13Wherefore 1 beseech you, that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 14For this end I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; 16that he would give you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man; 17that Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts; that rooted and grounded in love, 18ye may be strengthened to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth and length, and height and depth; 19and to know the love of Christ, transcendently surpassing knowledge, that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God.
20Now to him that is able to do above all things, exceeding abundantly, beyond what we ask or think, according to the power which effectually worketh in us; 21to him be glory in the church, in Christ Jesus, unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.
[CHAP. IV.]
I THEN, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation with which ye are called, 2with all humility and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love; 3careful to preserve unity of spirit, in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye have been called to one hope of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God, and father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7But to every one of us hath the grace been given, according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8Wherefore the Scripture saith, “When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men[116].” 9Now this, that he ascended, what does it imply? but that he also first descended into the more internal parts of the earth? 10He that descended is the same also, who ascended above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
11And he himself appointed, some indeed apostles, and some prophets; and others preachers of the Gospel; and others pastors and teachers; 12for the perfecting the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ: 13until we all attain in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a state of complete manhood, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14that we should be no longer infants, floating on the waves, and carried about with every wind of novel doctrine, by the juggling of men, by their craftiness after the delusive wiles of error; 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body nicely joined together, and firmly connected by every joint of exact proportion, according to the energy exerted in the measure of every several part, causeth the increase of the body unto the edification of itself in love.
17This then I urge and testify in the Lord, that ye walk no more as the other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind, 18darkened in understanding; alienated from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them; through the blindness of their hearts: 19who insensible to remorse, have delivered themselves over in lasciviousness, to the practice of all impurity, with insatiable avidity. 20But ye have not so learned Christ; 21if indeed ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22that ye put off respecting your former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful passions; 23but be renewed in the spirit of your minds; 24and put on the new man, which is created godlike, in righteousness and true holiness.
25Wherefore putting away lying, speak truth, every one with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26Are ye provoked; and do you not sin? let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27nor give place to the devil.
28Let him that stole steal no more; but rather labour hard, working with his hands that which is good, that he may have something to give to him that is in want.