Ephesians 4
1 Therefore I, who am in prison because [I serve] the Lord [Jesus], urge you, whom God has chosen [to be his people, to do these things]: Conduct your lives as [God’s people] should.
Ik, de gevangene voor de zaak des Heren, vermaan u dus, dat gij u gedraagt overeenkomstig uw roeping;
2 Always be humble, and do not demand your own rights. Be patient [with each other], and, because you love each other, endure each other’s ([irritating] behavior/behavior that you do not like).
dat gij elkander in liefde verdraagt met alle ootmoedigheid, zachtheid en geduld;
3 [God’s] Spirit has caused you to be united [with one another], so do all that you can to remain united [with one another] by acting peacefully [toward each other].
dat gij uw best doet, de eenheid des geestes te bewaren door de band van de vrede.
4 [All we believers form just one group] [MET], and we have only one [Holy] Spirit. Similarly, you were chosen {[God] chose you} in order that you all might confidently keep expecting one [set of good] things [from God].
Eén lichaam en één geest, zoals gij ook geroepen zijt tot één hoop, die aan uw roeping ontspruit;
5 There is only one Lord, [Jesus Christ]. We all believe the same [teaching about him. It was to show that we belong to him] alone that [we had someone] baptize us.
één Heer, één geloof, één doopsel;
6 There is one God, who is the [spiritual] Father of all [us believers]. He [rules] over all his people; he enables all his people [to do powerful things] (OR, he sustains all his people); and his [Spirit lives] in all his people.
één God en Vader van allen, die boven alles, door alles, en in alles is.
7 Christ has generously given to each one of us spiritual gifts, just like he decided to give them.
Aan ieder van ons is de genade geschonken naar de maat, die Christus heeft toegemeten.
8 [When Christ gave] gifts to his people, [it was similar to what the Psalmist said about God receiving tribute money] from those whom he had conquered, When he ascended to heaven, he gave as gifts to people the things [that he had taken] from the people whom he captured:
Daarom wordt er gezegd: "Opgestegen ten hoge, Heeft Hij gevangenen buitgemaakt, Gaven uitgedeeld aan de mensen."
9 The words ‘he ascended’ certainly imply/indicate [RHQ] that Christ had also previously descended to the earth.
Welnu, dit "Hij is opgestegen," wat betekent het anders, dan dat Hij ook is neergedaald naar de onderste delen der aarde.
10 Christ, who descended [to earth], is also the one who ascended to the most exalted position in heaven, in order that he might show his power [MTY] throughout the universe.
Hij, die is neergedaald, is Dezelfde als Hij, die hoog boven alle hemelen is opgestegen, om alles tot volheid te brengen.
11 He appointed some people to be apostles. He appointed some people to be (prophets/ones who reveal messages that come directly from God). He appointed some people to be (evangelists/ones whose work is to tell others the message about Christ). He appointed some people to lead and teach [the congregations].
Hijzelf is het geweest, die sommigen tot apostelen heeft aangesteld, anderen tot profeten, evangelisten, herders en leraars;
12 [He appointed all of these] in order that they would prepare God’s people to do [God’s] work, so that all the people who belong to Christ [MET] might become [spiritually] mature.
maar met het doel, om de heiligen tot volmaakte plichtsvervulling te brengen, om op te bouwen het Lichaam van Christus;
13 He wants all of us [believers] to be united [because] we all believe in the Son of God (OR, the man who was also God) and [because] we all know [him]. He wants us to become spiritually mature; that is, he wants us to be (perfect/all that God wants us to be), [just like] Christ was ([perfect/all that God wanted him to be]).
tot de tijd, dat wij allen tot de eenheid des geloofs en der kennis van Gods Zoon zijn gekomen, een volwassen man zijn geworden, en de mannenmaat van den volmaakten Christus hebben bereikt.
14 Then we will no longer be [spiritually immature], like [MET] little children [are immature]. We will no longer be constantly [changing what we believe, like] [MET] waves of the sea are [constantly changing as the wind blows and] tosses them back and forth. We will not allow people who teach [what is false] and who scheme to deceive/influence us.
Dan zullen we geen onmondige kinderen meer zijn, die heen en weer worden geslingerd en voortgestuwd door elke windvlaag van lering, door het bedrog van de mensen, door sluwe verleiding tot dwaling.
15 Instead, by loving [others] as we behave as [God’s] truth requires (OR, speak in a loving manner what is true), we will become more and more like Christ in every way. He is the one [who controls/guides all his people] [MET], [just like a person’s] head [controls/guides his] body.
Maar we zullen de waarheid bewaren in liefde, en zó in ieder opzicht opgroeien voor Hem, voor Christus, die het Hoofd is.
16 He [enables all those who belong to him to mature spiritually. A person’s body grows stronger, as] each part of the body is joined to the others by the ligaments and as each part (functions properly/works as it should). Similarly, believers will become mature [spiritually] by loving each other and by each of them doing the work [that God wants them to do] [MET].
Door Hem wordt het ganse lichaam samengevoegd en samengehouden, omdat elk gewricht zijn taak vervult met de kracht, die ieder lid in ‘t bijzonder is toegemeten; en zó voltrekt zich de groei van het lichaam tot eigen opbouw in liefde.
17 The Lord [Jesus] has authorized me to strongly tell you that you must no longer conduct your lives like unbelievers do. The futile/worthless way in which they think [MET] [controls how they conduct their lives].
Daarom zeg ik en bezweer ik u in den Heer, dat gij niet langer een leven moogt leiden, zoals de heidenen in hun ijdele gezindheid dit doen.
18 They are unable to think clearly [MET] [about what is right and what is wrong]. Because they have decided that they do not want to know about God and because they stubbornly [IDM] refuse to [listen to his message], they do not have the [eternal] life that God [gives us].
Want hun verstand is verduisterd en ze zijn vervreemd van het leven van God, omdat er onwetendheid onder hen heerst en hun hart is verstokt.
19 The result is that because they have ceased (to care/to be concerned) [about what is right and what is wrong], they have (deliberately committed themselves to doing/wholeheartedly decided to do) the shameful things that their bodies want, and they commit all kinds of immoral acts, and continually are eager to do more of those things.
Ze hebben zich afgestompt en zich aan losbandigheid overgegeven, zodat ze uit hebzucht allerlei ontucht bedrijven.
20 But when you learned [about] Christ, you did not learn [to behave] like that.
Maar zó hebt gij Christus niet leren kennen.
21 I am sure that you heard the message about [Christ], and because you are people who have a close relationship with him, you were taught {[others] taught you} the true [way to live] that Jesus [showed us].
Gij hebt toch van Hem gehoord, en zijt in Hem onderwezen, wat de waarheid in Jesus is:
22 [You were taught] {[They taught you]} that you must put aside [MET] your evil nature; [that is, that you must not behave like you formerly did]. Your evil desires deceived you, making you want to do evil things and causing you to think that [doing that was good for you]; and your thinking like that was destroying you [spiritually].
met betrekking tot uw vroeger gedrag moet gij den ouden mens afleggen, die door bedriegelijke begeerten te gronde gaat;
23 Others taught you that instead, you must let [God’s Spirit] change the way you think,
gij moet u vernieuwen naar de inwendige geest;
24 and that you must start being [MET] the new persons that God made you to become. That is, your [behavior] must be righteous and truly/genuinely devout.
gij moet den nieuwen mens aantrekken, die naar Gods beeld is geschapen in ware gerechtigheid en heiligheid.
25 Therefore, quit lying to one another. Instead, because we all belong to just one group [of believers], speak truthfully to each other.
Legt daarom de leugen af en spreekt de waarheid tot den naaste, ieder voor zich; want ledematen zijn we van elkander.
26 If you get angry, do not sin [as a result of] getting angry. Before the end of the day [MTY], stop being angry;
Wordt gij toornig, zondigt dan niet; de zon ga niet onder over uw toorn;
27 [by doing that], you will not allow the devil to make you do evil.
geeft geen vrij spel aan den duivel.
28 Those who have been stealing must not steal any longer. Instead, they should work hard to earn (their living/what they need) ([by] their own efforts/[by] what they do themselves) [MTY], in order that they may have [something] to give to those who are needy.
De dief mag voortaan niet meer stelen, maar moet arbeiden, om met eigen handen de kost te verdienen, en iets over te houden, om het weg te schenken aan wie er behoefte aan heeft.
29 Do not use [MTY] foul language. Instead, say only things that are useful for helping people when they need help, things that will help [spiritually] the people that you talk to.
Uit uw mond kome geen vuile taal, maar goede woorden alleen, die zo nodig stichten kunnen, zodat ze voordeel brengen aan hen die ze horen.
30 [God has given you his] Spirit (to confirm/to assure you) that some day [God will claim all] you people [whom Christ has] redeemed [MET], [just like people confirm that something belongs to them by] putting their seal on it. So do not cause God’s Holy Spirit to be sad ([by the way you talk/by the things that you say]).
Bedroeft ook niet Gods heiligen Geest, waarmee gij verzegeld zijt voor de Dag der Verlossing.
31 Do not be resentful at all towards others. Do not become angry in any way. Never shout abusively at others. Never (slander/say bad things about) others. Never act maliciously/be mean in any way.
Verre van u alle bitterheid, gramschap, toorn, geschreeuw, laster en alle andere boosheid.
32 Be kind to one another. Act mercifully toward each other. Forgive each other, just like God forgave you because of [what] Christ [has done].
Maar weest minzaam en hartelijk jegens elkander; vergeeft elkander, gelijk ook God u door Christus vergiffenis heeft geschonken.
