Ephesians 4 · Verse 15

Ephesians 4:15

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Ephesians 4:15, King James Version

Ephesians 4:15 in other translations

BSBInstead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
WEBbut speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ,
ASVbut speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ;
YLTand, being true in love, we may increase to Him in all things, who is the head--the Christ;
DARBYbut, holding the truth in love, we may grow up to him in all things, who is the head, the Christ:
BBEBut saying true words in love, may come to full growth in him, who is the head, even Christ;
WebsterBut speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ:

What does Ephesians 4:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. 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. into him--so as to be more and more incorporated with Him, and become one with Him. the head--(Ep 1:22).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. But speaking the truth in love. Marg., being sincere. The translation in the text is correct--literally, truthing in love --αληθευοντες. Two 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 but the truth. Every statement which they make should be unvarnished truth; every promise which they make should be true; every representation which they make of the sentiments of others should be simple truth. Truth is the representation of things as they are; and there is no virtue that is more valuable in a Christian than the love of simple truth.

(2.) The second thing is, that the truth should be spoken in love. There are other ways of speaking truth. It is sometimes spoken in a harsh, crabbed, sour manner, which does nothing but disgust and offend. When we state truth to others, it should be with love to their souls, and with a sincere desire to do them good. When we admonish a brother of his faults, it should not be in a harsh and unfeeling manner, but in love. Where a minister pronounces the awful truth of God about depravity, death, the judgment, and future woe, it should be in love. It should not be done in a harsh and repulsive manner; it should not be done as if he rejoiced that men were in danger of hell, or as if he would like to pass the final sentence; it should not be with indifference, or in a tone of superiority. And in like manner, if we go to convince one who is in error, we should approach him in love. We should not dogmatize, or denounce, or deal out anathemas. Such things only repel. He has done about half his work in convincing another of error, who has first convinced him that he LOVES him; and if he does not do that, he may argue to the hour of his death, and make no progress in convincing him.

May grow up into him. Into Christ; that is, to the stature of a complete man in him.

Which is the head. Eph 1:22; 1Cor 11:3.

(1) "speaking the truth" "being sincere" (a) "in love" 2Cor 4:2 (b) "even Christ" Col 1:16,19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 But, 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 it, but those which love to God and man provides. Grow up into him - This is a continuance of the metaphor taken from the members of a human body receiving nourishment equally and growing up, each in its due proportion to other parts, and to the body in general. The truth of God should be so preached to all the members of the Church of God, that they may all receive an increase of grace and life; so that each, in whatever state he may be, may get forward in the way of truth and holiness. In the Church of Christ there are persons in various states: the careless, the penitent, the lukewarm, the tempted, the diffident, the little child, the young man, and the father. He who has got a talent for the edification of only one of those classes should not stay long in a place, else the whole body cannot grow up in all things under his ministry.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 4:7-16

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…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 4:7-16 →

Ephesians 4:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀληθεύοντεςalētheuontesSpeaking the truthG226
δὲdehoweverG1161
ἐνeninG1722
ἀγάπῃagapēloveG26
αὐξήσωμενauxēsōmenwe may grow upG837
εἰςeisintoG1519
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
τὰta<the>G3588
πάντα,pantain all thingsG3956
ὅςhoswhoG3739
ἐστινestinisG1510
ἡhētheG3588
κεφαλή,kephalēhead,G2776
ΧριστὸςChristosChristG5547

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ephesians 4:15

  • 1 John 3:18

    My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

  • Ephesians 4:25

    Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

  • Zechariah 8:16

    These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:

  • 1 Peter 1:22

    Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

  • 2 Peter 3:18

    But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

  • 1 Peter 2:2

    As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

  • Ephesians 1:22

    And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

  • Romans 12:9

    Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

  • Ephesians 2:21

    In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

  • John 1:47

    Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

  • Psalms 32:2

    Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

  • Ephesians 5:23

    For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
But.
25; Zec 8:16; 2Co 4:2; 8:8
speaking the truth. or, being sincere.
Jud 16:15; Ps 32:2; Joh 1:47; Ro 12:9; Jas 2:15,16; 1Pe 1:22
1Jo 3:18
may.
2:21; Ho 14:5-7; Mal 4:2; 1Pe 2:2; 2Pe 3:18
which.
1:22; 5:23; Col 1:18,19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ephesians 4:14

    That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

  • Ephesians 4:15

    But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

  • Ephesians 4:16

    From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Read all of Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Antes siguiendo la verdad en amor, crezcamos en todas cosas en aquel que es la cabeza, á saber, Cristo;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais que, étant vrais dans l’amour, nous croissions en toutes choses jusqu’à lui qui est le chef, le Christ;
German
Elberfelder 1871		sondern die Wahrheit festhaltend in Liebe, laßt uns in allem heranwachsen zu ihm hin, der das Haupt ist, der Christus,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Veritatem autem facientes in caritate, crescamus in illo per omnia, qui est caput Christus: