Ephesians 4:14 (DRB)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the word of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Ephesians 4:13 Until we all meet into the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ:

Ephesians 4:14 That henceforth we be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive.

Ephesians 4:15 But doing the truth in charity, we may in all things grow up in him who is the head, even Christ:

Ephesians 4:16 From whom the whole body, being compacted and fitly joined together, by what every joint supplieth, according to the operation in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in charity.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "henceforth", "children", "tossed", "carried", "wind", "doctrine", "wickedness", and "cunning". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "henceforth" and "children", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "Until we all meet into the unity..." into verse 15's "But doing the truth in charity we...", so "henceforth" and "children" belong inside that flow. In Ephesians context, the local focus is grace, union with Christ, the church, and new creation.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "henceforth" and "children" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.