Salutation
1:1 From Paul,1 an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints [in Ephesus],2 the faithful3 in Christ Jesus. 1:2 Grace and peace to you4 from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
1:3 Blessed5 is6 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed7 us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. 1:4 For8 he lovingly9 chose us in Christ10 before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished11 in his sight.12 1:5 He did this by predestining13 us to adoption as his14 sons15 through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure16 of his will-- 1:6 to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son.17 1:7 In him18 we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 1:8 that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight. 1:9 He did this when he revealed19 to us the secret20 of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth21 in Christ,22 1:10 toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up23 all things in Christ--the things in heaven24 and the things on earth.25 1:11 In Christ26 we too have been claimed as God's own possession,27 since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will 1:12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope28 on Christ,29 may be to the praise of his glory. 1:13 And when30 you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)--when you believed in Christ31--you were marked with the seal32 of the promised Holy Spirit,33 1:14 who is the down payment34 of our inheritance, until the redemption of God's own possession35 to the praise of his glory.
Prayer for Wisdom and Revelation
1:15 For this reason,36 since I37 have heard38 of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 1:16 I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you39 in my prayers. 1:17 I pray that40 the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,41 may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation42 in your growing knowledge of him,43 1:18 --since the eyes of your44 heart have been enlightened45--so that you may know what is the hope of his calling,46 what is the wealth of his glorious47 inheritance in the saints, 1:19 and what is the incomparable48 greatness of his power toward49 us who believe, as displayed in50 the exercise of his immense strength.51 1:20 This power52 he exercised53 in Christ when he raised54 him from the dead and seated him55 at his right hand in the heavenly realms 1:21 far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 1:22 And God56 put57 all things under Christ's58 feet and he gave him to the church as head over all things.59 1:23 Now the church is60 his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.61
New Life Individually
2:1And although you were1 dead2 in your transgressions and sins, 2:2 in which3 you formerly lived4 according to this world's present path,5 according to the ruler of the kingdom6 of the air, the ruler of7 the spirit8 that is now energizing9 the sons of disobedience,10 2:3 among whom11 all of us12 also13 formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath14 even as the rest...15
2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 2:5 even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you are saved!16-- 2:6 and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 2:7 to demonstrate in the coming ages17 the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward18 us in Christ Jesus. 2:8 For by grace you are saved19 through faith,20 and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 2:9 it is not of works, so that no one can boast.21 2:10 For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.22
New Life Corporately
2:11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh--who are called "uncircumcision" by the so-called "circumcision" that is performed in the body23 by hands--2:12 that you were at that time without the Messiah,24 alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise,25 having no hope and without God in the world. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.26 2:14 For he is our peace, the one who turned both groups into one27 and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility, in his flesh, 2:15 when he nullified28 the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man out of two,29 thus making peace, 2:16 and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed.30 2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, 2:18 so that31 through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 2:19 So then you are no longer foreigners and non-citizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household, 2:20 because you have been built32 on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,33 with Christ Jesus himself as34 the cornerstone.35 2:21 In him36 the whole building,37 being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 2:22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Paul's Relationship to the Divine Mystery
3:1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- 3:2 If indeed1 you have heard of the stewardship2 of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3:3 that3 by revelation the divine secret4 was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly.5 3:4 When reading this,6 you will be able to7 understand my insight into this secret8 of Christ. 3:5 Now this secret9 was not disclosed to mankind10 in former11 generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by12 the Spirit, 3:6 namely, that through the gospel13 the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members14 of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel15 according to the gift of God's grace that was given to me by16 the exercise of his power.17 3:8 To me--less than the least of all the saints18--this grace was given,19 to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ 3:9 and to enlighten20 everyone about the divine secret's plan21--a secret that has been hidden for ages22 in the God who has created all things. 3:10 The purpose of this enlightenment is that23 through the church the multifaceted wisdom24 of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. 3:11 This was according to25 the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 3:12 in whom we have boldness and confident access26 to God27 because of28 Christ's29 faithfulness.30 3:13 For this reason I ask you31 not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you,32 which33 is your glory.34
Prayer for Strengthened Love
3:14 For this reason35 I bow my knees before the Father, 3:15 from36 whom every family37 in heaven and on the earth is named. 3:16 I pray that38 according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner man, 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, by being rooted and grounded in love, 3:18 you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,39 3:19 and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to40 all the fullness of God.
3:20 Now to him who by the power that is working within us41 is able to do far beyond42 all that we ask or think, 3:21 to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Live in Unity
4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord,1 urge you to live2 worthily of the calling with which you have been called,3 4:2 with all humility and gentleness,4 with patience, bearing with5 one another in love, 4:3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 4:8 Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he took6 captives, he gave gifts to men."7 (4:9 Now what is the meaning of "he ascended," except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth?8 4:10 He, the very one9 who descended, is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.) 4:11 It was he10 who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,11 4:12 to equip12 the saints for the work of ministry, that is,13 to build up the body of Christ, 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God--a mature person, attaining to14 the measure of Christ's full stature.15 4:14 So16 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.17 4:15 But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head. 4:16 From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together18 through every supporting ligament.19 As each one does its part, the body grows in love.
Live in Holiness
4:17 So I say this, and insist20 in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility21 of their thinking.22 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding,23 being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. 4:19 Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.24 4:20 But you did not learn about Christ like this, 4:21 if indeed you heard about him and were taught in him just as the truth is in Jesus. 4:22 You were taught with reference to your former life to lay aside25 the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 4:24 and to put on the new man who has been created in God's image26--in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.27
4:25 Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor,28 for we are members of one another. 4:26 Be angry and do not sin;29 do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger.30 4:27 Do not give the devil an opportunity. 4:28 The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may share with the one who has need. 4:29 You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need,31 that it may give grace to those who hear. 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 4:31 You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk. 4:32 But instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.32
Live in Love
5:1Therefore, be1 imitators of God as dearly loved children 5:2 and live2 in love, just as Christ also loved us3 and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering4 to God. 5:3 But5 among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind,6 or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.7 5:4 Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting--all of which are out of character--but rather thanksgiving. 5:5 For you can be confident of this one thing:8 that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Live in the Light
5:6 Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God's wrath comes on the sons of disobedience.9 5:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them,10 5:8 for you were at one time darkness, but now you are11 light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light-- 5:9 for the fruit of the light12 consists in13 all goodness, righteousness, and truth-- 5:10 trying to learn14 what is pleasing to the Lord. 5:11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather15 expose them.16 5:12 For the things they do17 in secret are shameful even to mention. 5:13 But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. 5:14 For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:18
Live Wisely
5:15 Therefore be very careful how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 5:16 taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 5:17 For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise22 by understanding23 what the will of the Lord is. 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, which24 is debauchery,25 but be filled by the Spirit,26 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music27 in28 your hearts to the Lord, 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for each other29 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:21 and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.30
Exhortations to Households
5:2231 Wives, submit32 to your husbands as to the Lord, 5:23 because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church--he himself being the savior of the body. 5:24 But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 5:25 Husbands, love your33 wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her 5:26 to sanctify her by cleansing her34 with the washing of the water by the word, 5:27 so that he35 may present the church to himself as glorious--not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.36 5:28 In the same way37 husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 5:29 For no one has ever hated his own body38 but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, 5:30 for we are members of his body.39 5:31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become40 one flesh.41 5:32 This mystery is great--but I am actually42 speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 5:33 Nevertheless,43 each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself,44 and the wife must45 respect46 her husband.
6:1Children,1 obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. 6:2 "Honor your father and mother"2 which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely, 6:3 "that it may go3 well with you and that you will live4 on the earth for a long time."5
6:4 Fathers,6 do not provoke your children to anger, but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
6:5 Slaves,7 obey your human masters8 with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ, 6:6 not like those who do their work only when someone is watching9--as people-pleasers--but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.10 6:7 Obey11 with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord12 and not people 6:8 because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this13 will be rewarded by the Lord.
6:9 Masters,14 treat your slaves15 the same way,16 giving up the use of threats,17 because you know that both you and they have the same master in heaven,18 and there is no favoritism with him.
Exhortations for Spiritual Warfare
6:10 Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 6:11 Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes19 of the devil. 6:12 For our struggle20 is not against flesh and blood,21 but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness,22 against the spiritual forces23 of evil in the heavens.24 6:13 For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground25 on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. 6:14 Stand firm therefore, by fastening26 the belt of truth around your waist,27 by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, 6:15 by fitting your28 feet with the preparation that comes from the good news29 of peace,30 6:16 and in all of this,31 by taking up the shield32 of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation33 and the sword34 of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 6:18 With every prayer and petition, pray35 at all times in the Spirit, and to this end36 be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints. 6:19 Pray37 for me, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak--that I may confidently make known38 the mystery of the gospel, 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.
Farewell Comments
6:21 Tychicus, my39 dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you too may know about my circumstances,40 how I am doing. 6:22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances41 and that he may encourage your hearts.
6:23 Peace to the brothers and sisters,42 and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 6:24 Grace be43 with all of those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.44