Paul's Letter to the Ephesians
__________________________________________________________________
Chapter 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:
^2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
^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;
^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;
^5having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ
to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,
^6to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely bestowed
favor on us in the Beloved,
^7in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
^8which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
^9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good
pleasure which he purposed in him
^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;
^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;
^12to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had
before hoped in Christ:
^13in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News
of your salvation,"in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with
the Holy Spirit of promise,
^14who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God's own
possession, to the praise of his glory.
^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,
^16don't cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my
prayers,
^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;
^18having the eyes of your hearts [294] 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,
^19and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who
believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
^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,
^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.
^22He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be
head over all things for the assembly,
^23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
__________________________________________________________________
[294] TR reads "understanding" instead of "hearts"
__________________________________________________________________
Chapter 2
^1You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,
^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;
^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.
^4But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved
us,
^5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together
with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
^6and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the
heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
^7that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his
grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;
^8for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God,
^9not of works, that no one would boast.
^10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
^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);
^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.
^13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in
the blood of Christ.
^14For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle
wall of partition,
^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;
^16and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross,
having killed the hostility thereby.
^17He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who
were near.
^18For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
^19So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are
fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
^20being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ
Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
^21in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy
temple in the Lord;
^22in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the
Spirit.
__________________________________________________________________
Chapter 3
^1For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of
you Gentiles,
^2if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace
of God which was given me toward you;
^3how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote
before in few words,
^4by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the
mystery of Christ;
^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;
^6that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body,
and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good
News,
^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.
^8To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach
to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
^9and to make all men see what is the administration [295] of the
mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things
through Jesus Christ;
^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,
^11according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus
our Lord;
^12in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith
in him.
^13Therefore I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you,
which are your glory.
^14For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ,
^15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
^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;
^17that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that
you, being rooted and grounded in love,
^18may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the
breadth and length and height and depth,
^19and to know Christ's love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be
filled with all the fullness of God.
^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,
^21to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all
generations forever and ever. Amen.
__________________________________________________________________
[295] TR reads "fellowship" instead of "administration"
__________________________________________________________________
Chapter 4
^1I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of
the calling with which you were called,
^2with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one
another in love;
^3being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
^4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in
one hope of your calling;
^5one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
^6one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in
us all.
^7But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of
the gift of Christ.
^8Therefore he says, "When he ascended on high, he led captivity
captive, and gave gifts to men."
^9Now this, "He ascended," what is it but that he also first descended
into the lower parts of the earth?
^10He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the
heavens, that he might fill all things.
^11He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, shepherds [296] and teachers;
^12for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the
building up of the body of Christ;
^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;
^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;
^15but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him,
who is the head, Christ;
^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.
^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,
^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;
^19who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work all
uncleanness with greediness.
^20But you did not learn Christ that way;
^21if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in
Jesus:
^22that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old
man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit;
^23and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
^24and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created
in righteousness and holiness of truth.
^25Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his
neighbor. For we are members one of another.
^26"Be angry, and don't sin." Don't let the sun go down on your wrath,
^27neither give place to the devil.
^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.
^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.
^30Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the
day of redemption.
^31Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away
from you, with all malice.
^32And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other,
just as God also in Christ forgave you.
__________________________________________________________________
[296] The word for "shepherds" (poimenas) can also be correctly
translated "pastors."
__________________________________________________________________
Chapter 5
^1Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.
^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.
^3But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it
not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;
^4nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not
appropriate; but rather giving of thanks.
^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.
^6Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things,
the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
^7Therefore don't be partakers with them.
^8For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as
children of light,
^9for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and
truth,
^10proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.
^11Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
even reprove them.
^12For the things which are done by them in secret, it is a shame even
to speak of.
^13But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light,
for everything that reveals is light.
^14Therefore he says, "Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
^15Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise;
^16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
^17Therefore don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord
is.
^18Don't be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled
with the Spirit,
^19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs;
singing, and singing praises in your heart to the Lord;
^20giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father;
^21subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.
^22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
^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.
^24But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be
to their own husbands in everything.
^25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly,
and gave himself up for it;
^26that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of
water with the word,
^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.
^28Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own
bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.
^29For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it,
even as the Lord also does the assembly;
^30because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.
^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."
^32This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the
assembly.
^33Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as
himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
__________________________________________________________________
Chapter 6
^1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
^2"Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with a
promise:
^3"that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth."
^4You fathers, don't provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them
in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
^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;
^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;
^7with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men;
^8knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the
same again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.
^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.
^10Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
^11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against
the wiles of the devil.
^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 forces of wickedness in
the heavenly places.
^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.
^14Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around
your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
^15and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of
peace;
^16above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be
able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.
^17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which
is the spoken word of God;
^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:
^19on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth,
to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,
^20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak
boldly, as I ought to speak.
^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;
^22whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our
state, and that he may comfort your hearts.
^23Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
^24Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with
incorruptible love. Amen.
__________________________________________________________________