according as he hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and unblameable before Him in love:

to the praise of his glorious grace, whereby He hath made us acceptable in the Beloved:

wherein He hath abounded towards us with the highest wisdom and prudence;

having made known to us the secret of his will, according to his good pleasure, which He had before purposed in Himself:

that in the dispensation of the fulness of times, He might reduce all things, both in heaven and on earth, under one head in Christ:

and enlighten the eyes of your understanding; that ye may know, what is the hope of his calling, and how rich the glory of his inheritance in the saints;

which He exerted in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at his own right hand in heavenly places,

And you hath he made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins,

But God being rich in mercy, through his great love wherewith He loved us,

That in the ages to come He might shew the superabundant riches of his grace, in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus.

For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and removed the wall of partition from between us;

having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that He might form the two into one new man, in Himself, so making peace;

and that He might reconcile both in one body unto God, by the cross, having thereby slain the enmity:

and He came and preached peace to you that were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

that by immediate revelation He made known to me the mystery, (as I wrote before in brief, by which,

according to the ancient purpose, which He executed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

that He would grant you, according to his glorious riches, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit, as to the inner man;

Wherefore it is said, "When he ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men."

Now this expression "He ascended" what does it mean, but that He descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

He that descended is the same also that ascended 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,

Let him that stole steal no more; but rather let him labour, doing some good with his hands, that he may have something to bestow on him that hath need of it.

Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

that He might prepare it for Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy and unblameable.

Men ought so to love their wives, as their own bodies: he that loveth his wife, loveth himself.

knowing that whatever good any one doth, he shall receive the reward of it from the Lord, whether He be a slave or free.

for this very end, that ye might know our concerns, and that he may comfort your hearts.