Ephesians

UNTO THE EPHESIANS

[1] PAUL, apostle of Christ Jesus through God's will, to the saints that are at Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus: [2] Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

[3] Blessed the God and Father of our :Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ: [4] even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we be holy and without blemish before him⁠1 in love: [5] having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his :will, [6] to the praise of the glory of his :grace, which⁠2 he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved: [7] in whom we have the redemption through his :blood, the forgiveness of :trespasses, according to the riches of his :grace, [8] which⁠3 he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, [9] making known to us the mystery of his :will, according to his :good pleasure which he purposed in him [10] unto a dispensation of the fulness of the seasons, to sum up⁠4 :all things in the Christ, those upon the heavens, and those upon the earth; in him, I say, [11] in whom also we were made a heritage, foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh :all things after the counsel of his :will; [12] that we be unto praise of his glory, we who had⁠5 before hoped in the Christ: [13] in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your :salvation,—in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy :Spirit of :promise, [14] which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto redemption of the possession, unto praise of his :glory.

[15] For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among⁠6 you, and which ye show toward all the saints, [16] cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my :prayers; [17] that the God of our :Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of :glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowledge of him; [18] having the eyes of the heart :enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his :calling, what the riches of the glory of his :inheritance in the saints, [19] and what the exceeding greatness of his :power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his :might [20] which he wrought in the Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his :right hand in the heavenly places, [21] far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name named not only in this :age, but also in the one to come: [22] and he put all things in subjection under his :feet, and gave him for a head over all things to the church, [23] which is his :body, the fulness of him that filleth: all in all.

[1] And you did he make alive, when ye were dead through your :trespasses and :sins, [2] wherein ye once walked according to the age of this :world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of :disobedience; [3] among whom we also all once lived⁠1 in the lusts of our :flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:⁠— [4] but :God, being rich in mercy, for his great :love wherewith he loved us, [5] even when we were dead through :trespasses made us alive together with the Christ (by grace have ye been saved), [6] and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenlies, in Christ Jesus: [7] that in the ages :to come he might show the exceeding riches of his :grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus: [8] for by :grace have ye been saved through faith; and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; [9] not of works, that no one should glory. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for⁠2 good works, which :God afore prepared that we should walk in them.

[11] Wherefore remember, that once ye, the nations in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by what is called Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; [12] that ye were at that :season separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of :Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are become nigh in the blood of the Christ. [14] For he is our :peace, who made :both one, and brake down the middle wall of the partition, [15] having abolished in his :flesh the enmity, the law of the commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace; [16] and might reconcile them both in one body to :God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:⁠3 [17] and he came and preached⁠4 peace to you the far off, and peace to those nigh: [18] for through him we :both have our :access in one Spirit unto the Father. [19] So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of :God, [20] being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being chief corner stone;⁠5 [21] in whom every building,⁠6 fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple⁠7 in the Lord; [22] in whom ye also are builded together into a habitation of :God in Spirit.

[1] For this cause⁠1 I Paul, the prisoner of the Christ, Jesus, in behalf of you :nations,— [2] if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation⁠2 of the grace of :God :given me you-ward; [3] how that by revelation was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote afore in few words, [4] whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my :understanding in the mystery of the Christ; [5] which in other generations was not made known to the sons of :men, as it hath now been revealed to his holy :apostles and prophets in Spirit; [6] to wit, that the nations are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, [7] whereof I became a minister, according to the gift of the grace of :God :given me according to the working of his :power. [8] To me, the least of all saints, was this :grace given, to preach⁠3 to the nations the unsearchable riches of :Christ; [9] and to bring to light what is the dispensation of the mystery :hid for :ages in :God who created :all things; [10] in order that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenlies be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of :God, [11] according to a purpose of the ages which he purposed⁠4 in :Christ Jesus our Lord: [12] in whom we have :boldness and access in confidence through his :faith.⁠5 [13] Wherefore I ask not to faint at my :tribulations for you, which is your glory.

[14] For this cause⁠6 I bow my :knees unto the Father, [15] from whom all fatherhood in heavens and on :earth is named, [16] that he grant you, according to the riches of his :glory, to be made mighty through his :Spirit unto the inward man; [17] that the Christ dwell in your :hearts through :faith in love, rooted and grounded, [18] so that ye may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of the Christ which passeth :knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of :God.

[20] Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, [21] to him the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all the generations of the age of the ages. Amen.

[1] I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, [2] with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; [3] giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of :peace. [4] There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your :calling; [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. [7] But to each of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of the Christ. [8] Wherefore he saith,
When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to :men.

[9] (Now this, :He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? [10] Who descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill :all things.) [11] And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; [12] for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministry, unto the building up of the body of the Christ: [13] till we :all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of :God, unto a fullgrown⁠1 man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ: [14] that we be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of :teaching, by the sleight of :men, in craftiness, after the wiles of :error; [15] but being true in love, may grow up in :all things into him, who is the head, Christ; [16] from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through every joint of the supply, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.

[17] This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the nations also walk, in the vanity of their :mind, [18] being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of :God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their :heart; [19] who being past feeling gave themselves up to :lasciviousness, to⁠1 work all uncleanness with greediness.⁠2 [20] But ye did not so learn the Christ; [21] if so be that ye heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in :Jesus: [22] that ye put away, as concerning your former :manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of :deceit; [23] and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your :mind, [24] and put on the new man, that⁠3 after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

[25] Wherefore, putting away :falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his :neighbor: for we are members one of another. [26] Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:⁠4 [27] neither give place to the devil. [28] Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him toil, working with his :hands what is good, that he have whereof to give to him that hath need. [29] Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your :mouth, but such as is good for building up of what need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear. [30] And grieve not the Holy :Spirit of :God, in whom ye were sealed unto a day of redemption. [31] Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice: [32] and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,⁠5 forgiving each other, even as :God also in Christ forgave you.

[1] Be ye therefore imitators of :God, as beloved children; [2] and walk in love, even as the Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for you, an offering and sacrifice to :God for an odor of a sweet smell.

[3] But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; [4] nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks. [5] For this ye know of a surety,⁠1 that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (which is idolater), hath any inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and God.

[6] Let no one deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of :God upon the sons of :disobedience. [7] Be not ye therefore partakers with them; [8] for ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light [9] (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), [10] proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord; [11] and have no fellowship with the unfruitful :works of :darkness, but rather even reprove⁠2 them; [12] for the things done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of. [13] But :all things when reproved⁠3 are manifested by the light: for everything :manifested is light. [14] Wherefore he saith,
Awake, thou that sleepest,
And arise from the dead,
And the Christ shall shine upon thee.

[15] Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; [16] redeeming⁠1 the season, because the days are evil. [17] Therefore become not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. [18] And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with⁠2 Spirit; [19] speaking among⁠3 yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody⁠4 with your :heart to the Lord; [20] giving thanks always for all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to the God and Father; [21] subjecting yourselves one to another in fear of Christ.

[22] :Wives, be subject to your own husbands,⁠5 as to the Lord, [23] because the husband is head of the wife, as the Christ also is head of the church, being himself saviour of the body. [24] But as the church is subject to the Christ, so the wives also to their husbands in everything. [25] :Husbands, love the wives, even as the Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; [26] that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing⁠6 of the water with the word, [27] that himself might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any :such thing; but that it be holy and without blemish. [28] Even so ought the husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own :wife loveth himself: [29] for no one ever hated his own :flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Christ also the church; [30] because we are members of his :body. [31] For this cause shall a man leave :father and :mother, and shall cleave to his :wife; and the two shall become one flesh. [32] This :mystery is great: but I speak in regard of⁠7 Christ and in regard of⁠7 the church. [33] Nevertheless do ye also severally love each his own :wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her :husband.

[1] :Children, obey your :parents in the Lord: for this is right. [2] Honor thy :father and :mother (which is the first commandment with promise), [3] that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest be long-lived⁠1 on the earth. [4] And, ye :fathers, provoke not your :children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.

[5] :Bondmen, be obedient to the lords, according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of :heart, as unto the Christ; [6] not in way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as bondmen of Christ, doing the will of :God from the soul; [7] with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: [8] knowing that whatsoever good each doeth, the same shall he receive again from the Lord, whether bond or free. [9] And, ye :lords, do the same unto them, and forbear :threatening: knowing that the Lord of both them and you is in the heavens, and there is no respect of persons with him.

[10] For the rest, be⁠2 strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his :might. [11] Put on the whole armor of :God, that ye be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For our :wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but against the principalities, against the authorities, against the worldrulers of this :darkness, against the spirituals of :wickedness in the heavenlies. [13] Wherefore take up the whole armor of :God, that ye be able to withstand in the evil :day, and, having done all thoroughly, to stand. [14] Stand therefore, having girded your :loin with truth, and put on the breastplate of :righteousness, [15] and shod your :feet with preparation of the gospel of :peace; [16] withal taking up the shield of :faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery :darts of the evil one. [17] And receive the helmet of :salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's word: [18] with all prayer and supplication praying at every season in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, [19] and on my behalf, that utterance⁠3 be given me in opening my :mouth with boldness to make known the mystery of the gospel, [20] for which I am ambassador in a chain; that in it I may speak boldly,⁠4 as I ought to speak.

[21] But that ye also may know my :affairs, how I do, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: [22] whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know :our state, and that he may comfort your :hearts.

[23] Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [24] The grace be with all them that love our :Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption.