Bible Strands
Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Ephesian church, contrasting the infantile, gullible believer (v. 14) with the mature body that grows into Christ its head.
The words — ἀληθεύοντες (alētheuontes), present participle of ἀληθεύω, carries the sense of a habitual mode of truthfulness rather than a single act of stating a true fact.
The thread — The pairing of truth and love recurs in 1 John 3:18 (love in action and truth) and Zechariah 8:16 (speak truth to one another); Ephesians 4:25 grounds the same command in the body's mutual membership.
Why it lands — Truth spoken in love is not a virtue to be practiced but the mechanism by which the body matures into Christ; withholding it or delivering it without love both leave the body stunted.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Cross-references
- 1 John 3:18 Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.
- Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.
- Zechariah 8:16 These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, render true and sound judgments in your gates,
- 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.
- 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
- 1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
- Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
- Ephesians 1:22 And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church,
- Ephesians 2:21 In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
- Psalms 32:2 Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit.