Ephesians 4:25-27
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The verse calls us to speak truth not just generally, but specifically "with his neighbor," highlighting that our union in Christ means we're intimately connected, like limbs of the same body. This isn't just about avoiding lies, but about fostering genuine, trusting relationships where honesty is essential for the whole body to function well.
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is urging the Ephesians to live out their new identity in Christ by abandoning old habits. Having just described the "new self" as created in God's likeness, he now applies this to their speech, calling them to put away falsehood and embrace truth. This instruction is directly tied to their unity as believers, emphasizing that dishonesty damages the very fabric of the Christian community, just as it would harm a physical body.
We're called to speak truth, but what does that really mean in our daily lives? It's more than just avoiding outright lies.
Paul isn't just telling us to not tell lies; he's calling us to a positive, active commitment to truth. The Greek word for 'falsehood' here can refer to 'the lie' itself – a deep-seated corruption that's the opposite of God's truth.
Think about it:
Why does Paul immediately connect speaking truth to being 'members one of another'? What does our physical body teach us about how we should interact?
The reason for speaking truth is profound: 'for we are members one of another.' This isn't just a nice saying; it's the foundation of Christian community.
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Understand the original words
pseudos · Greek Noun
Anything that deviates from the truth, including lying, hypocrisy, and deception. It is considered an attribute of the devil and contrary to the new nature in Christ.
melos · Greek Noun
The interconnected, organic relationship between believers within the Body of Christ. Because all Christians are united to Christ, they are inherently joined to one another in mutual dependence and shared life.
orgizesthe · Greek Verb
A strong feeling of displeasure, hostility, or indignation. While sometimes righteous, it is frequently warned against because of its tendency to lead to sinful behavior.
hamartanete · Greek Verb
Missing the mark or failing to conform to the moral law of God in thought, word, or deed. It is an act of rebellion against God's standards and character.
diabolō · Greek Noun
An adversary or accuser; specifically the chief evil spirit, the enemy of God and humanity who seeks to deceive, tempt, and destroy.
This verse speaks directly to the practical outworking of faith for early believers in Ephesus. Many converts came from backgrounds where lying and deception were common, making Paul's call to honesty, grounded in their new identity as members of Christ's body, a crucial aspect of their discipleship.
c. 1st century AD— this verse
Growth of the Church in Ephesus
The Apostle Paul established a significant Christian community in Ephesus during his ministry. This church, composed of both Jewish and Gentile converts, faced challenges in transforming deeply ingrained cultural and moral habits.
c. 1st century AD
Pagan Morality and Social Norms
The Greco-Roman world often viewed truthfulness differently than Christian ethics. Philosophies and common practices sometimes permitted or even encouraged deception for personal gain or social expediency.
c. 1st century AD
The 'New Man' in Christ
Early Christians were called to live as a 'new creation' in Christ, a transformation that required actively putting off old sinful behaviors and adopting virtues like honesty and love.
This verse is a direct quotation, showing that speaking truth to one's neighbor was a foundational command, already established in the Old Testament before Paul's letter.
Romans 12:5This passage shares the 'members one of another' concept, highlighting the profound interconnectedness within the body of Christ and the inherent contradiction of falsehood within such a union.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27This extended passage vividly illustrates the 'members one of another' idea using the human body analogy, underscoring how each part is vital and dependent, making deceit within the body utterly damaging.
Colossians 3:9This verse is a parallel teaching where believers are instructed to 'put away the old self with its practices,' directly aligning with the Ephesians instruction to 'put away falsehood.'
John 8:44Jesus calls the devil the 'father of lies,' providing the ultimate contrast to the truthfulness commanded in Ephesians and revealing the deceptive nature that believers are called to reject.
vincentEphesians 4:25: "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."
Falsehood (τὸ ψεῦδος)Lit., the lie; used abstractly. See on John 8:44.Members one of anotherCompare Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. Chrysostom says: "Let not the eye lie to the foot, nor the foot to the eye. If there be a deep pit, and its mouth covered with reeds shall present to the eye the appearance of solid ground, will not the eye use the foot to ascertain wh…
barnesEphesians 4:25: "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."
Wherefore putting away lying - It may seem strange that the apostle should seriously exhort Christians to put away "lying," implying that they were in the habit of indulging in falsehood. But we are to remember: (1) that lying is the universal vice of the pagan world. Among the ancient pagans, as among the moderns, it was almost universally practiced. It has been remarked…
The verse calls us to speak truth not just generally, but specifically "with his neighbor," highlighting that our union in Christ means we're intimately connected, like limbs of the same body. This isn't just about avoiding lies, but about fostering genuine, trusting relationships where honesty is essential for the whole body to function well.
Paul is urging the Ephesians to live out their new identity in Christ by abandoning old habits. Having just described the "new self" as created in God's likeness, he now applies this to their speech, calling them to put away falsehood and embrace truth. This instruction is directly tied to their unity as believers, emphasizing that dishonesty damages the very fabric of the Christian community, just as it would harm a physical body.
Paul is urging the Ephesians to live out their new identity in Christ by abandoning old habits. Having just described the "new self" as created in God's likeness, he now applies this to their speech, calling them to put away falsehood and embrace truth. This instruction is directly tied to their unity as believers, emphasizing that dishonesty damages the very fabric of the Christian community, just as it would harm a physical body.
"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil." — The verse calls us to speak truth not just generally, but specifically "with his neighbor," highlighting that our union in Christ means we're intimately connected, like limbs of the same body. This i…
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Last reviewed October 2026
