Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints that are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:

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.

And ordained us before unto himself that we should be chosen before, through Jesus Christ, to be heirs unto himself according to the pleasure of his will,

so that we might praise the splendid favor which He has shown us in His beloved Son.

By whom we have redemption through his blood, that is to say, even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace,

that he lavished on us, along with all wisdom and understanding,

having made known to us the secret of His will, according to His good pleasure, that He purposed in Himself,

the same in himself to have it declared when the time were full come: that all things, both the things which are in heaven, and also the things which are in earth, should be gathered together, even in Christ. That is to say, in him

In the Messiah we were also chosen when we were predestined according to the purpose of the one who does everything that he wills to do,

that we should be unto the praise of his glory, which before believed in Christ.

In whom also ye - after that ye heard the word of truth, I mean the gospel of your salvation wherein ye believed - were sealed with the holy spirit of promise,

which is the earnest of our inheritance, to redeem the possession purchased, and that unto the laud of his glory.

Wherefore even I - after that I heard of the faith which ye have in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints -

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the father of glory, might give unto you the spirit of wisdom, and open to you the knowledge of himself,

and lighten the eyes of your minds, that ye might know what thing that hope is, whereunto he hath called you, and what the riches of his glorious inheritance is upon the saints,

and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us ward, which believe according to the working of that his mighty power,

above all rule, power, and might, and domination, and above all names that are named, not in this world only, but also in the world to come.

which is his body, and fullness of him, that filleth all in all things.

And you hath he quickened also, that were dead in trespass and sin:

in the which, in time past, ye walked, according to the course of this world, and after the governor that ruleth in the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of unbelief,

And it was among them that we all once lived our lives, indulging the cravings of our earthly nature, and carrying out the desires prompted by that earthly nature and by our own thoughts. Our very nature exposed us to the Divine Wrath, like the rest of mankind.

But God is so rich in mercy that because of the great love he had for us,

has made us, though dead because of our shortcomings, live again in fellowship with Christ -- it is by His unmerited favor that you have been saved.

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

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

For by grace are ye made safe through faith, and that, not of yourselves: For it is the gift of God,

It is not the result of what anyone can do, so that no one can boast of it.

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

Wherefore, remember that ye, being in time past gentiles in the flesh, and were called "uncircumcision" to them which are called "circumcision" in the flesh - which circumcision is made by hands -

remember, I say, that ye were at that time without Christ, and were reputed aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and were strangers from the testaments of promise, and had no hope, and were without God in this world.

But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, which hath made of both one, and hath broken down the wall in the midst, that was a stop between us,

and hath also put away, through his flesh, the cause of hatred - that is to say, the law of commandments contained in the law written - for to make of twain one new man in himself, so making peace.

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

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

for it is by Him through one Spirit that both of us now have an introduction to the Father.

That is why you are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household,

you are a building that rests on the apostles and prophets as its foundation, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone;

This is why I, Paul, whom Jesus the Christ has made a prisoner for the sake of you heathen??2 if at least you have heard how I dealt with the mercy of God that was given me for you,

that is, if you have heard how God's favor has been entrusted to me for you,

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

so that you may be able when you read to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ

which in previous generations was not made known to human beings as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This is that secret:

That the gentiles should be inheritors also, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise that is in Christ, by the means of the gospel,

of which I became a ministrant, according to the gift of the grace of God that was given to me, according to the working of His power;

Unto me, the least of all saints, is this grace given; that I should preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

and to cause all to see what is the fellowship of the secret that hath been hid from the ages in God, who the all things did create by Jesus Christ,

to the intent that now, unto the rulers and powers in heaven, might be known by the congregation the manifold wisdom of God,

according to that eternal purpose, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord,

by whom we are bold to draw nigh in that trust, which we have by faith on him.

Wherefore, I desire that ye faint not because of my tribulations which I suffer for your sakes: which is your praise.

This is the reason that I bow my knees [in prayer] to the Father,

which is father over all that is called father in heaven and in earth, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory,

that ye may be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man,

that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

might be able to comprehend with all saints, what is that breadth and length, depth and height:

and to know what is the love of Christ, which love passeth knowledge: that ye might be fulfilled with all manner of fullness which cometh of God.

Unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

I therefore which am in bonds for the Lord's sake, exhort you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

and that ye be diligent to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace,

There is but one body and one Spirit, just as there is but one hope that belongs to the summons you received.

That is why God says, "When he went up to the highest place, he led captives into captivity and gave gifts to people."

That he ascended: what meaneth it, but that he also descended first into the lowest parts of the earth?

He that descended, is even the same also that ascended up, even above all heavens, to fulfill all things.

It is he then that made some, apostles: some, prophets: some, evangelists: and others, pastors, and teachers:

that the saints might have all things necessary to work and minister withal, to the edifying of the body of Christ,

until we all attain unity in faith, and in the knowledge of the Son of God, and reach mature manhood, and that full measure of development found in Christ.

That we henceforth be no more children, wavering and carried with every wind of doctrine, by the wiliness of men and craftiness, whereby they lay a wait for us to deceive us.

But let us follow the truth in love, and in all things grow in him which is the head, that is to say Christ,

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other gentiles walk; in vanity of their mind,

blinded in their understanding, being strangers from the life which is in God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts.

who, being past feeling, have given themselves up to licentiousness, that they may work all manner of uncleanness with greediness.

However, that is not the way you came to know the Messiah.

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

so then, as concerning the conversation in time past, lay from you that old man, which is corrupt through the deceivable lusts,

and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

and put on that new man, which after the image of God is shapen in righteousness, and true holiness.

Let him that stole, steal no more; but let him rather labour with his hands some good thing, that he may have to give unto him that needeth.

Let no filthy communication proceed out of your mouths: but that which is good to edify withal, when need is, that it may have favour with the hearers.

And do not grieve God's Holy Spirit; for it was through that Spirit that God sealed you as his, against the Day of Redemption.

And live a life of love, following the example of the Christ, who loved you and gave himself for you as 'an offering and a sacrifice to God, that should be fragrant and acceptable.'

So that fornication, and all uncleanness or covetousness, be not once named among you, as it becometh saints:

There must be no indecency or foolish or scurrilous talk??ll that is unbecoming. There should be thanksgiving instead.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, either unclean person, or covetous person, which is the worshipper of images, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, and of God.

Stop letting anyone deceive you with groundless arguments about these things, for it is because of these very sins that God's anger comes down upon the disobedient.

For you at one time were dark, but now are light in the Lord: let your behaviour be that of children of light

for the product of light consists in practicing everything that is good and right and true;

Accept that which is pleasing to the Lord,

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 relate the things that are done by them in secret.

but all things, when they are rebuked of the light, are manifest. For whatsoever is manifest, that same is light.

Wherefore he saith, "Awake thou that sleepest, and stand up from death, and Christ shall give thee light."

Take heed therefore that ye walk circumspectly - not as fools, but as wise -

Stop getting drunk on wine, for that means profligacy, but ever be filled with the Spirit,

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

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

to make it unto himself a glorious congregation without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy and without blame.

So ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife, loveth himself.

Therefore, a man must leave his father and mother and so perfectly unite himself to his wife that the two shall be one.