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Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ

¹ Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord,^(C1) urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, ² with all humility^(C1) and gentleness, with patience,^(C2) bearing^(C3) with one another in love,^{(C4) 3} making every effort to keep the unity^(C1) of the Spirit^(C2) through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit^(C1)—just as you were called to one hope^(F1)(C2) at your calling— ⁵ one Lord,^(C1) one faith,^(C2) one baptism, ⁶ one God^(C1) and Father^(C2) of all, who is above all and through all and in all.^(C3)

⁷ Now grace was given to each one of us^(C1) according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ For it says:

⁹ But what does “he ascended” mean except that he^(F1) also descended to the lower parts of the earth?^{(F2)(C1) 10} The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens,^(C1) to fill all things.^{(C2) 11} And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,^{(C1) 13} until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son,^(C1) growing into maturity with a stature^(C2) measured by Christ’s fullness. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching,^(C1) by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head^(C1)—Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, fitted and knit together^(C1) by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth^(C2) of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Living the New Life

¹⁷ Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their thoughts. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because^(F1) of the hardness of their hearts. ¹⁹ They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity^(C1) with a desire for more and more.^(F1)

²⁰ But that is not how you came to know Christ, ²¹ assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth^(C1) is in Jesus, ²² to take off^(F1)(C1) your former way of life,^(C2) the old self^(C3) that is corrupted by deceitful desires, ²³ to be renewed^(F1) in the spirit^(C1) of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on^(F1)(C1) the new self, the one created^(C2) according to God’s likeness^(C3) in righteousness and purity of the truth.

²⁵ Therefore, putting away^(C1) lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor,^(F1)(C2) because we are members of one another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin.^(F1)(C1) Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and don’t give the devil an opportunity. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share^(C1) with anyone in need. ²⁹ No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need,^(F1) so that it gives grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit.^(C1) You were sealed by him^(F1) for the day of redemption.^{(C2) 31} Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. ³² And be kind^(C1) and compassionate^(C2) to one another, forgiving^(C3) one another, just as God also forgave you^(F1) in Christ.