according as he had chosen us in him through love, before the foundation of the world was laid, that we should be saints, and without blame before him, through love.

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

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,

to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:

And you, too, by your union with him, after you had heard the Message of the Truth, the Good News of your Salvation--you believed in him and were sealed as his by receiving the holy Spirit, which he had promised.

For this cause I, having had news of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and which you make clear to all the saints,

which he exerted in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at the head of his heavenly kingdom,

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 put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

who were dead in trespasses and sins, Wherein ye formerly walked, according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in time past,

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us,

For it is by grace you have been saved, as you had faith; it is not your doing but God's gift,

For we [Christians] are the product of God's workmanship, [re-] created in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus for [the purpose of] doing good deeds. God had previously determined that this should be our practice.

remember that at that time you were separated from Christ [excluded from any relationship with Him], alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise [with no share in the sacred Messianic promise and without knowledge of God’s agreements], having no hope [in His promise] and [living] in the world without God.

And when, upon the cross, he had destroyed their mutual enmity, he sought by means of his cross to reconcile them both to God, united in one Body.

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

Which, in other generations, had not been made known unto the sons of men, as it hath, now, been revealed by his holy apostles and prophets, in Spirit; -

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Such was the eternal purpose which He had formed in Christ Jesus our Lord,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

and height, and to know the love of Christ, which surpasseth knowledge; that ye may be filled according to the abundant fulness of God.

There is but one body and but one Spirit, as also when you were called you had one and the same hope held out to you.

Wherefore he says, Having ascended into height, he made captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.

(Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had previously descended [from the heights of heaven] into the lower parts of the earth?

until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Who no longer having had feeling delivered themselves to licentiousness, to the work of all uncleanness in overreaching.

Wherefore, having put away false-hood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor, because we are members one of another.

Let all bitterness, and heat of passion, and wrath, and clamour, and injurious language, be removed from you, with all malice;

And be kind to one another, full of pity, having forgiveness for one another, even as God in Christ had forgiveness for you.

And be living in love, even as Christ had love for you, and gave himself up for us, an offering to God for a perfume of a sweet smell.

Be taking heed, therefore, exactly how ye are walking, - not as unwise, but as wise, -

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, have love for your wives, even as Christ had love for the church, and gave himself for it;

for no one ever his own flesh did hate, but doth nourish and cherish it, as also the Lord -- the assembly,

"You must honor your father and mother"??hat is the first commandment accompanied with a promise??3 "so that you may prosper and have a long life on earth."

Let it not be in acts of eye-service as if you had but to please men, but as Christ's bondservants who are doing God's will from the heart.

And take salvation for your head-dress and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: