In whom you, having been given the true word, the good news of your salvation, and through your faith in him, were given the sign of the Holy Spirit of hope,

My prayer is that the God of Jesus Christ our Lord, the all- glorious Father, may inspire you with wisdom and true insight through a fuller knowledge of himself;

that at that time ye were without all knowledge of the Messiah, being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope, and living in the world without any true knowledge of God.

For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh,

in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him [that is, our faith gives us sufficient courage to freely and openly approach God through Christ].

Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,

and, being true in love, we may increase to Him in all things, who is the head -- the Christ;

if at least you have heard His voice and in Him have been taught--and this is true Christian teaching--

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

And so, putting away false words, let everyone say what is true to his neighbour: for we are parts one of another.

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

(Because the fruit of the light is in all righteousness and in everything which is good and true),

And have no company with the works of the dark, which give no fruit, but make their true quality clear;

But all things having their true character exposed by the light are made manifest; for that which makes everything manifest is 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!'

And you, fathers, do not irritate your children, but bring them up tenderly with true Christian training and advice.

not serving them as though they were watching you, but as true slaves of Christ, trying to carry out the will of God.

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.

Take your place, then, having your body clothed with the true word, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness;

Now, so that you also may know {my circumstances}, what I am doing, Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all [things],

Grace be with all those who have true love for our Lord Jesus Christ.