4:15a

Instead: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Instead indicates a contrast with 4:14. Instead of being like children who are deceived by lies, we need to speak the truth so that we will grow up and become mature.

speaking the truth in love: The clause speaking the truth means that we should tell others the true teaching about Christ. It implies more than speaking true words instead of lies. It implies speaking about Christ.

in love: This means we should speak the truth in a loving manner, or that we should speak the truth and show love to others. See how you translated in love in 4:2b. See love, meaning 2 in the Glossary for more information.

4:15b

we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself: The phrase in all things here means “in every way.” So, many English versions translate it that way (Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, English Standard Version).

grow up into Christ Himself: To grow up into Christ Himself refers to our becoming mature and becoming like Christ in our behavior.

Here is another way to translate these words:

we will grow in every way and be more like Christ (Contemporary English Version)

“Speaking the truth in love” (4:15a) is the means or way in which we grow up into Christ. Some English versions make this explicit. For example:

Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ (Good News Translation)
-or-
Instead, as we lovingly speak the truth, we will grow up completely in our relationship to Christ (God’s Word)

grow: The form of this verb in Greek shows that Paul wants his readers to grow. For example:

we should grow up into Christ
-or-

let us grow up into Christ
-or-
we must grow up… (Good News Translation)

Here are some other ways to translate this:

let us become more and more like Christ
-or-
We must develop into very mature ⌊people⌋ like he/Christ is

who is the head: Paul used the word head in a metaphorical sense to mean that Christ is our chief or leader.

You may want to translate this as a separate sentence. For example:

Christ is the head ⌊of his followers⌋.
-or-
Christ is the chief ⌊of all his people/believers⌋.

See how you translated head in 1:22b.

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