Ephesians 4

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord1, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you received. 2Be humble and gentle. Be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Be eager to keep the unity of the Spirit2 in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God3 and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all. 7But to each one of us was grace given according to the measure of the gift of AL-MASIH4. 8Therefore God says, 

“When he ascended on high, he led away captives, and gave gifts to men.” 5

9Now this, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. 12Their purpose is to equip the saints for works of service, and so build up the body of AL-MASIH, 13until we all come to unity in the faith and knowledge of the SON OF GOD6, becoming a full-grown man measuring up to AL-MASIH’s full stature. 14Then we will no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness and deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow up in all things into him who is the head, AL-MASIH. 16From him the whole body, joined and knit together by what each joint supplies, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does it share.

17This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the rest of the nations walk, in the futility of their mind. 18They are darkened in their understanding, separated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts. 19Having become callous, they gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20But you did not learn about AL-MASIH that way. 21Surely you heard of him, and were taught in him, even as the truth is in ‘ISA7. 22You were taught to put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, which grows corrupt through its deceitful desires. 23You were taught to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24and to put on the new man, who has been created in the likeness of God, in righteousness and true holiness.

25Therefore, putting away falsehood, 

“Each of you speak the truth to his neighbour.” 8

For we are members one of another. 

26“In your anger do not sin.” 9

Do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27neither give place to Iblis10. 28Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need. 29Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. 32And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in AL-MASIH forgave you.

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  1. 4:1 Lord, translated from the Greek kurios. Depending on context, it can refer to: 1. God, 2. ’ISA AL-MASIH, 3. men in authority, such as kings, landlords, etc., 4. a respectful salutation meaning, “sir.” ↩︎
  2. 4:3 Spirit, or Holy Spirit, or Spirit of God; not an angel, created being, nor an impersonal force, but the uncreated, eternal Spirit of God himself. The Spirit was present and active at the creation of heaven and earth (see Genesis 1:2), and today lives inside of every follower of ‘ISA AL-MASIH, empowering them to live in a way pleasing to God. ↩︎
  3. 4:6 God, English translation of theos. It is the Greek equivalent of elohim and eloah (Hebrew) which are related to allah (Arabic) and alaha (Syriac), all of which translate as “God,” and refer to the one true God. ↩︎
  4. 4:7 AL-MASIH – an Arabic title equivalent to the Messiah (Hebrew) or Christ (Greek), all of which mean the Anointed One, that is, God’s Chosen One. In ancient times, divinely-appointed kings, priests and prophets were anointed with oil to signify their appointment to office. All of them point ahead to God’s ultimate Anointed One, the Messiah, AL-MASIH.  Al-Kitab unanimously points to ‘ISA Ibn Maryam as the only person worthy to bear the title AL-MASIH. He is the one whom God sent into this world to save people from sin, and to usher in God’s Kingdom at his Second Coming. ↩︎
  5. 4:8 Citing the Zabur 68:18 which says: “When you ascended on high, You led away captives, And received gifts among men. Yes, among the rebellious also, that YAH God might dwell there.” ↩︎
  6. 4:13 SON OF GOD, a title of the Messiah, ‘ISA AL-MASIH, revealed through Prophet Dawud in the Zabur 2:7-9, which says: I will tell of the decree. YAHWEH said to me, “You are my SON. Today I have become your FATHER. Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, The ends of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” ↩︎
  7. 4:21 ‘ISA – The names ‘ISA (Arabic), ISHO (Syriac) and JESUS (Greek, IESOUS) are all derived from the Hebrew name YEHOSHUA, which means “YAHWEH saves.” (YAHWEH is God’s personal name revealed to Prophet Musa in the Taurat, Exodus 3:15 – God said moreover to Musa, “You shall tell Bani-Israel this, ‘YAHWEH, the God of your fathers, the God of Ibrahim, the God of Ishaq, and the God of Yaqub, has sent me to you.’ This is my Name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered to all generations.”) ↩︎
  8. 4:25 Quoting the Taurat, Zakariyya 8:16-17 which says: “This is what you shall do: Each of you speak the truth to his neighbour. Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates, and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbour, and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate,” says YAHWEH. ↩︎
  9. 4:26 Quoting the Zabur 4:4 which says: “In your anger do not sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still.” ↩︎
  10. 4:27 Iblis, derived from the Greek diabolos, which also gives rise to the English word, devil. ↩︎