May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be praised, for He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in [fellowship with] Christ. [Note: The term "heavenly realms" is used somewhat differently throughout this book. Here it refers to Christians as part of the church on earth].

according as He did choose us in him before the foundation of the world, for our being holy and unblemished before Him, in love,

having marked us out beforehand for adoption through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

for the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he has shown us favor in the Beloved,

For in him, and through the shedding of his blood, we have found redemption in the pardon of our offenses.

which he abounded for us in all wisdom and intelligence.

for he has discover'd to us the secret of his will, that out of his meer good pleasure, he had purposed in himself,

for the administration of the fulness of times; to head up all things in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth; in him,

In Him also we have received an inheritance [a destiny—we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will,

for our being to the praise of His glory, even those who did first hope in the Christ,

He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.

For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which ye show toward all the saints,

Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son].

the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, for your knowing what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church,

which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills and completes all things in all [believers].

For at one time you lived in sin, following the ways of the world, in subjection to the Ruler of the Powers of the air--the Spirit who is still at work among the disobedient.

Among whom we all at one time were living in the pleasures of our flesh, giving way to the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and the punishment of God was waiting for us even as for the rest.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment).

[and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption].

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

so that it may be impossible for any one to boast.

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

For this reason keep it in mind that in the past you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are looked on as being outside the circumcision by those who have circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;

Remember that you were at that time far from Christ; you were shut out from the citizenship of Israel; you were strangers to the Covenants founded on God's Promise; you were in the world without hope and without God.

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh:

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

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,

Having been built up on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, there being, for chief corner stone, Jesus Christ himself, -

In union with him the whole building is joined together and rises into a holy sanctuary for the Lord.

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was entrusted to me [to share with you] for your benefit;

For by revelation showed he this mystery unto me, as I wrote above in few words,

And, by reading what I have written, you will be able to judge how far I understand this hidden purpose of God in Christ.

For the nations to be co-heirs, and united in one body, and, participators of his solemn promise in Christ by the good news:

Of this [gospel] I was made a minister by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power.

to me, who am by far the least of all the saints, has this grace been given, that I might preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of the Christ,

and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things;

according to his purpose for ages, which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord;

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].

Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

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

from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name [God—the first and ultimate Father].

So that he would grant you, according to the wealth of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his Spirit for the inner man.

For Christ to dwell by faith in your hearts; in love being rendered firm, and the foundation laid,

and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].

But to him that is able to do far exceedingly above all which we ask or think, according to the power which works in us,

unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.

So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation],

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,

endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: for there is but one body and one Spirit,

There is one body and one Spirit, even as you have been marked out by God in the one hope of his purpose for you;

[There is] one Lord [i.e., Jesus], one faith [i.e., one body of teaching], one immersion [i.e., in water for the forgiveness of sins],

To each one of you, however, hath favour been given, according to the measure of the free-gift of the Christ;

For it says:

When He ascended on high,
He took prisoners into captivity;
He gave gifts to people.

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

And therefore He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; to qualify holy men for the work of the ministry,

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

we are to hold by the truth, and by our love to grow up wholly into Him. For He, Christ, is the head, and under him,

from whom the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to the working in its measure of each one part, works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love.

Now in the Lord I insist and protest that you must give up living like pagans; for their purposes are futile,

their intelligence is darkened, they are estranged from the life of God by the ignorance which their dulness of heart has produced in them ??19 men who have recklessly abandoned themselves to sensuality, with a lust for the business of impurity in every shape and form.

who, having ceased to feel, themselves did give up to the lasciviousness, for the working of all uncleanness in greediness;

For this was not the teaching of Christ which was given to you;

(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);

For you ought to put off the old man (according to your way of living before) who is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

neither give room for the devil.

Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which ye have been sealed for the day of redemption.

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or greediness, must not even be named among you (as is fitting for saints),

Nor shameful conduct, nor foolish talk or jesting, for they are wholly out of place among you; but rather thanksgiving.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

and have nothing to do with the unfruitful actions that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are.

For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

for everything made visible is light. Therefore it says, Wake up, sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

Buy up your opportunities, for these are evil times.

For this reason be not foolish, but understanding what is the will of the Lord.

Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

And might take it for himself, a church full of glory, not having one mark or fold or any such thing; but that it might be holy and complete.

Even so it is right for husbands to have love for their wives as for their bodies. He who has love for his wife has love for himself: