above every principality and authority and power and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this life but also in that to come,

but God who is rich in mercy, on account of his great love with which he loved us,??5 even when we were dead in sins he made us alive with Christ,??y grace are you saved,

but now, in Christ Jesus you who were formerly far off have been made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow-citizens of the saints and of the family of God,

But this, that he ascended, what is it but that he first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

but speaking the truth with love we may grow to him in all things, who is the head, Christ;

But you have not so learned Christ,

Let him that has stolen steal no more, but rather let him labor, doing that which is good with his hands, that he may have to give to him that needs.

Let no evil word proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good for useful edification, that it may afford benefit to those that hear.

But be kind one to another, merciful, giving one to another, as God also in Christ gave to you.

nor indecorum and foolish talking, or jesting, things not becoming, but rather giving of thanks.

For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,??9 for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,??10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord,

and be not partakers of the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

but all things proved to be wrong are made manifest by the light; for every thing which makes manifest is light.

See then that you walk discreetly, not as unwise but as wise,

Be not foolish therefore, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

And be not drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the spirit,

But as the church is subject to Christ, so also let wives be subject to husbands in every thing.

that he might present the church to himself glorious, not having a spot or wrinkle or any thing of the kind, but that it should be holy and blameless.

for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ also the church;

This is a great mystery; but I speak of Christ and the church.

But do you also, individually, each one so love his wife as himself, and the wife [see] that she reverences the husband.

And, fathers, provoke not your children, but bring them up in the instruction and admonition of the Lord.

not with eye service as pleasing men, but as servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart,

for our conflict is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the potentates of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual [hosts] of evil in the heavenly [worlds].

But that you may also know the things concerning me, how I do, Tichycus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will inform you of all things;