For this reason, ever since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God

For this reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles

When you read this, you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace which was given me by the working of his power.

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

This was according to the eternal purpose which he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

Now this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds,

But you did not learn Christ in this way,

For of this you can be sure, that no immoral, impure, or covetous personsuch a man is an idolaterhas any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

For this reason it is said, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."

This is a profound mystery; but I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

in addition to all this, taking up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and petition. And with this in view, keep alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.