Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), by the will of God [that is, by His purpose and choice],

To the saints (God’s people) who are at Ephesus and are faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus:

just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love

He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ,

so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory.

And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people),

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

above all the angelic Rulers, Authorities, Powers, and Lords, above every Name that is to be named not only in this age but in the age to come ??22 he has put everything under his feet and set him as head over everything for the church,

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household,

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

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

Therefore it says,

“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And He bestowed gifts on men.”

Be angry, and do not sin; let not the sun set upon your wrath,

and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.

And let there be no low behaviour, or foolish talk, or words said in sport, which are not right, but in place of them the giving of praise.

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

for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:

Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead,
and the Messiah will shine on you.

put on the set of divine armour, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

wherefore invest yourselves with the set of divine armour, that ye may be able to withstand in the difficult day, and having overcome all to maintain your ground.

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.