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:
• English Standard Version (ESV)Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into 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 reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 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. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

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 each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
• Zechariah 8:16These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts;
• 2 Corinthians 4:2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
• 2 Corinthians 8:8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
• Judges 16:15Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.”
• Psalms 32:2Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
• John 1:47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
• Romans 12:9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
• James 2:15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
• 1 Peter 1:22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
• 1 John 3:18Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
• Ephesians 2:21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
• Hosea 14:5I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots;
• Malachi 4:2But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.
• 1 Peter 2:2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
• 2 Peter 3:18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! 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