to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has taken us into favour in the Beloved:

Having made clear to us the secret of his purpose, in agreement with the design which he had in mind, to put into his hands

in regard to the dispensation of the fulness of the times, to bring into one the whole in the Christ, both the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth -- in him;

who is the first installment of our inheritance, so that we may finally come into full possession of the prize of redemption, and praise His glory for it.

[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son].

For he is our peace, who has made the two into one, and by whom the middle wall of division has been broken down,

having annulled the enmity in his flesh, the law of commandments in ordinances, that he might form the two in himself into one new man, making peace;

And that the two might come into agreement with God in one body through the cross, so putting an end to that division.

in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord;

In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

By referring to this, when you read it you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

This is in accordance with [the terms of] the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

And pray that, in proportion to the wealth of his glory, he will strengthen you with his power by breathing his Spirit into your inmost soul,

For it says:

When He ascended on high,
He took prisoners into captivity;
He gave gifts to people.

(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God - by reason of the ignorance that existeth within them, by reason of their hearts being turned into stone,

And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin].

For the things which are done by them in secret it is shame even to put into words.

still, whatever the light exposes becomes illuminated ??for anything that is illuminated turns into light.

So that he might himself bring the Church, in all her beauty, into his own presence, with no spot or wrinkle or blemish of any kind, but that she might be holy and faultless.