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.
Yo, pues, preso en el Señor, os ruego que andéis como es digno de la vocación con que sois llamados;
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).
con toda humildad y mansedumbre, con tolerancia, soportando los unos a los otros en caridad;
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].
solícitos a guardar la unidad del Espíritu en el vínculo de la paz.
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].
Hay un cuerpo, y un espíritu; como sois también llamados en una misma esperanza de vuestra vocación;
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.
un Señor, una fe, un bautismo,
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.
un Dios y Padre de todos, el cual es sobre todas las cosas, y por todas las cosas, y en todos vosotros.
7 Christ has generously given to each one of us spiritual gifts, just like he decided to give them.
Pero a cada uno de nosotros es dada la gracia conforme a la medida del don del Cristo.
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:
Por lo cual dice: Subiendo a lo alto, llevó cautiva la cautividad, y dio dones a los hombres.
9 The words ‘he ascended’ certainly imply/indicate [RHQ] that Christ had also previously descended to the earth.
(Y que subió, ¿qué es, sino que también había descendido primero en las partes más bajas de la tierra?
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.
El que descendió, él mismo es el que también subió sobre todos los cielos para cumplir todas las cosas.)
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].
Y él dio unos, apóstoles; y otros, profetas; y otros, evangelistas; y otros, pastores y maestros;
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.
con el fin de perfeccionar a los santos en la obra del ministerio, para edificación del cuerpo del Cristo;
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]).
hasta que todos salgamos en unidad de la fe y del conocimiento del Hijo de Dios, en varón perfecto, a la medida de la edad cumplida del Cristo;
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.
que ya no seamos niños inconstantes, y seamos atraídos a todo viento de doctrina por maldad de hombres que engañan con astutos errores;
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.
antes siguiendo la verdad en caridad, crezcamos en todo en aquel que es la cabeza, el Cristo;
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].
del cual, todo el cuerpo compuesto y bien ligado entre sí por el alimento que cada vínculo suministre, que recibe según la operación de cada miembro conforme a su medida, toma aumento de cuerpo edificándose en caridad.
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].
Así que esto digo, y requiero en el Señor, que no andéis más como los otros gentiles, que andan en la vanidad de su sentido.
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].
Teniendo el entendimiento entenebrecido, ajenos de la vida de Dios por la ignorancia que en ellos hay, por la ceguedad de su corazón;
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.
los cuales después que perdieron el sentido de la conciencia, se entregaron a la desvergüenza para cometer con avidez toda suerte de impureza.
20 But when you learned [about] Christ, you did not learn [to behave] like that.
Mas vosotros no habéis aprendido así al Cristo;
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].
si empero lo habéis oído, y habéis sido por él enseñados, como la verdad está en Jesús,
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].
a que dejéis, en cuanto a la pasada manera de vivir; es a saber el viejo hombre que se corrompe conforme a los deseos del error;
23 Others taught you that instead, you must let [God’s Spirit] change the way you think,
y a renovaros en el espíritu de vuestro entendimiento,
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.
y vestir el nuevo hombre que es creado conforme a Dios en justicia y en santidad de la verdad.
25 Therefore, quit lying to one another. Instead, because we all belong to just one group [of believers], speak truthfully to each other.
Por lo cual, dejando la mentira, hablad verdad cada uno con su prójimo; porque somos miembros los unos de los otros.
26 If you get angry, do not sin [as a result of] getting angry. Before the end of the day [MTY], stop being angry;
Airaos, y no pequéis; no se ponga el sol sobre vuestro enojo;
27 [by doing that], you will not allow the devil to make you do evil.
ni deis lugar al diablo.
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.
El que hurtaba, no hurte más; antes trabaje, obrando con sus manos lo que es bueno, para que tenga de qué dar al que padeciere necesidad.
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.
Ninguna palabra corrompida salga de vuestra boca, sino la que sea buena para edificación, para que dé gracia a los oyentes.
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]).
Y no contristéis al Espíritu Santo de Dios, con el cual estáis sellados para el día de la redención.
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.
Toda amargura, y enojo, e ira, y gritería, y maledicencia sea quitada de vosotros, y toda malicia;
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].
antes sed los unos con los otros benignos, misericordiosos, perdonándoos los unos a los otros, como también Dios os perdonó en el Cristo.
