Paragraph 4:25–28

In this paragraph, Paul gave many commands that talk about specific kinds of behavior that Christians should not do and kinds of behavior that Christians should do.

4:25a

Therefore: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible has translated Therefore connects the previous paragraph (4:20–24) as a basis for the commands in this paragraph. It indicates the following: since we have new lives, as a result or therefore, we must act like it. Some other ways Therefore has been translated include:

So (New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version)
-or-
So then (God’s Word)
-or-
then (Good News Translation)
-or-
For that reason

Translate the conjunction in a way that is natural in your language.

each of you must put off falsehood: The phrase put off falsehood is a figure of speech. It is the same verb as in 4:22a, “put off your old self.” It means to “stop lying” or “stop telling lies.” If it would not be natural in your language to use this figure of speech, you may want to translate it directly. For example:

stop telling lies (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
No more lying (Good News Translation)

4:25b

speak truthfully to his neighbor: In this verse neighbor means “fellow Christian,” because Paul goes on to say that they are all members of one body (see 4:4).

A more general way to translate neighbor is “each other.” For example:

Stop lying and start telling each other the truth. (Contemporary English Version)

4:25c

for we are all members of one another: Paul has referred often to this metaphor of believers as members of one another.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

members together in the body of Christ (Good News Translation)

See how you translated this metaphor in 4:4a, 4:12b, 4:16a.

General Comment on 4:25a–c

In some languages, it may be natural to reorder 25a–c. For example:

25c We are Christ’s body, we are like his hands and legs. 25a Therefore, don’t lie to your brothers and sisters, 25b ⌊rather⌋ speak the truth ⌊to them⌋.

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