" hurt others|strong="G3956". Never do|strong="G2532" anything|strong="G3956" evil|strong="G2549".
32 Be|strong="G1096" kind|strong="G5543" and|strong="G2532" loving to|strong="G1519" each|strong="G0240" other|strong="G1161". Forgive|strong="G5483" each|strong="G0240" other|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G2532" as|strong="G2531" God|strong="G2316" forgave|strong="G5483" you|strong="G5210" through|strong="G1722" Christ|strong="G5547".