But God, being rich in mercy, because of the intense love which He bestowed on us,

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were so far away have been brought near through the death of Christ.

There is but one body and but one Spirit, as also when you were called you had one and the same hope held out to you.

There is but one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

(Now this "re-ascended" --what does it mean but that He had first descended into the lower regions of the earth?

But we shall lovingly hold to the truth, and shall in all respects grow up into union with Him who is our Head, even Christ.

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

He who has been a thief must steal no more, but, instead of that, should work with his own hands in honest industry, so that he may have something of which he can give the needy a share.

Let no unwholesome words ever pass your lips, but let all your words be good for benefiting others according to the need of the moment, so that they may be a means of blessing to the hearers.

But fornication and every kind of impurity, or covetousness, let them not even be mentioned among you, for they ought not to be named among God's people.

There was a time when you were nothing but darkness. Now, as Christians, you are Light itself.

Have nothing to do with the barren unprofitable deeds of darkness, but, instead of that, set your faces against them;

But everything can be tested by the light and thus be shown in its true colors; for whatever shines of itself is light.

Therefore be very careful how you live and act. Let it not be as unwise men, but as wise.

On this account do not prove yourselves wanting in sense, but try to understand what the Lord's will is.

but drink deeply of God's Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and offer praise in your hearts to the Lord.

that He might present the Church to Himself a glorious bride, without spot or wrinkle or any other defect, but to be holy and unblemished.

And you, fathers, do not irritate your children, but bring them up tenderly with true Christian training and advice.

Let it not be in acts of eye-service as if you had but to please men, but as Christ's bondservants who are doing God's will from the heart.

For ours is not a conflict with mere flesh and blood, but with the despotisms, the empires, the forces that control and govern this dark world--the spiritual hosts of evil arrayed against us in the heavenly warfare.

But in order that you also may know how I am doing, Tychicus our dearly-loved brother and faithful helper in the Lord's service will tell you everything.