God predetermined that we should be [considered] His adopted children through [fellowship with] Christ. This is what pleased God and is what He wanted,

in doing what He intended through Christ, to make known to us His secret plan, according to what pleased Him.

It is in [fellowship with] Christ that we [Jewish Christians] also were selected as [God's] inheritance [i.e., to receive His never ending blessings], having been predetermined according to the plan of God, who works out everything in harmony with what He wants.

and lighten the eyes of your minds, that ye might know what thing that hope is, whereunto he hath called you, and what the riches of his glorious inheritance is upon the saints,

and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us ward, which believe according to the working of that his mighty power,

among whom we also all once had our conversation in the lusts of our flesh, doing what the flesh and the thoughts willed to do, and were children, by nature, of wrath, even as the rest:

It is not the result of what anyone can do, so that no one can boast of it.

For He has made us what we are, because He has created us through our union with Christ Jesus for doing good deeds which He beforehand planned for us to do.

So, you Gentiles by birth should remember what you once were. You are called "Uncircumcision" by those who are called "Circumcision" [i.e., the Jews], (which refers to a physical procedure performed by people).

how the divine secret was disclosed to me by a revelation (if you read what I have already written briefly about this,

By reading what I have written, you can judge of my insight into that secret truth of Christ

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.

and to make all men see what the fellowship of the mystery is, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, which made all things through Jesus Christ,

So I ask that what I am having to suffer for your sake may not make me lose heart, for it does you honor.

might be able to comprehend with all saints, what is that breadth and length, depth and height:

and to know what is the love of Christ, which love passeth knowledge: that ye might be fulfilled with all manner of fullness which cometh of God.

and to Him who is able above all things to do exceeding abundantly what we ask or think, according to the power that is working in us,

That he ascended: what meaneth it, but that he also descended first into the lowest parts of the earth?

from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

So what I mean and insist upon in the Lord's name is this: You must no longer live like the heathen, with their frivolity of mind and darkened understanding.

But this is not the way you have learned what Christ means,

If in fact you gave ear to him, and were given teaching in him, even as what is true is made clear in Jesus:

Wherefore, stripping off what is false, be speaking truth each one with his neighbour, because we are members one of another;

The thief must no longer steal but must work hard and do what is good with his own hands, so that he might earn something to give to the needy.

Let no filthy talk be heard from your mouths, but only what is good for building up people and meeting the need of the moment. This way you will administer grace to those who hear you.

For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,??9 for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,??10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord,

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

and have nothing to do with the unfruitful actions that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are.

For it is shameful even to mention what is done by these disobedient people in secret.

but all these things, when exposed, are by the light made manifest, and what is made manifest is light.

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.

Wherefore, be ye not unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Children, do what is ordered by your fathers and mothers in the Lord: for this is right.

Servants, do what is ordered by those who are your natural masters, having respect and fear for them, with all your heart, as to Christ;

Do not serve them only when you are being watched, just to gain their approval, but as slaves of Christ, doing what God wants from your heart.

And, the helmet of salvation, welcome ye, and the sword of the spirit, which is what God hath spoken,

But that ye may also know that condition I am in, and what I do, Tychicus my dear brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall show you of all things,

whom I sent unto you for the same purpose: that ye might know what case I stand in, and that he might comfort your hearts.