in which you passed your lives after the way of this world, under the sway of the Prince of the Powers of the Air, the spirit who is now working among the sons of disobedience.

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

In his own body he abolished the cause of our enmity, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, in order to make the two into one new man in himself, so making peace.

Take notice then that no longer are you strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household.

which was not disclosed to the sons of men in former generations, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets,

and should make all men see the new dispensation of that secret purpose, hidden from eternity in the God who founded the universe,

in order that now his manifold wisdom should, through the church, be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly sphere,

and may know the love of Christ which transcends all knowing, so that you may be filled with all the "plenitude" of God.

Now unto him who, according to his might that is at work within us, is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or even think,

Now surely this "he ascended" implies that he also descended into the lower part of the earth.

So we shall no longer be children, tossed up and down, and blown about by every wind of teaching, tricked by the craft of men in the snares of misleading error;

This then I tell you and implore you in the Master's name, to pass your lives no longer as the Gentiles do in the perverseness of their minds;

and to be made new in the spirit of your mind,

and to put on the new self, created after God's likeness, in the uprightness and holiness of the truth.

Give the devil no place.

Let him who stole steal no more, but let him work, and in honest industry toil with his hands, so that he may have something to give to the needy.

From your lips let no evil words come forth, but such as occasion warrants, such as are good for upbuilding and give a blessing to the hearers.

For be well assured that no one guilty of fornication or impurity or covetousness which is idolatry, has any heritage in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no man deceive you with empty arguments, for it is these vices that bring down the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience;

For you were once darkness, but are now in the Lord.

and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of the darkness, but rather expose them.

For this reason do not be thoughtless, but learn to know what the Lord's will is.

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it as Christ does the church;

because you know that whatever good any man does, the same shall he receive from the Lord, whether he be slave or free man.

And you masters, show the same spirit to your slaves, and stop threatening them; for you know that your masters and theirs is in heaven, and that there is no respect of persons with him.

But that you also may know my affairs and how I do, Tychicus, my beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may cheer your hearts.