Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians
1:1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through
the will of God,
to the
saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful
in Christ Jesus: 1:2Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly places
in Christ; 1:4even as he chose us in him before the
foundation of the world, that we would be
holy and without blemish before him in love;
1:5having predestined us for adoption as
children through Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his desire,
1:6to the praise of the glory of his grace,
by which he freely bestowed favor on us
in the Beloved, 1:7in whom we have our redemption through
his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace, 1:8which he made to abound toward us in all
wisdom and prudence, 1:9making known to us the mystery of his
will, according to his good pleasure which
he purposed in him 1:10to an administration of the fullness
of the times, to sum up all things in Christ,
the things in the heavens, and the things
on the earth, in him; 1:11in whom also we
were assigned an inheritance, having been
foreordained according to the purpose of
him who works all things after the counsel
of his will; 1:12to the end that we should be to the praise
of his glory, we who had before hoped in
Christ: 1:13in whom you also, having heard the word
of the truth, the Gospel of your salvation,--in
whom, having also believed, you were sealed
with the Holy Spirit of promise, 1:14who is a pledge of our inheritance, to
the redemption of God's own possession,
to the praise of his glory. 1:15For this cause I also, having heard of
the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among
you, and the love which you have toward
all the saints, 1:16don't cease to
give thanks for you, making mention of you
in my prayers, 1:17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit
of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge
of him; 1:18having the eyes
of your hearts enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope of his
calling, and what are the riches of the
glory of his inheritance in the saints,
1:19and what is the exceeding greatness of
his power toward us who believe, according
to that working of the strength of his might
1:20which he worked in Christ, when he raised
him from the dead, and made him to sit at
his right hand in the heavenly places, 1:21far above all rule, and authority, and
power, and dominion, and every name that
is named, not only in this age, but also
in that which is to come. 1:22He put all things
in subjection under his feet, and gave him
to be head over all things for the assembly,
1:23which is his body, the fullness of him
who fills all in all.
2:1You were made alive when you were dead
in transgressions and sins, 2:2in which you once
walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the powers of
the air, the spirit who now works in the
children of disobedience; 2:3among whom we also all once lived in the
lust of our flesh, doing the desires of
the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature
children of wrath, even as the rest. 2:4But God, being rich in mercy, for his
great love with which he loved us, 2:5even when we were
dead through our trespasses, made us alive
together with Christ (by grace you have
been saved), 2:6and raised us up with him, and made us
to sit with him in the heavenly places in
Christ Jesus, 2:7that in the ages to come he might show
the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness
toward us in Christ Jesus; 2:8for by grace you have been saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves; it is
the gift of God, 2:9not of works, that no one would boast.
2:10For we are his workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
before that we would walk in them.
2:11Therefore remember that once you, the
Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "uncircumcision"
by that which is called "circumcision,"
(in the flesh, made by hands); 2:12that you were at that time 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. 2:13But now in Christ Jesus you who once
were far off are made near in the blood
of Christ. 2:14For he is our peace, who made both one,
and broke down the middle wall of partition,
2:15having abolished in the flesh the hostility,
the law of commandments contained in ordinances,
that he might create in himself one new
man of the two, making peace; 2:16and might reconcile them both in one
body to God through the cross, having killed
the hostility thereby. 2:17He came and preached peace to you who
were far off and to those who were near.
2:18For through him
we both have our access in one Spirit to
the Father. 2:19So then you are no longer strangers and
foreigners, but you are fellow citizens
with the saints, and of the household of
God, 2:20being built on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself
being the chief cornerstone; 2:21in whom the whole building, fitted together,
grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 2:22in whom you also are built together for
a habitation of God in the Spirit.
3:1For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner
of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles,
3:2if it is so that
you have heard of the administration of
that grace of God which was given me toward
you; 3:3how that by revelation the mystery was
made known to me, as I wrote before in few
words, 3:4by which, when you
read, you can perceive my understanding
in the mystery of Christ; 3:5which in other generations was not made
known to the children of men, as it has
now been revealed to his holy apostles and
prophets in the Spirit; 3:6that the Gentiles
are fellow heirs, and fellow members of
the body, and fellow partakers of his promise
in Christ Jesus through the Gospel, 3:7of which I was made a servant, according
to the gift of that grace of God which was
given me according to the working of his
power. 3:8To me, the very least of all saints, was
this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles
the unsearchable riches of Christ, 3:9and to make all men see what is the administration
of the mystery which for ages has been hidden
in God, who created all things through Jesus
Christ; 3:10to the intent that now through the assembly
the manifold wisdom of God might be made
known to the principalities and the powers
in the heavenly places, 3:11according to the eternal purpose which
he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord; 3:12in whom we have
boldness and access in confidence through
our faith in him. 3:13Therefore I ask that you may not lose
heart at my troubles for you, which are
your glory.
3:14For this cause, I bow my knees to the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 3:15from whom every
family in heaven and on earth is named,
3:16that he would grant
you, according to the riches of his glory,
that you may be strengthened with power
through his Spirit in the inward man; 3:17that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith; to the end that you, being
rooted and grounded in love, 3:18may be strengthened to comprehend with
all the saints what is the breadth and length
and height and depth, 3:19and to know Christ's love which surpasses
knowledge, that you may be filled with all
the fullness of God. 3:20Now to him who is able to do exceedingly
abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us,
3:21to him be the glory in the assembly and
in Christ Jesus to all generations forever
and ever. Amen.
4:1I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord,
beg you to walk worthily of the calling
with which you were called, 4:2with all lowliness and humility, with
patience, bearing with one another in love;
4:3being eager to keep
the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4:4There is one body,
and one Spirit, even as you also were called
in one hope of your calling; 4:5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 4:6one God and Father of all, who is over
all, and through all, and in us all. 4:7But to each one
of us was the grace given according to the
measure of the gift of Christ. 4:8Therefore he says, "When he ascended
on high, he led captivity captive, and gave
gifts to men." 4:9Now this, "He ascended," what
is it but that he also first descended into
the lower parts of the earth? 4:10He who descended is the one who also
ascended far above all the heavens, that
he might fill all things.
4:11He gave some to be apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
shepherds and teachers; 4:12for the perfecting
of the saints, to the work of serving, to
the building up of the body of Christ; 4:13until we all attain to the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, to a full grown man, to the measure
of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
4:14that we may no longer be children, tossed
back and forth and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men,
in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
4:15but speaking truth in love, we may grow
up in all things into him, who is the head,
Christ; 4:16from whom all the body, being fitted
and knit together through that which every
joint supplies, according to the working
in measure of each individual part, makes
the body increase to the building up of
itself in love.
4:17This I say therefore, and testify in
the Lord, that you no longer walk as the
rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility
of their mind, 4:18being darkened
in their understanding, alienated from the
life of God, because of the ignorance that
is in them, because of the hardening of
their hearts; 4:19who having become callous gave themselves
up to lust, to work all uncleanness with
greediness. 4:20But you did not learn Christ that way;
4:21if indeed you heard him, and were taught
in him, even as truth is in Jesus: 4:22that you put away,
as concerning your former way of life, the
old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts
of deceit; 4:23and that you be
renewed in the spirit of your mind, 4:24and put on the
new man, who in the likeness of God has
been created in righteousness and holiness
of truth.
4:25Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak
truth each one with his neighbor. For we
are members one of another. 4:26"Be angry, and don't sin."
Don't let the sun go down on your wrath,
4:27neither give place
to the devil. 4:28Let him who stole steal no more; but
rather let him labor, working with his hands
the thing that is good, that he may have
something to give to him who has need. 4:29Let no corrupt speech proceed out of
your mouth, but such as is good for building
up as the need may be, that it may give
grace to those who hear. 4:30Don't grieve the
Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed
for the day of redemption. 4:31Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry,
and slander, be put away from you, with
all malice. 4:32And be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving each other, just as God also in
Christ forgave you.
5:1Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved
children. 5:2Walk in love, even as Christ also loved
you, and gave himself up for us, an offering
and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling
fragrance. 5:3But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness,
or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned
among you, as becomes saints; 5:4nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor
jesting, which are not appropriate; but
rather giving of thanks.
5:5Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral
person, nor unclean person, nor covetous
man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance
in the Kingdom of Christ and God.
5:6Let no one deceive you with empty words.
For because of these things, the wrath of
God comes on the children of disobedience.
5:7Therefore don't be partakers with them.
5:8For you were once darkness, but are now
light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
5:9for the fruit of
the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness
and truth, 5:10proving what is well-pleasing to the
Lord. 5:11Have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather even reprove
them. 5:12For the things which are done by them
in secret, it is a shame even to speak of.
5:13But all things,
when they are reproved, are revealed by
the light, for everything that is revealed
is light. 5:14Therefore he says, "Awake, you who
sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ
will shine on you."
5:15Therefore watch carefully how you walk,
not as unwise, but as wise; 5:16redeeming the time,
because the days are evil. 5:17Therefore don't
be foolish, but understand what the will
of the Lord is. 5:18Don't be drunken with wine, in which
is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
5:19speaking to one
another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual
songs; singing, and singing praises in your
heart to the Lord; 5:20giving thanks always
concerning all things in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father;
5:21subjecting yourselves one to another
in the fear of Christ.
5:22Wives, be subject to your own husbands,
as to the Lord. 5:23For the husband is the head of the wife,
and Christ also is the head of the assembly,
being himself the savior of the body. 5:24But as the assembly is subject to Christ,
so let the wives also be to their own husbands
in everything.
5:25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ
also loved the assembly, and gave himself
up for it; 5:26that he might sanctify it, having cleansed
it by the washing of water with the word,
5:27that he might present
the assembly to himself gloriously, not
having spot or wrinkle or any such thing;
but that it should be holy and without blemish.
5:28Even so ought husbands also to love their
own wives as their own bodies. He who loves
his own wife loves himself. 5:29For no man ever hated his own flesh;
but nourishes and cherishes it, even as
the Lord also does the assembly; 5:30because we are members of his body, of
his flesh and bones. 5:31"For this cause a man will leave
his father and mother, and will be joined
to his wife. The two will become one flesh."
5:32This mystery is great, but I speak concerning
Christ and of the assembly. 5:33Nevertheless each of you must also love
his own wife even as himself; and let the
wife see that she respects her husband.
6:1Children, obey your parents in the Lord,
for this is right. 6:2"Honor your father and mother,"
which is the first commandment with a promise:
6:3"that it may be well with you, and
you may live long on the earth."
6:4You fathers, don't provoke your children
to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline
and instruction of the Lord.
6:5Servants, be obedient to those who according
to the flesh are your masters, with fear
and trembling, in singleness of your heart,
as to Christ; 6:6not in the way of
service only when eyes are on you, as men-pleasers;
but as servants of Christ, doing the will
of God from the heart; 6:7with good will doing
service, as to the Lord, and not to men;
6:8knowing that whatever
good thing each one does, he will receive
the same again from the Lord, whether he
is bound or free.
6:9You masters, do the same things to them,
and give up threatening, knowing that he
who is both their Master and yours is in
heaven, and there is no partiality with
him.
6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in
the strength of his might. 6:11Put on the whole
armor of God, that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil. 6:12For our wrestling is not against flesh
and blood, but against the principalities,
against the powers, against the world's
rulers of the darkness of this age, and
against the spiritual hosts of wickedness
in the heavenly places. 6:13Therefore, put on the whole armor of
God, that you may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.
6:14Stand therefore, having the utility belt
of truth buckled around your waist, and
having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
6:15and having fitted your feet with the
preparation of the Gospel of peace; 6:16above all, taking
up the shield of faith, with which you will
be able to quench all the fiery darts of
the evil one. 6:17And take the helmet
of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God; 6:18with all prayer and requests, praying
at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful
to this end in all perseverance and requests
for all the saints: 6:19on my behalf, that
utterance may be given to me in opening
my mouth, to make known with boldness the
mystery of the Gospel, 6:20for which I am
an ambassador in chains; that in it I may
speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
6:21But that you also may know my affairs,
how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother
and faithful servant in the Lord, will make
known to you all things; 6:22whom I have sent to you for this very
purpose, that you may know our state, and
that he may comfort your hearts.
6:23Peace be to the brothers, and love with
faith, from God the Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. 6:24Grace be with all those who love our
Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.
Amen.
Notes:
[1] back
to 1:18 TR reads "understanding"
instead of "hearts"
[2] back
to 3:9 TR reads "fellowship"
instead of "administration"
[3] back
to 4:11 The word for "shepherds"
(poimenas) can also be correctly translated
"pastors."
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