« | Ephesians 4 | » |
1 As a prisoner of the Lord, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own.
2 Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other.
3 Try your best to let God's Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace.
4 All of you are part of the same body. There is only one Spirit of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God's people.
5 We have only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.
6 There is one God who is the Father of all people. Not only is God above all others, but he works by using all of us, and he lives in all of us.
7 Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us.
8 As the Scriptures say, "When he went up to the highest place, he led away many prisoners and gave gifts to people."
9 When it says, "he went up," it means that Christ had been deep in the earth.
10 This also means that the one who went deep into the earth is the same one who went into the highest heaven, so that he would fill the whole universe.
11 Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers,
12 so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong.
13 This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.
14 We must stop acting like children. We must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which are like winds that toss us around from place to place.
15 Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head
16 of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love.
17 As a follower of the Lord, I order you to stop living like stupid, godless people.
18 Their minds are in the dark, and they are stubborn and ignorant and have missed out on the life that comes from God. They no longer have any feelings about what is right,
19 and they are so greedy that they do all kinds of indecent things.
20 But that isn't what you were taught about Jesus Christ. He is the truth, and you heard about him and learned about him.
21 (SEE 4:20)
22 You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits.
23 Let the Spirit change your way of thinking
24 and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy.
25 We are part of the same body. Stop lying and start telling each other the truth.
26 Don't get so angry that you sin. Don't go to bed angry
27 and don't give the devil a chance.
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Be honest and work hard, so you will have something to give to people in need.
29 Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.
30 Don't make God's Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins.
31 Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude.
32 Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.
The Contemporary English Version (CEV)
The Contemporary English Version (CEV) is a modern Bible translation that aims to make the scriptures accessible and understandable to a broad audience, including children and those with limited English proficiency. Published by the American Bible Society in 1995, the CEV emphasizes clarity, readability, and ease of comprehension. Unlike more literal translations, the CEV uses a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, which focuses on conveying the original meaning of the text in a way that is clear and straightforward for contemporary readers.
One of the key features of the CEV is its use of everyday language and simple sentence structures. The translators avoided theological jargon and archaic terms, instead opting for language that is commonly used in daily conversation. This makes the CEV particularly well-suited for public reading, educational settings, and outreach programs where the audience might not be familiar with traditional biblical language. The translation strives to communicate the essence of the biblical message without the barriers that complex language can sometimes create.
The CEV also pays special attention to cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. The translators sought to avoid expressions and idioms that might be misunderstood or offensive in different cultural contexts. Additionally, the CEV includes gender-neutral language where appropriate, aiming to make the text more inclusive while still remaining faithful to the original manuscripts. This approach helps ensure that Bible teachings are accessible to a diverse global audience, promoting understanding and acceptance across different cultures and communities.
Despite its strengths, the CEV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more literal translations. Critics argue that the CEV emphasises on simplicity and readability which can sometimes result in a loss of nuance and depth found in the original languages. Some theologians and scholars believe that the thought-for-thought approach may oversimplify complex theological concepts. Nevertheless, the Contemporary English Version remains a valuable resource for many readers, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that is particularly effective for those new to the scriptures or those seeking a more accessible way to engage with the biblical text.