so to order it in the fulness of the ages that all things in heaven and earth alike should be gathered up in Christ ??11 in the Christ in whom we have had our heritage allotted us (as was decreed in the design of him who carries out everything according to the counsel of his will),

which is the pledge and instalment of our common heritage, that we may obtain our divine possession and so redound to the praise of his glory.

illuminating the eyes of your heart so that you can understand the hope to which He calls us, the wealth of his glorious heritage in the saints,

above all the angelic Rulers, Authorities, Powers, and Lords, above every Name that is to be named not only in this age but in the age to come ??22 he has put everything under his feet and set him as head over everything for the church,

But, dead in trespasses as we were, God was so rich in mercy that for his great love to us

not the outcome of what you have done ??lest anyone should pride himself on that;

Remember, then, that once upon a time you Gentiles in the flesh, who are called 'the Uncircumcision' by that so-called 'Circumcision' which is itself the product of human hands in the flesh ??12 remember you were in those days outside Christ, aliens to the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the Promise, devoid of hope and God within the world.

so as himself to give the death-blow to that feud by reconciling them both to God in one Body through the cross;

he came with a gospel of peace for those far away (that is, for you) and for those who were near,

for it is through him that we both enjoy our access to the Father in one Spirit.

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

you can understand my insight into that secret of Christ

namely, that in Christ Jesus the Gentiles are co-heirs, companions, and co-partners in the Promise.

less than the least of all saints as I am, this grace was vouchsafed me, that I should bring the Gentiles the gospel of the fathomless wealth of Christ

and enlighten all men upon the new order of that divine secret which God the Creator of all concealed from eternity ??10 intending to let the full sweep of the divine wisdom be disclosed now by the church to the angelic Rulers and Authorities in the heavenly sphere,

May you be so fixed and founded in love that you can grasp with all the saints what is the meaning of 'the Breadth,' 'the Length,' 'the Depth' and 'the Height,'

For there is one Body and one Spirit ??as you were called for the one hope that belongs to your call ??5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

What does he ascended mean, except that he first descended to the nether regions of the earth?

Now in the Lord I insist and protest that you must give up living like pagans; for their purposes are futile,

That is not how you have understood the meaning of Christ

(for it is Christ whom you have been taught, it is in Christ that you have been instructed ??the real Christ who is in Jesus);

you must lay aside the old nature which belonged to your former course of life, that nature which crumbles to ruin under the passions of moral deceit,

putting on the new nature, that divine pattern which has been created in the upright and pious character of the Truth.

Let no bad word pass your lips, but only such speech as is good for edification, as occasion may require, words that are gracious and a means of grace to those who hear them.

Never let any sexual vice or impurity or lust be so much as mentioned by you ??that is the proper course for saints to take;

no, nor indecent, silly, or scurrilous talk ??all that is improper. Rather, voice your thanks to God.

Be sure of this, that no one guilty of sexual vice or impurity or lust (that is, an idolater) possesses any inheritance in the realm of Christ and God.

Let no one deceive you with specious arguments; these are the vices that bring down God's anger on the sons of disobedience.

(for the fruit of light consists in all that is good and right and true),

still, whatever the light exposes becomes illuminated ??for anything that is illuminated turns into light.

and do not get drunk with wine ??that means profligacy ??but be filled with the Spirit,

that it may be well with you and that you may live long on earth.

Be sure that everyone, slave or free, will be paid back by the Lord and Master for the good he has done.

And as for you masters, act by your servants in the same way, and stop threatening them; be sure that they and you have a Lord and Master in heaven, and there is no partiality about him.

So take God's armour, that you may be able to make a stand upon the evil day and hold your ground by overcoming all the foe.

put on salvation as your helmet, and take the Spirit as your sword (that is, the word of God),

praying at all times in the Spirit with all manner of prayer and entreaty ??be alive to that, attend to it unceasingly, interceding on behalf of all the saints

and on my behalf also, that I may be allowed to speak and open my lips in order to expound fully and freely that open secret of the gospel

for the sake of which I am in custody as its envoy. Pray that I may have freedom to declare it as I should.

Our beloved brother Tychicus, a faithful minister in the Lord, will give you all information about me, so that you may know how I am;

that is why I am sending him to you, to let you know how I am and to encourage your hearts.