Ephesians 4:15

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.

King James Version (1611)
But speaking the trueth in loue, may grow vp into him in all things which is the head, euen Christ:

King James Version
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

English Standard Version
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

New American Standard Bible
but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ,

New Century Version
No! Speaking the truth with love, we will grow up in every way into Christ, who is the head.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

Legacy Standard Bible
but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is Christ,

Berean Standard Bible
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.

Contemporary English Version
Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head

Complete Jewish Bible
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in every respect grow up into him who is the head, the Messiah.

Darby Translation
but, holding the truth in love, we may grow up to him in all things, who is the head, the Christ:

Easy-to-Read Version
No, we will speak the truth with love. We will grow to be like Christ in every way. He is the head,

Geneva Bible (1587)
But let vs folowe the truth in loue, and in all things, grow vp into him, which is the head, that is, Christ.

George Lamsa Translation
But that we be sincere in our love, so that in everything we may progress through Christ, who is the head.

Good News Translation
Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head.

Lexham English Bible
But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow into him with reference to all things, who is the head, Christ,

Literal Translation
but speaking the truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, the Christ,

Amplified Bible
But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ.

American Standard Version
but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ;

Bible in Basic English
But saying true words in love, may come to full growth in him, who is the head, even Christ;

Hebrew Names Version
but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Messiah;

International Standard Version
Instead, by speaking the truth in love, we will grow up completely into the one who is the head, that is, into Christ,Zechariah 8:16; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Ephesians 1:22; 2:21; 4:25; Colossians 1:18; 1 John 3:18;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
but be confirmed in our love, that whatever is ours may increase in the Meshiha,

Murdock Translation
but that we might be established in our love; and that every thing in us might progress in the Messiah, who is the head:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But folowyng trueth in loue, let vs growe vp into him in all thynges whiche is the head, Christ:

English Revised Version
but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, which is the head, even Christ;

World English Bible
but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ:

Weymouth's New Testament
But we shall lovingly hold to the truth, and shall in all respects grow up into union with Him who is our Head, even Christ.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But do we treuthe in charite, and wexe in him by alle thingis, that is Crist oure heed;

Update Bible Version
but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, [even] Christ;

Webster's Bible Translation
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, [even] Christ:

New English Translation
But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.

New King James Version
but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--

New Living Translation
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

New Life Bible
but we are to hold to the truth with love in our hearts. We are to grow up and be more like Christ. He is the leader of the church.

New Revised Standard
But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, pursuing truth - may, in love, grow into him in all things, - who is the head, Christ, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
But doing the truth in charity, we may in all things grow up in him who is the head, even Christ:

Revised Standard Version
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But let vs folowe the trueth in loue and in all thynges growe in him which is the heed that ys to saye Christ

Young's Literal Translation
and, being true in love, we may increase to Him [in] all things, who is the head -- the Christ;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But let vs folowe the trueth in loue, and in all thinges growe in him, which is the heade, euen Christ,

Mace New Testament (1729)
but being sincere in mutual love, may be entirely united to Christ, who is the head:

Simplified Cowboy Version
We will ride in truth, love, and growth in Christ every single day we saddle up with the morning sun.

Contextual Overview

⁴You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. ⁷But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. The text for this is, He climbed the high mountain, He captured the enemy and seized the booty, He handed it all out in gifts to the people. Is it not true that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ's followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. ¹⁴No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

But: Ephesians 4:25, Zechariah 8:16, 2 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Corinthians 8:8

speaking the truth: or, being sincere, Judges 16:15, Psalms 32:2, John 1:47, Romans 12:9, James 2:15, James 2:16, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 John 3:18

may: Ephesians 2:21, Hosea 14:5-7, Malachi 4:2, 1 Peter 2:2, 2 Peter 3:18

which: Ephesians 1:22, Ephesians 5:23, Colossians 1:18, Colossians 1:19

Reciprocal: Exodus 36:29 - coupled Song of Solomon 4:4 - neck Song of Solomon 7:1 - the joints Song of Solomon 7:5 - head Romans 12:4 - General 1 Corinthians 6:15 - your 1 Corinthians 11:3 - the head of every 1 Corinthians 12:12 - as 1 Corinthians 14:20 - not Galatians 3:16 - which Galatians 3:28 - for Ephesians 1:4 - love Ephesians 3:6 - the same Ephesians 4:16 - edifying Ephesians 5:9 - truth Philippians 1:10 - that ye may be Colossians 2:10 - the head Colossians 2:19 - all 1 Thessalonians 3:8 - if 1 Timothy 4:6 - nourished

Cross-References

Leviticus 26:18
"And if none of this works in getting your attention, I'll discipline you seven times over for your sins. I'll break your strong pride: I'll make the skies above you like a sheet of tin and the ground under you like cast iron. No matter how hard you work, nothing will come of it: No crops out of the ground, no fruit off the trees.

Leviticus 26:21
"If you defy me and refuse to listen, your punishment will be seven times more than your sins: I'll set wild animals on you; they'll rob you of your children, kill your cattle, and decimate your numbers until you'll think you are living in a ghost town.

1 Kings 16:7
That's the way it was with Baasha: Through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani, God 's word came to him and his regime because of his life of open evil before God and his making God so angry—a chip off the block of Jeroboam, even though God had destroyed him.

Psalms 59:11
Don't make quick work of them, God , lest my people forget. Bring them down in slow motion, take them apart piece by piece. Let all their mean-mouthed arrogance catch up with them, Catch them out and bring them down —every muttered curse —every barefaced lie. Finish them off in fine style! Finish them off for good! Then all the world will see that God rules well in Jacob, everywhere that God's in charge.

Hosea 1:4
Then God told him: "Name him Jezreel. It won't be long now before I'll make the people of Israel pay for the massacre at Jezreel. I'm calling it quits on the kingdom of Israel. Payday is coming! I'm going to chop Israel's bows and arrows into kindling in the valley of Jezreel."

Matthew 26:52
Jesus said, "Put your sword back where it belongs. All who use swords are destroyed by swords. Don't you realize that I am able right now to call to my Father, and twelve companies—more, if I want them—of fighting angels would be here, battle-ready? But if I did that, how would the Scriptures come true that say this is the way it has to be?"

Revelation 14:9
A third Angel followed, shouting, warning, "If anyone worships the Beast and its image and takes the mark on forehead or hand, that person will drink the wine of God's wrath, prepared unmixed in his chalice of anger, and suffer torment from fire and brimstone in the presence of Holy Angels, in the presence of the Lamb. Smoke from their torment will rise age after age. No respite for those who worship the Beast and its image, who take the mark of its name."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But speaking the truth in love,.... Either Christ himself, who is the truth, and is to be preached, and always spoken of with strong affection and love; or the Gospel, the word of truth, so called in opposition to that which is false and fictitious; and also to the law, which is shadowish; and on account of its author, the God of truth, and its subject matter, Christ, and the several doctrines of grace; and because the spirit of truth has dictated it, and does direct to it, and owns and blesses it: this, with respect to the ministers of the Gospel, should be spoken openly, honestly, and sincerely, and in love to the souls of men, and in a way consistent with love, in opposition to the secret, ensnaring, and pernicious ways of false teachers; and with respect to private Christians, as they are to receive it in love, so to speak of it to one another from a principle of love, and an affectionate concern for each other's welfare, to the end that they

may grow up into him in all things which is the head, even "Christ": the work of grace upon the soul is a gradual work, and an increase of this in the exercise of faith, hope, love, and spiritual knowledge, is a growth; and this is a growth in all things, in all grace, as in those mentioned, so in others, as humility, patience, self-denial, resignation of the will to the will of God, and especially the knowledge of Christ; for it is a growing into him, from whom souls receive all their grace and increase of it; for he is the head of influence to supply them, as well as the head of eminence to protect them; see Ephesians 1:22 and now the preaching of the Gospel, or the sincere speaking of the truth, is the instrumental means of such growth.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But speaking the truth in love - Margin, “being sincere.” The translation in the text is correct - literally, “truthing in love” - ἀληθεύοντες alētheuontes. Two things are here to be noted:

(1) The truth is “to be spoken” - the simple, unvarnished truth. This is the way to avoid error, and this is the way to preserve others from error. In opposition to all trick, and art, and cunning, and fraud, and deception, Christians are to speak the simple truth, and nothing but the truth. Every statement which they make should be unvarnished truth; every promise which they make should be true; every representation which they make of the sentiments of others should he simple truth. “Truth is the representation of things as they are;” and there is no virtue that is more valuable in a Christian than the love of simple truth.

(2) The second thing is, that the truth should be spoken “in love.” There are other ways of speaking truth. It is sometimes spoken in a harsh, crabby, sour manner, which does nothing but disgust and offend When we state truth to others, it should he with love to their souls, and with a sincere desire to do them good. When we admonish a brother of his faults, it should not be in a harsh and unfeeling manner, but in love. Where a minister pronounces the awful truth of God about depravity, death, the judgment, and future woe, it should be in love. It should not be done in a harsh and repulsive manner; it should not he done as if he rejoiced that people were in danger of hell, or as if he would like to pass the final sentence; it should not be with indifference, or in a tone of superiority. And in like manner, if we go to convince one who is in error, we should approach him in love. We should not dogmatize, or denounce, or deal out anathemas. Such things only repel. “He has done about half his work in convincing another of error who has first convinced him that he loves him;” and if he does not do that, he may argue to the hour of his death and make no progress in convincing him.

May grow up into him - Into Christ; that is, to the stature of a complete man in him.

Which is the head - Ephesians 1:22 note; 1 Corinthians 11:3 note.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 15. But, speaking the truth in love — The truth recommended by the apostle is the whole system of Gospel doctrine; this they are to teach and preach, and this is opposed to the deceit mentioned above. This truth, as it is the doctrine of God's eternal love to mankind, must be preached in love. Scolding and abuse from the pulpit or press, in matters of religion, are truly monstrous. He who has the truth of God has no need of any means to defend or propagate it, but those which love to God and man provides.

Grow up into him — This is a continuance of the metaphor taken from the members of a human body receiving nourishment equally and growing up, each in its due proportion to other parts, and to the body in general. The truth of God should be so preached to all the members of the Church of God, that they may all receive an increase of grace and life; so that each, in whatever state he may be, may get forward in the way of truth and holiness. In the Church of Christ there are persons in various states: the careless, the penitent, the lukewarm, the tempted, the diffident, the little child, the young man, and the father. He who has got a talent for the edification of only one of those classes should not stay long in a place, else the whole body cannot grow up in all things under his ministry.