Paul's plea for unity

1I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 24.2: Col 3.12-13.with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, 3eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. 7But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 84.8: Ps 68.18.Therefore it is said,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men.”

9(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles. 154.15: Col 1.18.Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 164.16: Col 2.19.from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love.

Christian living

17Now this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; 18they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart; 19they have become callous and have given themselves up to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of uncleanness. 20You did not so learn Christ! — 21assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus. 22Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, 23and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

254.25: Zech 8.16; Rom 12.5.Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of another. 26Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and give no opportunity to the devil. 28Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labour, doing honest work with his hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. 29Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, with all malice, 32and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in g one another, as God in Christ forgave you.