Ephesians 4:7

THE MESSAGE

But 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.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

King James Version (1611)
But vnto euery one of vs is giuen grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

King James Version
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

English Standard Version
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

New American Standard Bible
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

New Century Version
Christ gave each one of us the special gift of grace, showing how generous he is.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Legacy Standard Bible
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Berean Standard Bible
Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Contemporary English Version
Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us.

Complete Jewish Bible
Each one of us, however, has been given grace to be measured by the Messiah's bounty.

Darby Translation
But to each one of us has been given grace according to the measure of the gift of the Christ.

Easy-to-Read Version
Christ gave each one of us a special gift. Everyone received what he wanted to give them.

Geneva Bible (1587)
But vnto euery one of vs is giuen grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

George Lamsa Translation
But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Good News Translation
Each one of us has received a special gift in proportion to what Christ has given.

Lexham English Bible
Now to each one of us was given this grace, according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Literal Translation
But to each one of us was given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Amplified Bible
Yet grace [God's undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ's [rich and abundant] gift.

American Standard Version
But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Bible in Basic English
But to every one of us has grace been given in the measure of the giving of Christ.

Hebrew Names Version
But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Messiah.

International Standard Version
Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of Christ's gift.Romans 12:3,6; 1 Corinthians 12:11;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
But unto each of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of the Meshiha.

Murdock Translation
And to each of us grace is given, according to the measure of the gift of the Messiah.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But vnto euery one of vs, is geuen grace, accordyng to the measure of the gyft of Christe.

English Revised Version
But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

World English Bible
But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Weymouth's New Testament
Yet to each of us individually grace was given, measured out with the munificence of Christ.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But to ech of vs grace is youun bi the mesure of the yyuyng of Crist;

Update Bible Version
But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Webster's Bible Translation
But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

New English Translation
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

New King James Version
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

New Living Translation
However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.

New Life Bible
Loving-favor has been given to each one of us. We can see how great it is by the gift of Christ.

New Revised Standard
But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
To each one of you, however, hath favour been given, according to the measure of the free-gift of the Christ;

Douay-Rheims Bible
But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the giving of Christ.

Revised Standard Version
But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Vnto every one of vs is geven grace acordinge to the measure of ye gyft of christ.

Young's Literal Translation
and to each one of you was given the grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Vnto euery one of vs is geuen grace, acordinge to the measure off the gifte off Christ.

Mace New Testament (1729)
but to every one of us a different charge is given, according to the distribution which Christ has made;

Simplified Cowboy Version
But, he has given each of us special abilities through his generousness.

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

unto: Ephesians 4:8-14, Matthew 25:15, Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-11, 1 Corinthians 12:28-30

grace: Ephesians 3:8, 2 Corinthians 6:1, 1 Peter 4:10

the measure: Ephesians 3:2, John 3:34, Romans 12:3, 2 Corinthians 10:13-15

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 5:6 - that there is not Luke 10:2 - the Lord John 1:16 - of his John 16:5 - I John 16:13 - will guide 1 Corinthians 12:7 - General 1 Corinthians 12:11 - all Hebrews 6:4 - and have

Cross-References

Genesis 3:16
He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you."

Genesis 4:6
God spoke to Cain: "Why this tantrum? Why the sulking? If you do well, won't you be accepted? And if you don't do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it's out to get you, you've got to master it."

Genesis 4:8
Cain had words with his brother. They were out in the field; Cain came at Abel his brother and killed him.

Genesis 4:9
God said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "How should I know? Am I his babysitter?"

Genesis 4:10
God said, "What have you done! The voice of your brother's blood is calling to me from the ground. From now on you'll get nothing but curses from this ground; you'll be driven from this ground that has opened its arms to receive the blood of your murdered brother. You'll farm this ground, but it will no longer give you its best. You'll be a homeless wanderer on Earth."

Genesis 4:13
Cain said to God , "My punishment is too much. I can't take it! You've thrown me off the land and I can never again face you. I'm a homeless wanderer on Earth and whoever finds me will kill me."

Genesis 19:21
"All right, Lot. If you insist. I'll let you have your way. And I won't stamp out the town you've spotted. But hurry up. Run for it! I can't do anything until you get there." That's why the town was called Zoar, that is, Smalltown.

Numbers 32:23
"But if you don't do what you say, you will be sinning against God ; you can be sure that your sin will track you down. So, go ahead. Build towns for your families and corrals for your livestock. Do what you said you'd do."

2 Kings 8:28
He joined Joram son of Ahab king of Israel in a war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth Gilead. The archers wounded Joram. Joram pulled back to Jezreel to convalesce from the injuries he had received in the fight with Hazael. Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah paid a visit to Joram son of Ahab on his sickbed in Jezreel.

Proverbs 18:5
It's not right to go easy on the guilty, or come down hard on the innocent.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But unto everyone of us is given grace,.... Which may refer to the saints in common, and may be interpreted of justifying, pardoning, adopting, sanctifying, and persevering grace, bestowed upon them all, freely and liberally, not grudgingly, nor niggardly, and without motive and condition in them; or to the ministers of the Gospel, and so design gifts fitting for the ministry, which every one has, though differing one from another, and all of free grace:

according to the measure of the gift of Christ: either according to the gift of grace to Christ before the world began, and the measure of it, which he communicates to them in time, even grace for grace; or according to that measure of gifts which Christ received from men at his ascension: it may be observed that every member of Christ, and minister of his, receive more or less grace and gifts from him; and that what they receive is all of free grace, and in measure; and though they may have gifts differing one from another, yet all are useful; so that there is no room for pride, envy, and contempt, which would break in upon the unity of the Spirit; for what is said from Ephesians 4:3 contains so many arguments to stir up the saints to endeavour to preserve that.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But unto every one of us - Every Christian.

Is given grace - The favor of God; meaning here that God had bestowed upon each sincere Christian the means of living as he ought to do, and had in his gospel made ample provision that they might walk worthy of their vocation. What “are” the endowments thus given, the apostle states in the following verses. The “grace” referred to here, most probably means “the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit,” or his operations on the heart in connection with the use of the means which God has appointed.

According to the measure of the gift of Christ - Grace is bestowed upon all true Christians, and all have enough to enable them to live a life of holiness. Yet we are taught here:

(1) That it is a “gift.” It is “bestowed” on us. It is not what is originated by ourselves.

(2) It is by a certain “measure.” It is not unlimited, and without rule. There is a wise adaptation; an imparting it by a certain rule. The same grace is not given to all, but to all is given enough to enable them to live as they ought to live.

(3) That measure is the gift of Christ, or what is given in Christ. It comes through him. It is what he has purchased; what he has obtained by his merits. All have enough for the purposes for which God has called them into his kingdom, but there are not the same endowments conferred on all. Some have grace given them to qualify them for the ministry; some to be apostles; some to be martyrs; some to make them eminent as public benefactors. All this has been obtained by Christ; and one Should not complain that another has more distinguished endowments than he has; compare Romans 12:3 note; John 1:16 note.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 7. Unto every one of us is given grace — Grace may here signify a particular office; as if the apostle had said: Though we are all equal in the respects already mentioned, yet we have all different offices and situations to fill up in the Church and in the world; and we receive a free gift from Christ, according to the nature of the office, that we may be able to discharge it according to his own mind. So the free gift, which we receive from Christ, is according to the office or function which he has given us to fulfil; and the office is according to that free gift, each suited to the other.