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].

In [fellowship with] Christ we have redemption [i.e., we have been bought back from Satan] through His blood, and have forgiveness of sins according to the abundance of God's unearned favor,

Which is the first-fruit of our heritage, till God gets back that which is his, to the praise of his glory.

By which he made Christ come back from the dead, and gave him a place at his right hand in heaven,

So that we came back from death with him, and are seated with him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus;

Therefore I beg you not to be disheartened at the sufferings that I am undergoing for your sakes; for they redound to your honor.

and beg him out of his wealth of glory to strengthen you mightily through his Spirit in your inner nature

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],

that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

[because you] know that each one of you, whatever good he should do, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.