[This letter is from] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, according to God's will, [and is being sent] to the saints [i.e., God's holy people] at Ephesus [Note: This was a major city in the western province of Asia Minor, and now a part of Turkey. The words "at Ephesus" are omitted in some manuscripts, suggesting it was a circular letter], and the faithful ones in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus [everywhere else ?].

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.

For in his love he predestined us (such was the good pleasure of his will) to adoption for himself as sons through Jesus Christ,

so that we would praise His glorious, unearned favor, which was freely given to us through the One whom God loved [i.e., Christ].

It is in Him, and through the shedding of His blood, that we have our deliverance--the forgiveness of our offences--so abundant was God's grace,

when he made known to us the secret of his will. This was according to his plan that he set forth in the Messiah

when the full time of the dispensation was come, to reduce all things both in heaven and on earth, under one head in Christ.

It is by him, that we have a share in the inheritance, which was before allotted to us, in consequence of his design, who executes the whole plan, as he himself had contriv'd it:

The end [i.e., of being so predetermined] was that we [Jewish Christians], who had previously placed our hope in Christ, should bring about the praise of God's splendor.

You also have heard the message of the truth, the good news of your salvation, and believed in him, and through union with him you have been marked with the seal of the holy Spirit that was promised,

The same mighty power was exerted upon the Christ, when he raised the Christ from the dead and 'caused him to sit at his right hand' on high, exalting him above all Angels and Archangels of every rank,

Among whom we all at one time were living in the pleasures of our flesh, giving way to the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and the punishment of God was waiting for us even as for the rest.

then it was that God, who is rich in mercy, thro' his great love, wherewith he loved us,

This was so that, to future ages [of people on earth and in heaven], God could demonstrate the tremendous abundance of His unearned favor, expressed by His kindness to us in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus.

For you have been saved by God's unearned favor, through [your] faith, and that [salvation] was not the result of your own doing; it was the gift from God.

It was not the result of your own [good] deeds [See Titus 3:5], so that no one could boast [about it].

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,

by setting aside the Law with its commandments, expressed, as they were, in definite decrees. His design was to unite the two sections of humanity in Himself so as to form one new man,

that he might reconcile both in one body unto God by the cross, wherefore he destroyed the enmity that was between them:

Which was built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner,

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,

if, indeed, ye did hear of the dispensation of the grace of God that was given to me in regard to you,

and how by revelation the secret was made known to me, as I have briefly written before.

by reading which you can understand my knowledge of the mystery of Christ,??5 which in other generations was not made known to the children of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,

which mystery in times past was not opened unto the sons of men as it is now declared unto his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit:

The gentiles are heirs-in-common, members-in-common of the body, and common participants in what was promised by the Messiah Jesus through the gospel.

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

yes, on me, the very least of all His people, this unmerited favor was bestowed -- that I might preach as good news to the heathen the boundless riches of Christ,

and help everyone see how this secret that has been at work was hidden for ages by God, who created all things.

This was done so that now God's many-sided wisdom could be made known through the church, to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms [Note: "Heavenly realms" here refers to the world around us, where these angelic beings (good or bad) view the unfolding of God's wonderful plan],

This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

There is but one Body and one Spirit, just as there was but one hope set before you when you received your Call.

and to each one of you was given the grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ,

It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

[and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church];

For this was not the teaching of Christ which was given to you;

which according to your former conversation was corrupted with deceitful lusts,

and to clothe yourselves with the new nature, which was created according to God's image in righteousness and true holiness.

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.

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.

There was a time when you were nothing but darkness. Now, as Christians, you are Light itself.

no man was ever yet averse to his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as the Lord doth the church:

for we are members of his body, as if taken out of his flesh, and of his bones, as Eve was out of Adam's.

serve them with affection, as if it was to the Lord,