From the first he destined us, in his good-will towards us, to be adopted as Sons through Jesus Christ,

And you, too, by your union with him, after you had heard the Message of the Truth, the Good News of your Salvation--you believed in him and were sealed as his by receiving the holy Spirit, which he had promised.

And God placed 'all things under Christ's feet,' and gave him to the Church as its supreme Head;

Remember, therefore, that you were once Gentiles yourselves, as your bodies showed; you were called 'The Uncircumcised' by those who were called 'The Circumcised'--circumcised only by the hand of man!

And also that it was by direct revelation that the hidden purpose of God was made known to me, as I have already briefly told you.

In former generations it was not made known to mankind, as fully as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to the Apostles and Prophets among Christ's People--

To him who, through his power which is at work within us, is able to do far more than anything that we can ask or conceive--

There is but one Body and one Spirit, just as there was but one hope set before you when you received your Call.

He who went down is the same as he who went up--up beyond the highest Heaven, that he might fill all things with his presence.

This, then, as one in union with the Lord, I say to you and urge upon you: Do not continue to live such purposeless lives as the Gentiles live,

And through union with him were taught the Truth, as it is to be found in Jesus.

Never let any foul word pass your lips, but only such good words as the occasion demands, that they may be a help to those who hear them.

And do not grieve God's Holy Spirit; for it was through that Spirit that God sealed you as his, against the Day of Redemption.

Let all bitterness, passion, anger, brawling, and abusive language be banished from among you, as well as all malice.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, ready to forgive one another, just as God, in Christ, forgave you.

Therefore imitate God, as his dear children,

And live a life of love, following the example of the Christ, who loved you and gave himself for you as 'an offering and a sacrifice to God, that should be fragrant and acceptable.'

As for unchastity and every kind of impurity, or greed, do not let them even be mentioned among you, as befits Christ's People,

For, although you were once in Darkness, now, by your union with the Lord, you are in the Light. Live as 'Children of Light'- -

For everything that has its true character made manifest is clear as light. And that is why it is said--'Sleeper, awake! Arise from the dead, and the Christ shall give thee light!'

Wives should submit to their husbands as submitting to the Lord.

For a man is the Head of his wife, as the Christ is the Head of the Church--being indeed himself the Savior of his Body.

But as the Church submits to the Christ, so also should wives submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as the Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for her,

That is how husbands ought to love their wives--as if they were their own bodies. A man who loves his wife is really loving himself;

For no one ever yet hated his own body. But every one feeds his body and cares for it, just as the Christ for the Church;

However, for you individually, let each love his wife as if she were himself; and the wife be careful to respect her husband.

Children, obey your parents, as children of the Lord; for that is but right.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters, with anxious care, giving them ungrudging service, as if obeying the Christ;

Not only when their eyes are on you, as if you had merely to please men, but as slaves of Christ, who are trying to carry out the will of God.

Give your service heartily and cheerfully, as working for the Master and not for men;

And with the readiness to serve the Good News of Peace as shoes for your feet.

On behalf of which I am an Ambassador--in chains! Pray that, in telling it, I may speak fearlessly as I ought.

To enable you, as well as others, to know all that concerns me and what I am doing, Tychicus, our dear Brother and faithful helper in the Master's Cause, will tell you everything.