Unity in the Body
(Psalm 133:1–3; 1 Corinthians 1:10–17)

1Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you⁺ to walk worthily of the calling to which you⁺ were called, 2with all humility and gentleness; with patience, bearing with one another in love; 3being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; 4one body and one Spirit, just as also you⁺ were called in one hope of your⁺ calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.†

7Now to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8Therefore it says:†

“Having ascended on high,

He led captive captivity,

and gave gifts to men.Ӡ

9Now what is the saying “He ascended,” except that He also descended† into the lower regions of the earth? 10The One having descended is also the same One having ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.

11And He gave some indeed as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as shepherds and teachers, 12toward the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, 13until we all may come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a complete man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14so that no longer may we be infants, being tossed by waves and being carried around by every wind of teaching in the cunning of men in craftiness to the scheming of deceit. 15But speaking the truth in love, we should grow in all things into Him who is the head, Christ, 16from whom all the body, being fit together and being knit together by every joint of its supply, according to the working in the measure of each single part, the increase of the body makes for the building up of itself in love.

New Life in Christ
(Colossians 3:1–17)

17This therefore I say and testify in the Lord: You⁺ are no longer to walk as also the† Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18being darkened in the understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance being in them on account of the hardness of their heart, 19who, having ceased to feel, gave themselves up to sensuality for the working of all impurity with covetousness.

20But you⁺ did not learn Christ this way, 21if indeed you⁺ heard Him and were taught in Him, just as the truth is in Jesus, 22you⁺ are to put off concerning the former way of life the old man, which is being corrupted according to the desires of deceit, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your⁺ mind, 24and to have put on the new man, having been created according to God in righteousness and holiness of truth.

25Therefore, having put off falsehood, let each one speak truth with his neighbor, because we are members of one another. 26“Be angry, and do not sin.”† Do not let the sun set upon your⁺ anger, 27neither give place to the devil.

28The one stealing, let him steal no longer, but rather let him toil, working with his own hands† what is good, so that he may have something to impart to the one having need.

29Do not let any rotten word go forth out of your⁺ mouth, but if any is good for edification of the need, so that it may give grace to those hearing.

30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you⁺ were sealed for the day of redemption.

31Let all bitterness and rage and wrath and outcry and slander be removed from you⁺, with all malice. 32And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as also God in Christ forgave you⁺.†

Footnotes:

6 BYZ and TR in us all; TR in you all
8 Or He says
8 Psalm 68:18
9 BYZ and TR except that He also descended first
17 BYZ and TR include other.
26 Or “In your anger do not sin.” Psalm 4:4
28 BYZ and TR with the hands
32 RP us