Study Desk

Therefore I, ^(C1)the prisoner of the Lord, ^(C2)urge you to ^(C3)walk in a manner worthy of the ^(C4)calling with which you have been ^(C5)called,

with all ^(C1)humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another ^(C2)in love,

being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the ^(C1)bond of peace.

There is ^(C1)one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one ^(C2)hope of your calling;

^(C1)one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

one God and Father of all ^(C1)who is over all and through all and in all.

But ^(C1)to each one of us ^(C2)grace was given ^(C3)according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Therefore ^(F1)it says, "^(C1)WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE ^(C2)LED CAPTIVE THE CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO PEOPLE."

(Now this expression, "He ^(C1)ascended," what ^(F1)does it mean except that He also ^(F2)had descended into ^(C2)the lower parts of the earth?

He who descended is Himself also He who ascended ^(C1)far above all the heavens, so that He might ^(C2)fill all things.)

And He ^(C1)gave ^(C2)some as apostles, some as prophets, some as ^(C3)evangelists, some as ^(F1)pastors and ^(C4)teachers,

^(C1)for the equipping of the ^(F1)saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of ^(C2)the body of Christ;

until we all attain to ^(C1)the unity of the faith, and of the ^(F1)(C2)knowledge of the Son of God, to a ^(C3)mature man, to the measure of the stature ^(F2)which belongs to the ^(C4)fullness of Christ.

^(F1)As a result, we are ^(C1)no longer to be children, ^(C2)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by ^(C3)craftiness ^(F2)in ^(C4)deceitful scheming;

but ^(F1)speaking the truth ^(C1)in love, ^(F2)we are to ^(C2)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the ^(C3)head, that is, Christ,

from whom ^(C1)the whole body, being fitted and held together ^(F1)by what every joint supplies, according to the ^(F2)proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself ^(C2)in love.

^(C1)So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, ^(C2)that you are to no longer walk just as the ^(F1)Gentiles also walk, in the ^(C3)futility of their minds,

being ^(C1)darkened in their understanding, ^(F1)(C2)excluded from the life of God because of the ^(C3)ignorance that is in them, because of the ^(C4)hardness of their heart;

and they, having ^(C1)become callous, ^(C2)have given themselves up to ^(C3)indecent behavior ^(F1)for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

But you did not ^(C1)learn Christ in this way,

if indeed you ^(C1)have heard Him and have ^(C2)been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,

that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to ^(C1)rid yourselves of the ^(C2)old ^(F1)self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the ^(C3)lusts of deceit,

and that you are to be ^(C1)renewed in the spirit of your minds,

and to ^(C1)put on the ^(C2)new ^(F1)self, which ^(F2)(C3)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Therefore, ^(C1)ridding yourselves of falsehood, ^(C2)SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE OF YOU WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, because we are ^(C3)parts of one another.

^(C1)BE ANGRY, AND YET DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

and do not ^(C1)give the devil ^(F1)an opportunity.

The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather ^(C1)he must labor, ^(C2)producing with his own hands what is good, ^(C3)so that he will have something to share with the one who has need.

Let no ^(F1)(C1)unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for ^(C2)edification ^(F2)according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

^(C1)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ^(F1)by whom you were ^(C2)sealed for the day of redemption.

^(C1)All bitterness, wrath, anger, ^(F1)clamor, and slander must be ^(C2)removed from you, along with all ^(C3)malice.

^(C1)Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, ^(C2)just as God in Christ also has forgiven ^(F1)you.

^(C1)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

and ^(C1)walk in love, just as Christ also ^(C2)loved ^(F1)you and ^(C3)gave Himself up for us, an ^(C4)offering and a sacrifice to God ^(F2)as a ^(C5)fragrant aroma.

But ^(C1)sexual immorality ^(F1)or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among ^(F2)saints;

and there must be no ^(C1)filthiness ^(F1)or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which ^(C2)are not fitting, but rather ^(C3)giving of thanks.

For this you know with certainty, that ^(C1)no sexually immoral or ^(F1)impure or greedy person, which ^(F2)amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom ^(C2)of Christ and God.

^(C1)See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things ^(C2)the wrath of God comes upon ^(C3)the ^(F1)sons of disobedience.

Therefore do not become ^(C1)partners with them;

for ^(C1)you were once ^(C2)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as ^(C3)children of light

(for ^(C1)the fruit of the light consists in all ^(C2)goodness, righteousness, and truth),

^(F1)(C1)as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

^(C1)Do not participate in the useless ^(C2)deeds of ^(C3)darkness, but instead even ^(C4)expose them;

for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

But all things become visible ^(C1)when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

For this reason ^(F1)it says, "^(C1)Awake, sleeper, And arise from ^(C2)the dead, And Christ ^(C3)will shine on you."

So then, ^(F1)be careful how you ^(C1)walk, not ^(C2)as unwise people but as wise,

^(F1)(C1)making the most of your time, because ^(C2)the days are evil.

Therefore do not be foolish, but ^(C1)understand what the will of the Lord is.

And ^(C1)do not get drunk with wine, ^(F1)in which there is ^(C2)debauchery, but be ^(C3)filled with the Spirit,

^(C1)speaking to ^(F1)one another in ^(C2)psalms and ^(C3)hymns and spiritual ^(C4)songs, ^(C5)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord;

^(C1)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our ^(C2)God and Father;

^(F1)(C1)and subject yourselves to one another in the ^(F2)(C2)fear of Christ.

^(C1)Wives, ^(C2)subject yourselves to your own husbands, ^(C3)as to the Lord.

For ^(C1)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the ^(C2)head of the church, He Himself ^(C3)being the Savior of the body.

But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

^(C1)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(C2)gave Himself up for her,

^(C1)so that He might sanctify her, having ^(C2)cleansed her by the ^(C3)washing of water with ^(C4)the word,

that He might ^(C1)present to Himself the church ^(F1)in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be ^(C2)holy and blameless.

So husbands also ought to ^(C1)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;

for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,

because we are ^(C1)parts of His ^(C2)body.

^(C1)FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.

This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to ^(C1)love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she ^(C2)respects her husband.

^(C1)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

^(C1)HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise),

SO THAT IT MAY TURN OUT WELL FOR YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.

^(C1)Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but ^(C2)bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

^(C1)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your ^(F1)masters according to the flesh, with ^(C2)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, ^(C3)as to Christ;

^(C1)not ^(F1)by way of ^(F2)eye-service, as ^(C2)people-pleasers, but as ^(C3)slaves of Christ, ^(C4)doing the will of God from the ^(F3)heart.

With goodwill ^(F1)render service, ^(C1)as to the Lord, and not to people,

^(C1)knowing that ^(C2)whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, ^(C3)whether slave or free.

And masters, do the same things to them, and ^(C1)give up threatening, knowing that ^(C2)both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is ^(C3)no partiality with Him.

Finally, ^(C1)be strong in the Lord and in ^(C2)the strength of His might.

^(C1)Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the ^(C2)schemes of the devil.

For our ^(C1)struggle is not against ^(F1)(C2)flesh and blood, but ^(C3)against the rulers, against the powers, against the ^(C4)world forces of this ^(C5)darkness, against the ^(C6)spiritual forces of wickedness in ^(C7)the heavenly places.

Therefore, take up ^(C1)the full armor of God, so that you will be able to ^(C2)resist on ^(C3)the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Stand firm therefore, ^(C1)having belted your waist with truth, and having ^(C2)put on the breastplate of righteousness,

and having ^(C1)strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace;

^(F1)in addition to all, taking up the ^(C1)shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the ^(C2)flaming arrows of ^(C3)the evil one.

And take ^(C1)the helmet of salvation and the ^(C2)sword of the Spirit, which is ^(C3)the word of God.

^(F1)With every ^(C1)prayer and request, ^(F2)(C2)pray at all times ^(C3)in the Spirit, and with this in view, ^(F3)(C4)be alert with all ^(C5)perseverance and every ^(C6)request for all the ^(F4)saints,

and ^(C1)pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me ^(C2)in the opening of my mouth, to make known with ^(C3)boldness ^(C4)the mystery of the gospel,

for which I am an ^(C1)ambassador ^(C2)in ^(F1)chains; that ^(F2)in proclaiming it I may speak ^(C3)boldly, ^(C4)as I ought to speak.

^(C1)Now, so that you also may know about my circumstances as to ^(F1)what I am doing, ^(C2)Tychicus, ^(C3)the beloved brother and faithful ^(F2)servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you.

^(F1)(C1)I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know ^(F2)about us, and that he may ^(C2)comfort your hearts.

^(C1)Peace be to the brothers and sisters, and ^(C2)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ ^(F1)with incorruptible love.