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

the same in himself to have it declared when the time were full come: that all things, both the things which are in heaven, and also the things which are in earth, should be gathered together, even in Christ. That is to say, in him

In the Messiah we were also chosen when we were predestined according to the purpose of the one who does everything that he wills to do,

You, too, have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed in the Messiah, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

For this reason I also, from the time when I heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which prevails among you, and your love to all the saints,

never cease to thank God for you when I mention you in my prayers,

which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and set him on his righthand in heavenly things,

And you did he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins,

In which when ye walked according to the life of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, of the spirit now energetic in the sons of disobedience:

among whom all of us lived, we as well as you, when we obeyed the passions of our flesh, carrying out the dictates of the flesh and its impulses, when we were objects of God's anger by nature, like the rest of men.

but God who is rich in mercy, on account of his great love with which he loved us,??5 even when we were dead in sins he made us alive with Christ,??y grace are you saved,

even when we were dead by sin, hath quickened us together in Christ - for by grace are ye saved -

Therefore remember, that when you were Gentiles in the flesh, called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, made in the flesh with hands;

when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace,

And when, upon the cross, he had destroyed their mutual enmity, he sought by means of his cross to reconcile them both to God, united in one Body.

When He came, He brought the good news of peace for you who were far away and for you who were near;

whereby, when ye read ye may know mine understanding in the mystery of Christ,

I urge you, therefore, as a prisoner of the Lord, to live in a way that measures up to [the standard required by] God when He called you.

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

Concerning this the Scripture says: "He led a host of captives, when He went up on high, and granted gifts to men."

From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love.

Be angry [at sin—at immorality, at injustice, at ungodly behavior], yet do not sin; do not let your anger [cause you shame, nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down.

Let no filthy communication proceed out of your mouths: but that which is good to edify withal, when need is, that it may have favour with the hearers.

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

but all things, when they are rebuked of the light, are manifest. For whatsoever is manifest, that same is light.

when you talk together; with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and with all your hearts making music unto the Lord;

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear, trembling, and sincerity, as when you obey the Messiah.

not like those who do their work only when someone is watching -- as people-pleasers -- but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.

Therefore take up the panoply of God, so that when the evil day comes you may be able to withstand them, and having overthrown them all, to stand your ground.

and for me that a message may be given me when I open my lips, so that I may boldly make known the open secret of the good news,

for the sake of which I am an envoy in prison: so that, when I tell it, I may speak as courageously as I ought.