Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God. To the saints which are at Ephesus, and to them which believe on Jesus Christ.

Grace be with you and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which hath blessed us with all manner of spiritual blessings in heavenly things by Christ,

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.

And ordained us before unto himself that we should be chosen before, through Jesus Christ, to be heirs unto himself according to the pleasure of his will,

so that we would praise His glorious, unearned favor, which was freely given to us through the One whom God loved [i.e., Christ].

In [fellowship with] Christ we have redemption [i.e., we have been bought back from Satan] through His blood, and have forgiveness of sins according to the abundance of God's unearned favor,

He has made known to us the secret of His will, which is in accordance with His purpose which He planned in Christ,

the same in himself to have it declared when the time were full come: that all things, both the things which are in heaven, and also the things which are in earth, should be gathered together, even in Christ. That is to say, in him

In Christ we too have been claimed as God's own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will

that we should be unto the praise of his glory, which before believed in Christ.

And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) -- when you believed in Christ -- you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,

And therefore I, ever since I heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which prevails among you, and of your confidence in all Christ's People,

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the father of glory, might give unto you the spirit of wisdom, and open to you the knowledge of himself,

That your minds may be so enlightened that you may realize the hope given by God's Call, the wealth of the glory of his heritage among Christ's People,

which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and set him on his righthand in heavenly things,

God has put all things under Christ's feet, and placed him as Head over all in the church,

For the Church is Christ's Body, and is filled by him who fills all things everywhere with his presence.

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,

even when we were dead by sin, hath quickened us together in Christ - for by grace are ye saved -

and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly things through Christ Jesus.

For to show, in times to come, the exceeding riches of his grace, in kindness to us ward, in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, unto the which God ordained us before, that we should walk in them.

Remember, then, that once upon a time you Gentiles in the flesh, who are called 'the Uncircumcision' by that so-called 'Circumcision' which is itself the product of human hands in the flesh ??12 remember you were in those days outside Christ, aliens to the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the Promise, devoid of hope and God within the world.

remember, I say, that ye were at that time without Christ, and were reputed aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and were strangers from the testaments of promise, and had no hope, and were without God in this world.

But now in Christ Jesus, ye which a while ago were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

For Christ is [the source of] our peace. He made both [Jews and Gentiles] one people, and broke down the barrier wall of hostility that divided them,

[This was also intended] to reestablish harmony between both of these peoples and God in [this] one body, through [Christ's death on] the cross. By doing this He put to death the hostility [between them].

When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

It follows, then, that you are no longer strangers and aliens, but are fellow-citizens with Christ's People and members of God's Household.

and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets - Jesus Christ being the head cornerstone -

For this cause, I Paul the servant of Jesus Christ am in bonds for your sakes, which are heathen -

whereby, when ye read ye may know mine understanding in the mystery of Christ,

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--

That the gentiles should be inheritors also, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise that is in Christ, by the means of the gospel,

Unto me, the least of all saints, is this grace given; that I should preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

and to make all men see what the fellowship of the mystery is, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, which made all things through Jesus Christ,

according to that eternal purpose, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord,

in whom we have boldness and confident access to God because of Christ's faithfulness.

For this cause I bow my knees unto the father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

family in heaven and earth is named) That he would give you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, That Christ may dwell in your heart by faith:

that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

ye may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge,

and to know what is the love of Christ, which love passeth knowledge: that ye might be fulfilled with all manner of fullness which cometh of God.

be praise in the congregation by Jesus Christ, throughout all generations from time to time. Amen.

Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Therefore, it says [Psa. 68:18], "When He ascended on high [i.e., to heaven], He led a procession of captured prisoners [behind Him] [Note: This originally referred to God leading His people in triumph over Israel's enemies, but here is applied to Christ], and gave gifts to [various] people."

(But what does "He ascended" mean if not that He also [first] descended to the lower parts of the earth [i.e., to the earth below]? [Note: Of the three principal interpretations given to this verse: a) Christ descended to earth, b) Christ descended to the grave, c) Christ descended to Mary's womb. The first is to be preferred. See John 3:13; 6:38, 62].

The One who descended [i.e., from heaven to earth] is the same One [i.e., Christ] who also ascended high above the all the heavens, so that He could fill the entire universe [with His presence]).

that the saints might have all things necessary to work and minister withal, to the edifying of the body of Christ,

till we, everyone - in the unity of faith, and knowledge of the son of God - grow up unto a perfect man, after the measure of age which is of the fullness of Christ:

But let us follow the truth in love, and in all things grow in him which is the head, that is to say Christ,

But ye have not so learned Christ;

(for it is Christ whom you have been taught, it is in Christ that you have been instructed ??the real Christ who is in Jesus);

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [but seek to please Him], by whom you were sealed and marked [branded as God’s own] for the day of redemption [the final deliverance from the consequences of sin].

Be ye courteous one to another, and merciful, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake forgave you.

and walk in love even as Christ loved us, and gave himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet savour to God.

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 this ye know, that no whoremonger, either unclean person, or covetous person, which is the worshipper of images, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, and of God.

Wherefore he saith, "Awake thou that sleepest, and stand up from death, and Christ shall give thee light."

giving thanks always for all things unto God the father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ:

keep on living in subordination to one another out of reverence to Christ.

For the husband is the wife's head, even as Christ is the head of the congregation, and the same is the saviour of the body.

Therefore as the congregation is in subjection to Christ, likewise let the wives be in subjection to their husbands in all things.

Husbands: love your wives, even as Christ loved the congregation, and gave himself for it,

for no one ever hates his own physical person, but he feeds and fosters it, just as Christ does the church;

There is a deep mystery here?? am speaking of Christ and his church.

Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with reverence and humility, in singleness of heart as if to Christ himself;

not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as the slaves of Christ, doing the will of God;

Pray in spirit at all times. Be intent upon this, with unwearying perseverance and supplication for all Christ's People- -

Peace to the brothers and love, with faith from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

May grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with sincerity.