Ephesians 4:1
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
Explanation:
Paul, who is in prison for following Jesus, is asking us to live the kind of life that shows we belong to God.
Ephesians 4:2
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
Explanation:
Be kind and gentle. Be patient with others when they mess up because you love them.
Ephesians 4:3
Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Explanation:
Try your best to stick together and live peacefully, with help from the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:4
For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
Explanation:
There’s one team (God’s people), one Holy Spirit, and one great hope we all share.
Ephesians 4:5
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Explanation:
We all follow the same Lord, believe the same truth, and are baptized the same way.
Ephesians 4:6
one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.
Explanation:
There is one God who is our Father. He rules everything and lives in all of us.
Ephesians 4:7
However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.
Explanation:
Jesus gave each of us a special gift because He is so generous.
Ephesians 4:8
That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”
Explanation:
The Bible says that when Jesus went back to heaven, He took people with Him and gave gifts to others.
Ephesians 4:9
Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.
Explanation:
If Jesus went up to heaven, that means He also came down to earth first.
Ephesians 4:10
And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
Explanation:
The same Jesus who came down to earth also went higher than the sky so He could be everywhere.
Ephesians 4:11
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
Explanation:
Jesus gave the church special leaders like apostles, prophets, people who tell others about Him, and teachers.
Ephesians 4:12
Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
Explanation:
These leaders help us learn and grow so we can do God’s work and make the church stronger.
Ephesians 4:13
This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Explanation:
We’ll keep growing and learning until we’re united in our faith and become more like Jesus.
Ephesians 4:14
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
Explanation:
When we grow in Jesus, we won’t be confused or tricked by lies. We’ll be strong in the truth.
Ephesians 4:15
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Explanation:
We’ll speak the truth kindly and become more like Jesus, who leads the church.
Ephesians 4:16
He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Explanation:
Jesus puts us all together like a body. When we each do our part, we help everyone grow in love and stay strong.
Ephesians 4:17
With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.
Explanation:
Paul says with God’s help: Don’t live like people who don’t know God. They’re lost and confused.
Ephesians 4:18
Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.
Explanation:
They don’t understand the truth and turn away from God because they don’t want to listen.
Ephesians 4:19
They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
Explanation:
They do whatever feels good, even if it’s wrong, and they don’t feel bad about it.
Ephesians 4:20
But that isn’t what you learned about Christ.
Explanation:
That’s not how you were taught to live if you follow Jesus.
Ephesians 4:21
Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,
Explanation:
You’ve heard about Jesus and know what’s really true because of Him.
Ephesians 4:22
throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.
Explanation:
Let go of your old, wrong ways. They were full of lies and bad desires.
Ephesians 4:23
Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
Explanation:
Let God’s Spirit make your thoughts and heart new.
Ephesians 4:24
Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Explanation:
Start living your new life, made to be like God—doing what is right and good.
Ephesians 4:25
So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.
Explanation:
Don’t lie. Always tell the truth because we’re all on the same team.
Ephesians 4:26
And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,
Explanation:
It’s okay to feel angry, but don’t do wrong things because of it. Don’t stay mad too long.
Ephesians 4:27
for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
Explanation:
Staying angry gives the devil a chance to mess with you.
Ephesians 4:28
If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.
Explanation:
Don’t steal. Work hard so you can help people who need it.
Ephesians 4:29
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Explanation:
Don’t say bad or mean things. Say stuff that helps and lifts people up.
Ephesians 4:30
And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
Explanation:
Don’t make the Holy Spirit sad by doing wrong. You belong to God and are saved by Him.
Ephesians 4:31
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
Explanation:
Let go of being mad, yelling, saying mean things, and doing wrong.
Ephesians 4:32
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Explanation:
Be kind, gentle, and forgive others—just like God forgave you because of Jesus.