Ephesians Chapter 4
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things;
2
to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly
3
places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God,
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according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
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in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.
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Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.
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For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,
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from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
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that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;
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that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
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may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
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and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.
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Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
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unto him
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be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.
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I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called,
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with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
18
giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
19
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling;
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one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
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one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.
22
But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
23
Wherefore he saith,
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When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive,
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And gave gifts unto men.
26
(Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
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He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
28
And he gave some
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to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
30
for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:
31
till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
32
that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
I, the prisoner in [the] Lord, exhort you therefore to walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye have been called,
2
with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love;
3
using diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace.
4
[There is] one body and one Spirit, as ye have been also called in one hope of your calling;
5
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6
oneGod and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all.
7
But to each one of us has been given grace according to the measure of the gift of the Christ.
8
Wherefore he says, Having ascended up on high, he has led captivity captive, and has given gifts to men.
9
But that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10
He that descended is the same who has also ascended up above all the heavens, that he might fill all things;
11
and he has given some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers,
12
for the perfecting of the saints; with a view to [the] work of [the] ministry, with a view to the edifying of the body of Christ;
13
until we all arrive at the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son ofGod, at [the] full-grown man, at [the] measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ;
14
in order that we may be no longer babes, tossed and carried about by every wind of that teaching [which is] in the sleight of men, in unprincipled cunning with a view to systematized error;
15
but, holding the truth in love, we may grow up to him in all things, who is the head, the Christ:
16
from whom the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to [the] working in [its] measure of each one part, works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love.
17
This I say therefore, and testify in [the] Lord, that ye should no longer walk as [the rest of] the nations walk in [the] vanity of their mind,
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being darkened in understanding, estranged from the life ofGod by reason of the ignorance which is in them, by reason of the hardness of their hearts,
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who having cast off all feeling, have given themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greedy unsatisfied lust.
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But ye have not thus learnt the Christ,
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if ye have heard him and been instructed in him according as [the] truth is in Jesus;
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[namely] your having put off according to the former conversation the old man which corrupts itself according to the deceitful lusts;
23
and being renewed in the spirit of your mind;
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and [your] having put on the new man, which according toGod is created in truthful righteousness and holiness.
25
Wherefore, having put off falsehood, speak truth every one with his neighbour, because we are members one of another.
26
Be angry, and do not sin; let not the sun set upon your wrath,
27
neither give room for the devil.
28
Let the stealer steal no more, but rather let him toil, working what is honest with [his] hands, that he may have to distribute to him that has need.
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Let no corrupt word go out of your mouth, but if [there be] any good one for needful edification, that it may give grace to those that hear [it].
30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit ofGod, with which ye have been sealed for [the] day of redemption.
31
Let all bitterness, and heat of passion, and wrath, and clamour, and injurious language, be removed from you, with all malice;
32
and be to one another kind, compassionate, forgiving one another, so asGod also in Christ has forgiven you.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Obsecro itaque vos ego vinctus in Domino, ut digne ambuletis vocatione, qua vocati estis,
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cum omni humilitate, et mansuetudine, cum patientia, supportantes invicem in charitate,
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soliciti servare unitatem Spiritus in vinculo pacis.
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Unum corpus, et unus Spiritus, sicut vocati estis in una spe vocationis vestræ.
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Unus Dominus, una fides, unum baptisma.
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Unus Deus et Pater omnium, qui est super omnes, et per omnia, et in omnibus nobis.
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Unicuique autem nostrum data est gratia secundum mensuram donationis Christi.
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Propter quod dicit: Ascendens in altum captivam duxit captivitatem: dedit dona hominibus.
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Quod autem ascendit, quid est, nisi quia et descendit primum in inferiores partes terræ?
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Qui descendit, ipse est et qui ascendit super omnes cælos, ut impleret omnia.
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Et ipse dedit quosdam quidem Apostolos, quosdam autem Prophetas, alios vero Evangelistas, alios autem pastores, et doctores
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ad consummationem sanctorum in opus ministerii, in ædificationem corporis Christi:
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donec occurramus omnes in unitatem fidei, et agnitionis filii Dei, in virum perfectum, in mensuram ætatis plenitudinis Christi:
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ut iam non simus parvuli fluctuantes, et circumferamur omni vento doctrinæ in nequitia hominum, in astutia ad circumventionem erroris.
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Veritatem autem facientes in charitate, crescamus in illo per omnia, qui est caput Christus:
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ex quo totum corpus compactum, et connexum per omnem iuncturam subministrationis, secundum operationem in mensuram uniuscuiusque membri, augmentum corporis facit in ædificationem sui in charitate.
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Hoc igitur dico, et testificor in Domino, ut iam non ambuletis, sicut et Gentes ambulant in vanitate sensus sui,
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tenebris obscuratum habentes intellectum, alienati a vita Dei per ignorantiam, quæ est in illis, propter cæcitatem cordis ipsorum,
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qui desperantes, semetipsos tradiderunt impudicitiæ, in operationem immunditiæ omnis in avaritiam.
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Vos autem non ita didicistis Christum,
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si tamen illum audistis, et in ipso edocti estis, sicut est veritas in Iesu.
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deponere vos secundum pristinam conversationem veterem hominem, qui corrumpitur secundum desideria erroris.
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Renovamini autem spiritu mentis vestræ,
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et induite novum hominem, qui secundum Deum creatus est in iustitia, et sanctitate veritatis.
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Propter quod deponentes mendacium, loquimini veritatem unusquisque cum proximo suo: quoniam sumus invicem membra.
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Irascimini, et nolite peccare: sol non occidat super iracundiam vestram.
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Nolite locum dare diabolo:
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qui furabatur, iam non furetur: magis autem laboret, operando manibus suis, quod bonum est, ut habeat unde tribuat necessitatem patienti.
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Omnis sermo malus ex ore vestro non procedat: sed siquis bonus ad ædificationem fidei ut det gratiam audientibus.
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Et nolite constristare Spiritum sanctum Dei: in quo signati estis in diem redemptionis.
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Omnis amaritudo, et ira, et indignatio, et clamor, et blasphemia tollatur a vobis cum omni malitia.
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Estote autem invicem benigni, misericordes, donantes invicem sicut et Deus in Christo donavit vobis.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
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.”
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 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.
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.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,
27
and don’t give place 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.
wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM
1
παρακαλω ουν υμας εγω ο δεσμιος εν κυριω αξιως περιπατησαι της κλησεως ης εκληθητε
2
μετα πασης ταπεινοφροσυνης και πραυτητος μετα μακροθυμιας ανεχομενοι αλληλων εν αγαπη
3
σπουδαζοντες τηρειν την ενοτητα του πνευματος εν τω συνδεσμω της ειρηνης
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εν σωμα και εν πνευμα καθως [και] εκληθητε εν μια ελπιδι της κλησεως υμων
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εις κυριος μια πιστις εν βαπτισμα
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εις θεος και πατηρ παντων ο επι παντων και δια παντων και εν πασιν
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ενι δε εκαστω ημων εδοθη [η] χαρις κατα το μετρον της δωρεας του χριστου
8
διο λεγει αναβας εις υψος ηχμαλωτευσεν αιχμαλωσιαν [και] εδωκεν δοματα τοις ανθρωποις
9
το δε ανεβη τι εστιν ει μη οτι και κατεβη εις τα κατωτερα μερη της γης
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ο καταβας αυτος εστιν και ο αναβας υπερανω παντων των ουρανων ινα πληρωση τα παντα
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και αυτος εδωκεν τους μεν αποστολους τους δε προφητας τους δε ευαγγελιστας τους δε ποιμενας και διδασκαλους
12
προς τον καταρτισμον των αγιων εις εργον διακονιας εις οικοδομην του σωματος του χριστου
13
μεχρι καταντησωμεν οι παντες εις την ενοτητα της πιστεως και της επιγνωσεως του υιου του θεου εις ανδρα τελειον εις μετρον ηλικιας του πληρωματος του χριστου
14
ινα μηκετι ωμεν νηπιοι κλυδωνιζομενοι και περιφερομενοι παντι ανεμω της διδασκαλιας εν τη κυβεια των ανθρωπων εν πανουργια προς την μεθοδειαν της πλανης
15
αληθευοντες δε εν αγαπη αυξησωμεν εις αυτον τα παντα ος εστιν η κεφαλη χριστος
16
εξ ου παν το σωμα συναρμολογουμενον και συμβιβαζομενον δια πασης αφης της επιχορηγιας κατ ενεργειαν εν μετρω ενος εκαστου μερους την αυξησιν του σωματος ποιειται εις οικοδομην εαυτου εν αγαπη
17
τουτο ουν λεγω και μαρτυρομαι εν κυριω μηκετι υμας περιπατειν καθως και τα εθνη περιπατει εν ματαιοτητι του νοος αυτων
18
εσκοτωμενοι τη διανοια οντες απηλλοτριωμενοι της ζωης του θεου δια την αγνοιαν την ουσαν εν αυτοις δια την πωρωσιν της καρδιας αυτων
19
οιτινες απηλγηκοτες εαυτους παρεδωκαν τη ασελγεια εις εργασιαν ακαθαρσιας πασης εν πλεονεξια
20
υμεις δε ουχ ουτως εμαθετε τον χριστον
21
ει γε αυτον ηκουσατε και εν αυτω εδιδαχθητε καθως εστιν αληθεια εν τω ιησου
22
αποθεσθαι υμας κατα την προτεραν αναστροφην τον παλαιον ανθρωπον τον φθειρομενον κατα τας επιθυμιας της απατης
23
ανανεουσθαι δε τω πνευματι του νοος υμων
24
και ενδυσασθαι τον καινον ανθρωπον τον κατα θεον κτισθεντα εν δικαιοσυνη και οσιοτητι της αληθειας
25
διο αποθεμενοι το ψευδος λαλειτε αληθειαν εκαστος μετα του πλησιον αυτου οτι εσμεν αλληλων μελη
26
οργιζεσθε και μη αμαρτανετε ο ηλιος μη επιδυετω επι παροργισμω υμων
27
μηδε διδοτε τοπον τω διαβολω
28
ο κλεπτων μηκετι κλεπτετω μαλλον δε κοπιατω εργαζομενος ταις χερσιν το αγαθον ινα εχη μεταδιδοναι τω χρειαν εχοντι
29
πας λογος σαπρος εκ του στοματος υμων μη εκπορευεσθω αλλα ει τις αγαθος προς οικοδομην της χρειας ινα δω χαριν τοις ακουουσιν
30
και μη λυπειτε το πνευμα το αγιον του θεου εν ω εσφραγισθητε εις ημεραν απολυτρωσεως
31
πασα πικρια και θυμος και οργη και κραυγη και βλασφημια αρθητω αφ υμων συν παση κακια
32
γινεσθε [δε] εις αλληλους χρηστοι ευσπλαγχνοι χαριζομενοι εαυτοις καθως και ο θεος εν χριστω εχαρισατο υμιν
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
Call upon you, then, do I--the prisoner of the Lord--to walk worthily of the calling with which ye were called,
2
with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love,
3
being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of the peace;
4
one body and one Spirit, according as also ye were called in one hope of your calling;
5
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6
one God and Father of all, who <FI>is<Fi> over all, and through all, and in you all,
7
and to each one of you was given the grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ,
8
wherefore, he saith, `Having gone up on high he led captive captivity, and gave gifts to men,' --
9
and that, he went up, what is it except that he also went down first to the lower parts of the earth?
10
he who went down is the same also who went up far above all the heavens, that He may fill all things--
11
and He gave some <FI>as<Fi> apostles, and some <FI>as<Fi> prophets, and some <FI>as<Fi> proclaimers of good news, and some <FI>as<Fi> shepherds and teachers,
12
unto the perfecting of the saints, for a work of ministration, for a building up of the body of the Christ,
13
till we may all come to the unity of the faith and of the recognition of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to a measure of stature of the fulness of the Christ,
14
that we may no more be babes, tossed and borne about by every wind of the teaching, in the sleight of men, in craftiness, unto the artifice of leading astray,
15
and, being true in love, we may increase to Him <FI>in<Fi> all things, who is the head--the Christ;
16
from whom the whole body, being fitly joined together and united, through the supply of every joint, according to the working in the measure of each single part, the increase of the body doth make for the building up of itself in love.
17
This, then, I say, and I testify in the Lord; ye are no more to walk, as also the other nations walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18
being darkened in the understanding, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart,
19
who, having ceased to feel, themselves did give up to the lasciviousness, for the working of all uncleanness in greediness;
20
and ye did not so learn the Christ,
21
if so be ye did hear him, and in him were taught, as truth is in Jesus;
22
ye are to put off concerning the former behaviour the old man, that is corrupt according to the desires of the deceit,
23
and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24
and to put on the new man, which, according to God, was created in righteousness and kindness of the truth.
25
Wherefore, putting away the lying, speak truth each with his neighbour, because we are members one of another;
26
be angry and do not sin; let not the sun go down upon your wrath,
27
neither give place to the devil;
28
whoso is stealing let him no more steal, but rather let him labour, working the thing that is good with the hands, that he may have to impart to him having need.
29
Let no corrupt word out of your mouth go forth, but what is good unto the needful building up, that it may give grace to the hearers;
30
and make not sorrowful the Holy Spirit of God, in which ye were sealed to a day of redemption.
31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, with all malice,
32
and become one to another kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, according as also God in Christ did forgive you.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).