Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Even before the creation of the world God chose us, who are in [fellowship with] Christ, to be dedicated [to Him] and to be without just blame in His sight. Out of love

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

in whom we are made heirs, and were thereto predestinate according to the purpose of him which worketh all things after the purpose of his own will:

You [Gentiles] also, who are in Christ, after having heard the message of truth, the good news about your salvation, and [after] believing in Him, were sealed [i.e., as evidence of ownership] with the promised Holy Spirit. [or, "the Holy Spirit who brings promises"].

who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance, until the redemption of those who are God's possessionto the praise of his glory.

(the eyes of your hearts having been enlightened), so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what [are] the riches of the glory of his inheritance among the saints,

and what the exceeding greatness of His power to us who are believing, according to the working of the power of His might,

far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come.

Which is his body, the full measure of him in whom all things are made complete.

which were once habitual to you while you walked in the ways of this world and obeyed the Prince of the powers of the air, the spirits that are now at work in the hearts of the sons of disobedience--to you God has given Life.

but God who is rich in mercy, on account of his great love with which he loved us,??5 even when we were dead in sins he made us alive with Christ,??y grace are you saved,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

So that we came back from death with him, and are seated with him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus;

that He might show, in the ages that are coming, the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus,

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

for we are his workmanship,

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

At that time you were living apart from Christ, estranged from the Commonwealth of Israel, with no share by birth in the Covenants which are based on the Promises, and you had no hope and no God, in all the world.

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

For it is through Him that we both have a [direct] way of approach in one Spirit to the Father.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

For this reason [because I preach that you and believing Jews are joint heirs] I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

in regard to which ye are able, reading it, to understand my knowledge in the secret of the Christ,

to wit , that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

by whom we are bold to draw nigh in that trust, which we have by faith on him.

Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.

For this reason [grasping the greatness of this plan by which Jews and Gentiles are joined together in Christ] I bow my knees [in reverence] before the Father [of our Lord Jesus Christ],

from whom the whole family in heaven and earth are denominated his children:

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

until all of us are united in the faith and in the full knowledge of God's Son, and until we attain mature adulthood and the full standard of development in the Messiah.

So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes.

But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow into him [with reference to] all [things], who is the head, Christ,

From Him all [members of] the body are properly joined together by every supporting ligament, as each part contributes to the growth of the body and builds itself up through [mutual] love.

This, then, I say, and I testify in the Lord; ye are no more to walk, as also the other nations walk, in the vanity of their mind,

for their [moral] understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded; [they are] alienated and self-banished from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the [willful] ignorance and spiritual blindness that is [deep-seated] within them, because of the hardness and insensitivity of their heart.

Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

But these are not the lessons which you have learned from Christ;

If so be ye have heard of him, and are taught in him, even as the truth is in Jesus:

ye are to put off concerning the former behaviour the old man, that is corrupt according to the desires of the deceit,

you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds;

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

"Be angry, yet do not sin." Do not let the sun set while you are still angry,

The man who stole must not steal any more; he must work with his hands at honest toil instead, so as to have something to share with those who are in need.

Let no bad word pass your lips, but only such speech as is good for edification, as occasion may require, words that are gracious and a means of grace to those who hear them.

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

For this ye are well informed of, knowing that no fornicator, or unclean person, or person of unbridled lust, who is an idolater, has inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and God.

Do not let anyone deceive you with empty words, for because of such things, the wrath of God will fall upon people who are disobedient [to Him].

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

and have nothing to do with the unfruitful actions that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are.

For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

For this reason he says, Be awake, you who are sleeping, and come up from among the dead, and Christ will be your light.

Take care then how you are living, not as unwise, but as wise;

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

but even as the assembly is subject to Christ, so also are the wives to their own husbands in everything.

You who are husbands must love your wives, just as Christ loves the church and gave himself for her,

so that He could dedicate her [to Himself], after cleansing her by means of the washing of water [i.e., immersion], accompanied by the word. [Note: "The word" here refers either to a person's profession of faith (See Rom. 10:9) or to the Gospel message (See Rom. 10:17), both of which are associated with immersion].

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

This is a great secret: but my words are about Christ and the church.

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

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;

And you masters, act towards your slaves on the same principles, and refrain from threats. For you know that in Heaven there is One who is your Master as well as theirs, and that merely earthly distinctions there are none with Him.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.

in everything taking up the shield of faith, with which you are able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one,

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are, and that he may comfort and encourage and strengthen your hearts.