even as, in His love, He chose us as His own in Christ before the creation of the world, that we might be holy and without blemish in His presence.

For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which prevails among you, and of your love for all God's people,

which were once habitual to you while you walked in the ways of this world and obeyed the Prince of the powers of the air, the spirits that are now at work in the hearts of the sons of disobedience--to you God has given Life.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the intense love which He bestowed on us,

caused us, dead though we were through our offences, to live with Christ--it is by grace that you have been saved--

I pray that Christ may make His home in your hearts through your faith; so that having your roots deep and your foundations strong, in love, you may become mighty to grasp the idea,

yes, to attain to a knowledge of the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, so that you may be made complete in accordance with God's own standard of completeness.

I, then, the prisoner for the Master's sake, entreat you to live and act as becomes those who have received the call that you have received--

Dependent on Him, the whole body--its various parts closely fitting and firmly adhering to one another-- grows by the aid of every contributory link, with power proportioned to the need of each individual part, so as to build itself up in a spirit of love.

Therefore I warn you, and I implore you in the name of the Master, no longer to live as the Gentiles in their perverseness live,

with darkened understandings, having by reason of the ignorance which is deep-seated in them and the insensibility of their moral nature, no share in the Life which God gives.

to put away, in regard to your former mode of life, your original evil nature which is doomed to perish as befits its misleading impulses,

And live and act lovingly, as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up to death on our behalf as an offering and sacrifice to God, yielding a fragrant odor.

Live and act as sons of Light--for the effect of the Light is seen in every kind of goodness, uprightness and truth--

Therefore be very careful how you live and act. Let it not be as unwise men, but as wise.

Married men, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up to death for her;

So too married men ought to love their wives as much as they love themselves. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Yet I insist that among you also, each man is to love his own wife as much as he loves himself, and let a married woman see to it that she treats her husband with respect.

"so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth."

Peace be to the brethren, and love combined with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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