Ephesians 4:15

Ephesians 4:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
• New International Version (NIV)Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
• New King James Version (NKJV)but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
• New Living Translation (NLT)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.

Context of Ephesians 4:15

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 by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 17Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.

Ephesians 4:15 word by word

ἀληθεύοντες δὲ ἐν ἀγάπῃ αὐξήσωμεν εἰς αὐτὸν τὰ πάντα, ὅς ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλή, ΧριστὸςRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• speaking the truthἀληθεύωalētheuō · be truthfulG226
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• may grow upαὐξάνωauxanō · to growG837
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• in all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the headκεφαλήkephalē · headG2776
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547

Cross-references for Ephesians 4:15

• Ephesians 4:25Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
• Zechariah 8:16These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;
• 2 Corinthians 4:2But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
• 2 Corinthians 8:8I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.
• Judges 16:15And she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies."
• Psalms 32:2Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
• John 1:47Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"
• Romans 12:9Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
• James 2:15If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
• 1 Peter 1:22Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
• 1 John 3:18Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
• Ephesians 2:21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
• Hosea 14:5I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;
• Malachi 4:2But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.
• 1 Peter 2:2Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
• 2 Peter 3:18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Commentaries on Ephesians 4:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15But, 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15But speaking the truth in love - Margin, “being sincere.” The translation in the text is correct - literally, “truthing in love” - ̓́ alētheuontesTwo 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-16Verses 7-16 Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. There is a fulness in Christ, and a measure of that fulness given…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-16Though believers share a common faith, God has given different special abilities to each individual believer for building up the church community.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. speaking the truth--Translate, "holding the truth"; "following the truth"; opposed to "error" or "deceit" (Ep 4:14). in love--"Truth" is never to be sacrificed to so-called "charity"; yet it is to be maintained in charity. Truth in word and act, love in manner and spirit, are the Christian's rule (compare Ep 4:21, 24). grow up--from the state of "children" to that of "full-grown men." There is growth only in the spiritually alive, not in the dead…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 4:15

• Church
• Love
• Reproof
• Righteous
• Sanctification

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Bitterness
• Compact
• Dark
• Faith
• Forbear
• Grieve
• Kingly office of Christ
• Lasciviousness

Commentaries on Ephesians 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings