Ephesians 4 14

Ephesians 4:14 kjv

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 4:14 nkjv

that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

Ephesians 4:14 niv

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

Ephesians 4:14 esv

so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Ephesians 4:14 nlt

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

Ephesians 4 verses

Ephesians 4 14 Meaning

The verse describes believers being tossed about and carried around by every wind of doctrine. This signifies a lack of spiritual stability and an susceptibility to false teachings. The emphasis is on a deliberate deception practiced by false teachers who are skilled in manipulation, leading people away from the truth of the Gospel.

Ephesians 4 14 Context

Ephesians 4:14 is situated within a larger section (Ephesians 4:11-16) that addresses the unity of the Church and the development of believers into spiritual maturity. Paul is describing the ongoing process of sanctification and the role of spiritual gifts in equipping the saints for ministry. He contrasts immaturity, characterized by being easily swayed by false teachings, with the mature believer who holds to the truth in love and grows into Christ. This verse follows Paul’s exposition on the ascended Christ giving gifts to the church, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, whose purpose is to equip the saints for works of service and to build up the body of Christ until all reach unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of God.

Ephesians 4 14 Word analysis

• hina (ἵνα): "in order that," "so that." Indicates purpose or result. Here, it signifies the consequence of the apostles, prophets, etc., functioning within the church – to prevent believers from being childish in their faith.
• mēketi (μηκέτι): "no longer," "henceforth no more." Denotes cessation of a former state. Believers should no longer be children in their understanding and susceptibility.
• palin (πάλιν): "again," "henceforth." Implies a transition or a continuing state from this point forward, contrasting with their previous condition.
• nepioi (νήπιοι): "infants," "babes," "childish." Refers to spiritual immaturity, lacking developed understanding and easily influenced. It contrasts with the mature spiritual person.
• pnevmati (πνεύματι): "spirit," "wind." Can refer to the Holy Spirit, human spirit, or an unseen force. Here, it's used metaphorically to represent teaching or doctrine, suggesting a spiritual force.
• peritithemenoi (περιτιθέμενοι): "tossed about," "carried about," "moved to and fro." A vivid image of a small boat being driven aimlessly by waves and winds. It speaks of instability and lack of direction.
• kai (καὶ): "and." A conjunction connecting phrases or clauses.
• peripheromenoi (περιφερόμενοι): "carried about," "driven around." Similar to peritithemenoi, emphasizing being aimlessly moved from place to place, lacking stability.
• apo (ἀπὸ): "from." Indicates the source or origin.
• pantos (παντός): "every," "all kinds of." Implies a wide variety and a comprehensive nature of the forces acting upon them.
• anemou (ἀνέμου): "wind." Used here metaphorically for doctrine or teaching, especially false or shifting doctrines that can be strong and disorienting.
• tes (τῆς): "the." Definite article.
• didaches (διδαχῆς): "teaching," "doctrine." Refers to the body of instruction, whether true or false.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "nepioi palin peritithemenoi kai peripheromenoi": "no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about" - This phrase paints a powerful picture of spiritual infancy. The double participle (peritithemenoi and peripheromenoi) emphasizes the relentless and indiscriminate nature of the forces that affect the immature.
• "pantos anemou tes didaches": "by every wind of doctrine" - This is a strong metaphor. Wind is invisible but powerful, capable of moving ships and dust. "Every wind" implies a multitude of varying and conflicting teachings, blown from all directions, highlighting the instability and gullibility of those without firm grounding.

Ephesians 4 14 Bonus section

The imagery of "every wind of doctrine" connects to the idea of being "shipwrecked" concerning faith, as seen in 1 Timothy 1:19. The immutability of God's Word is the anchor for believers against these shifting doctrines (Hebrews 13:8). The active deception implied by "the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (v. 14b) highlights that error is not always passive but often actively promoted by individuals with malicious intent. Understanding sound doctrine is crucial, as exemplified by the Bereans who "searched the scriptures daily" (Acts 17:11) to verify teachings. The Holy Spirit guides believers into all truth (John 16:13), preventing them from being carried away.

Ephesians 4 14 Commentary

Believers are warned against spiritual childishness, which makes them susceptible to a wide array of deceptive teachings. The "winds of doctrine" represent the numerous false doctrines and the subtle manipulations employed by those who intentionally mislead. These false teachers use cunning craftiness (mentioned in v. 14b, not explicitly here) to disguise their deceptive methods. Maturity in Christ is characterized by stability and a firm grasp of the truth, being anchored in sound doctrine and love, thus resisting the unstable currents of error. The objective is for the church to grow into unity and to speak the truth in love, maturing in all aspects into Christ.