which he brought about in the Messiah when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realm.

which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills everything in every way.

and reconciling both groups to God in one body through the cross, on which he eliminated the hostility.

which in previous generations was not made known to human beings as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This is that secret:

So then, I ask you not to become discouraged because of my troubles on your behalf, which work toward your glory.

that is, you will know the love of the Messiah which transcends knowledge, and will be filled with all the fullness of God.

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to live in a way that is worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

in whom the whole body is united and held together by every ligament with which it is supplied. As each individual part does its job, the body builds itself up in love.

Regarding your former way of life, you were taught to strip off your old nature, which is being ruined by its deceptive desires,

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

Stop getting drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit.

In addition to having clothed yourselves with these things, having taken up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one,

also take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.