Section 4:17–32

We should change our behavior

Paul urged the Christians to stop doing the evil deeds that they used to do before they knew God. He urged them to start doing the good things that people who know Christ should do. He gave examples of old (former) behavior that they must stop doing, for example: lying, theft, anger and slander. Instead they must be kind, tender and forgiving.

Here are some other examples for a heading for this section:

Live as God’s people (God’s Word)
-or-
The old life and the new life (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Don’t live as pagans but as God’s people

Paragraph 4:17–19

4:17a

So: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So connects all that Paul has previously taught to the advice that follows. It is similar to 4:1a, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “then.” Because God had done so much for the Ephesians, therefore they must not live as they formerly had.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

Therefore
-or-
On the basis of that

Some versions do not translate the conjunction. Translate it in a way that is natural in your language.

I tell you this: The words I tell you this show that Paul was emphasising what he said.

this: The word this refers to the advice that he is about to give to his readers. It does not refer to that which Paul had already said. If your language would not use the word this in such a way, you may need to say something like:

So here is what I want to tell you
-or-
So I tell you

insist on it in the Lord: To insist means “to advise, warn, strongly urge.” Paul said that he is speaking in the name of the Lord, that is with the Lord’s authority.

the Lord: Here the word Lord refers to Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

With the Lord’s authority (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
In the Lord’s name (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 4:17a

One way you can translate 4:17a is like this:

So now listen to these words of mine! With the authority that the Lord gave me, I advise you to…

4:17b

that you must no longer walk: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as walk refers to our daily actions and our behavior. Some ways to translate this word are:

act
-or-
behave

(For other references to “walk,” see notes on 2:2a, 2:10c, 4:1b.)

as the Gentiles do: Here the word Gentiles does not mean simply non-Jewish people. Rather, Paul used it to refer to people who do not know God.

Here are some other ways to translate the word Gentiles :

heathen (Good News Translation)
-or-
pagan (Revised English Bible)

Both of these are words that refer to people who do not know God or believe in God. See Gentiles, Meaning 2 in the Glossary.

4:17c

in the futility of their thinking: The phrase in the futility of their thinking means that that which the pagans think is worthless, empty and a waste of time.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

whose thoughts are worthless (Good News Translation)
-or-
for they are hopelessly confused (New Living Translation (2004))

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