Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians
11 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus
through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in
Christ Jesus: 12 Grace to you and peace from God
our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
13 Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in
the heavenly places in Christ, 14 even as he chose us in him
before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect
before him in love, 15 having predestined us for
adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good
pleasure of his desire, 16 to the praise of the glory of
his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved, 17 in
whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our
trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 18 which
he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 19 making
known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he
purposed in him 110 to 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. 111 We
were also assigned an inheritance in him, having been foreordained according to
the purpose of him who does all things after the counsel of his will, 112 to
the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped
in Christ. 113 In him 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 promised Holy Spirit, 114 who
is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to
the praise of his glory.
115 For 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, 116 don’t cease to give thanks for
you, making mention of you in my prayers, 117 that
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, 118 having
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,
119 and
what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according
to that working of the strength of his might 120 which
he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at
his right hand in the heavenly places, 121 far
above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is named, not
only in this age, but also in that which is to come. 122 He
put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all
things for the assembly, 123 which is his body, the fullness
of him who fills all in all. 1
21 You were made alive when you were
dead in transgressions and sins, 22 in which you once walked
according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of
the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. 23 We
also all once lived among them in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of
the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the
rest. 24 But God, being rich in mercy,
for his great love with which he loved us, 25 even
when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by
grace you have been saved— 26 and raised us up with him, and
made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 27 that
in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness
toward us in Christ Jesus; 28 for by grace you have been
saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 29 not
of works, that no one would boast. 210 For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would
walk in them.
211 Therefore 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), 212 that
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. 213 But now in Christ Jesus you who
once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. 214 For
he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of
separation, 215 having abolished in his flesh
the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might
create in himself one new man of the two, making peace, 216 and
might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed
the hostility through it. 217 He came and preached peace to
you who were far off and to those who were near. 218 For
through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 219 So
then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens
with the saints and of the household of God, 220 being
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself
being the chief cornerstone; 221 in whom the whole building,
fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 222 in
whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. 2
31 For this cause I, Paul, am the
prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles, 32 if
it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which
was given me toward you, 33 how that by revelation the
mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words, 34 by
which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of
Christ, 35 which 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, 36 that
the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow
partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News, 37 of
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. 38 To
me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 39 and
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, 310 to
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, 311 according
to the eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 312 In
him we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him. 313 Therefore
I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you, which are your glory.
314 For this cause, I bow my knees
to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 315 from
whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 316 that
he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be
strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, 317 that
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, to the end that you, being
rooted and grounded in love, 318 may be strengthened to
comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and
depth, 319 and to know Christ’s love which
surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
320 Now to him who is able to do
exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power
that works in us, 321 to him be the glory in the
assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. 3
41 I
therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling
with which you were called, 42 with all lowliness and
humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 43 being
eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 44 There
is one body and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your
calling, 45 one Lord, one faith, one
baptism, 46 one God and Father of all, who
is over all and through all, and in us all. 47 But
to each one of us, the grace was given according to the measure of the gift of
Christ. 48 Therefore he says,
“When he ascended on high,
he led captivity captive,
and gave gifts to people.”
Now this, “He ascended”, what is it
but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the one who also
ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
411 He gave some to be apostles;
and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; 412 for
the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the
body of Christ, 413 until 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, 414 that
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; 415 but speaking truth in love, we
may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ, 416 from
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.
417 This 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, 418 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 hearts. 419 They,
having become callous, gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with
greediness. 420 But you didn’t learn Christ
that way, 421 if indeed you heard him, and
were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: 422 that
you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows
corrupt after the lusts of deceit, 423 and that you be renewed in the
spirit of your mind, 424 and put on the new man, who in
the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.
425 Therefore putting away
falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one
another. 426 “Be angry, and don’t sin.”
Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, 427 and
don’t give place to the devil. 428 Let him who stole steal no
more; but rather let him labor, producing with his hands something that is
good, that he may have something to give to him who has need. 429 Let
no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building
others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear. 430 Don’t
grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption. 431 Let all bitterness, wrath,
anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice. 432 And
be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also
in Christ forgave you. 4
51 Be therefore imitators of God,
as beloved children. 52 Walk in love, even as Christ
also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God
for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
53 But sexual immorality, and all
uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes
saints; 54 nor filthiness, nor foolish
talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks.
55 Know 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.
56 Let no one deceive you with
empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the
children of disobedience. 57 Therefore don’t be partakers
with them. 58 For you were once darkness, but
are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 59 for
the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, 510 proving
what is well pleasing to the Lord. 511 Have no fellowship with the
unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them. 512 For
it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 513 But
all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything
that reveals is light. 514 Therefore he says, “Awake, you
who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
515 Therefore watch carefully how
you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, 516 redeeming
the time, because the days are evil. 517 Therefore
don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 518 Don’t
be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 519 speaking
to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody
in your heart to the Lord; 520 giving thanks always concerning
all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father; 521 subjecting
yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.
522 Wives, be subject to your own
husbands, as to the Lord. 523 For the husband is the head of
the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior
of the body. 524 But as the assembly is subject
to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.
525 Husbands, love your wives, even
as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; 526 that
he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,
527 that
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 defect. 528 Even
so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who
loves his own wife loves himself. 529 For no man ever hated his own
flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly;
530 because
we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. 531 “For
this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his
wife. The two will become one flesh.” 532 This
mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly. 533 Nevertheless
each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see
that she respects her husband. 5
61 Children, obey your parents in
the Lord, for this is right. 62 “Honor your father and mother,”
which is the first commandment with a promise: 63 “that
it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”
64 You fathers, don’t provoke your
children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the
Lord.
65 Servants, be obedient to those
who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in
singleness of your heart, as to Christ, 66 not
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, 67 with
good will doing service as to the Lord, and not to men, 68 knowing
that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same good again
from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.
69 You 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.
610 Finally, be strong in the Lord,
and in the strength of his might. 611 Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 612 For
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. 613 Therefore
put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand. 614 Stand therefore, having the
utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the
breastplate of righteousness, 615 and having fitted your feet
with the preparation of the Good News of peace, 616 above
all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all
the fiery darts of the evil one. 617 And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word[1]
of God; 618 with 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: 619 on
my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known
with boldness the mystery of the Good News, 620 for
which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought
to speak.
621 But 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. 622 I have sent him to you for this
very purpose, that you may know our state and that he may comfort your hearts.
623 Peace be to the brothers, and
love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 624 Grace
be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.