Even as he made selection of us in him from the first, so that we might be holy and free from all evil before him in love:

The ordering of the times when they are complete, so that all things might come to a head in Christ, the things in heaven and the things on the earth; in him, I say,

So that his glory might have praise through us who first had hope in Christ:

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

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;

And that having the eyes of your heart full of light, you may have knowledge of what is the hope of his purpose, what is the wealth of the glory of his heritage in the saints,

Far over all rule and authority and power and every name which is named, not only in the present order, but in that which is to come:

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

That in the time to come he might make clear the full wealth of his grace in his mercy to us in Christ Jesus:

Because by grace you have salvation through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is given by God:

Not by works, so that no man may take glory to himself.

For by his act we were given existence in Christ Jesus to do those good works which God before made ready for us so that we might do them.

For this reason keep it in mind that in the past you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are looked on as being outside the circumcision by those who have circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;

That you were at that time without Christ, being cut off from any part in Israel's rights as a nation, having no part in God's agreement, having no hope, and without God in the world.

Having in his flesh put an end to that which made the division between us, even the law with its rules and orders, so that he might make in himself, of the two, one new man, so making peace;

And that the two might come into agreement with God in one body through the cross, so putting an end to that division.

If that ordering of the grace of God has come to your knowledge, which was given to me for you,

Which is that the Gentiles have a part in the heritage, and in the same body, and in the same hope in Christ through the good news,

Of which I was made a preacher, through that grace of God which was given to me in the measure of the working of his power.

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, was this grace given, so that I might make clear to the Gentiles the good news of the unending wealth of Christ:

So that now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavens might be made clear through the church the wide-shining wisdom of God,

For this reason it is my prayer that you may not become feeble because of my troubles for you, which are your glory.

That in the wealth of his glory he would make you strong with power through his Spirit in your hearts;

So that Christ may have his place in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and based in love,

And to have knowledge of the love of Christ which is outside all knowledge, so that you may be made complete as God himself is complete.

I then, the prisoner in the Lord, make this request from my heart, that you will see that your behaviour is a credit to the position which God's purpose has given you,

(Now this, He went up, what is it but that he first went down into the lower parts of the earth?

He who went down is the same who went up far over all the heavens so that he might make all things complete.)

So that we may be no longer children, sent this way and that, turned about by every wind of teaching, by the twisting and tricks of men, by the deceits of error;

This I say, then, and give witness in the Lord, that you are to go no longer in the way of the Gentiles whose minds are turned to that which has no profit,

That you are to put away, in relation to your earlier way of life, the old man, which has become evil by love of deceit;

Let him who was a thief be so no longer, but let him do good work with his hands, so that he may have something to give to him who is in need.

Being certain of this, that no man who gives way to the passions of the flesh, no unclean person, or one who has desire for the property of others, or who gives worship to images, has any heritage in the kingdom of Christ and God.

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

So that he might make it holy, having made it clean with the washing of water by the word,

And might take it for himself, a church full of glory, not having one mark or fold or any such thing; but that it might be holy and complete.

But do you, everyone, have love for his wife, even as for himself; and let the wife see that she has respect for her husband.

So that all may be well for you, and your life may be long on the earth.

In the knowledge that for every good thing anyone does, he will have his reward from the Lord, If he is a servant or if he is free.

And, you masters, do the same things to them, not making use of violent words: in the knowledge that their Master and yours is in heaven, and he has no respect for a man's position.

Take up God's instruments of war, so that you may be able to keep your position against all the deceits of the Evil One.

For this reason take up all the arms of God, so that you may be able to be strong in the evil day, and, having done all, to keep your place.

And for me, that words may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make clear without fear the secret of the good news,

For which I am a representative in chains, and that I may say without fear the things which it is right for me to say.

But so that you may have knowledge of my business, and how I am, Tychicus, the well-loved brother and tested servant in the Lord, will give you news of all things:

Whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, so that you may have knowledge of our position, and that he may give comfort to your hearts.