For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love

He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will,

for the administration of the days of fulfillment—to bring everything together in the Messiah, both things in heaven and things on earth in Him.

He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.

This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.

far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church,

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us,

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—

For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.

For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh,

When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

you have heard, haven’t you, about the administration of God’s grace that He gave to me for you?

and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.

So then I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.

For this reason I kneel before the Father

For it says:

When He ascended on high,
He took prisoners into captivity;
He gave gifts to people.

The One who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.

for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,

From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.

They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.

No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.

And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by Him for the day of redemption.

And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints.

For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—

for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth—

For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret.

for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:

Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead,
and the Messiah will shine on you.

giving thanks always for everything
to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

submitting to one another
in the fear of Christ.

for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her

For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church,

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

Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ.

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

For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.

and your feet sandaled with readiness
for the gospel of peace.

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.

For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.

I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts.

Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.