Even as he made selection of us in him from the first, so that we might be holy and free from all evil before him in love:

As we were designed before by him for the position of sons to himself, through Jesus Christ, in the good pleasure of his purpose,

And how unlimited is his power to us who have faith, as is seen in the working of the strength of his power,

Among whom we all at one time were living in the pleasures of our flesh, giving way to the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and the punishment of God was waiting for us even as for the rest.

For this reason keep it in mind that in the past you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are looked on as being outside the circumcision by those who have circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;

That you were at that time without Christ, being cut off from any part in Israel's rights as a nation, having no part in God's agreement, having no hope, and without God in the world.

So then you are no longer as those who have no part or place in the kingdom of God, but you are numbered among the saints, and of the family of God,

In whom you, with the rest, are united together as a living-place of God in the Spirit.

How by revelation the secret was made clear to me, as I said before in a short letter,

And to have knowledge of the love of Christ which is outside all knowledge, so that you may be made complete as God himself is complete.

There is one body and one Spirit, even as you have been marked out by God in the one hope of his purpose for you;

And he gave some as Apostles, and some, prophets; and some, preachers of the good news; and some to give care and teaching;

For the training of the saints as servants in the church, for the building up of the body of Christ:

If in fact you gave ear to him, and were given teaching in him, even as what is true is made clear in Jesus:

And be kind to one another, full of pity, having forgiveness for one another, even as God in Christ had forgiveness for you.

Let it then be your desire to be like God, as well-loved children;

And be living in love, even as Christ had love for you, and gave himself up for us, an offering to God for a perfume of a sweet smell.

But evil acts of the flesh and all unclean things, or desire for others' property, let it not even be named among you, as is right for saints;

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

Wives, be under the authority of your husbands, as of the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body.

And as the church is under Christ's authority, so let wives be under the rule of their husbands in all things.

Husbands, have love for your wives, even as Christ had love for the church, and gave himself for it;

Even so it is right for husbands to have love for their wives as for their bodies. He who has love for his wife has love for himself:

For no man ever had hate for his flesh; but he gives it food and takes care of it, even as Christ does for the church;

But do you, everyone, have love for his wife, even as for himself; and let the wife see that she has respect for her husband.

Servants, do what is ordered by those who are your natural masters, having respect and fear for them, with all your heart, as to Christ;

Not only under your master's eye, as pleasers of men; but as servants of Christ, doing the pleasure of God from the heart;

Doing your work readily, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Be ready with the good news of peace as shoes on your feet;

And most of all, using faith as a cover to keep off all the flaming arrows of the Evil One.