Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), by the will of God [that is, by His purpose and choice],

To the saints (God’s people) who are at Ephesus and are faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus:

Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ,

Even before the creation of the world God chose us, who are in [fellowship with] Christ, to be dedicated [to Him] and to be without just blame in His sight. Out of love

Who predestined us for sonship through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the desire of his will,

for appreciation of the glory of his grace, by which he blessed us in him who is beloved.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, according to the wealth of his grace,

and in arranging, when the time should have fully come, that everything in heaven and on earth should be unified in Christ??11 the Christ through whom it is our lot to have been predestined by the design of him who in everything carries out the purpose of his will,

In Him also we have received an inheritance [a destiny—we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will,

so that we who were the first to hope in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him as our Lord and Savior] would exist to the praise of His glory.

In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God].

who for the praise of his glory is the pledge of our common heritage, unto the complete redemption of his purchased property.

And what the surpassing greatness of his power unto us who believe, - according to the energy of the grasp of his might

Which, indeed, is his body, the fulness of him who, the all things in all, is for himself filling up.

And so God has given life to you Gentiles also, who were once dead in your trespasses and sins,

in which you once walked. You were following the ways of this world [influenced by this present age], in accordance with the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit who is now at work in the disobedient [the unbelieving, who fight against the purposes of God].

Among whom also, we all, had our behaviour, at one time, in the covetings of our flesh, doing the things desired by the flesh and the mind, and were children, by nature, of anger - even as the rest, -

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

did raise us all, who were in that deadly state of sin, to life by Christ, for by grace ye are saved:

Wherefore, keep in remembrance - that, at one time, ye, the nations in flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by the so-called Circumcision in flesh, made by hand,

But, just now, in Christ Jesus, ye, who at one time were afar off, were made nigh in the blood of the Christ;

He, in fact, is our peace - who made both one, and, the enclosing middle-wall, took down,

And He came and preached the good news of peace to you [Gentiles] who were far away, and peace to those [Jews] who were near.

So then you are no longer as those who have no part or place in the kingdom of God, but you are numbered among the saints, and of the family of God,

Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, On whom all the building fitly framed together,

In whom, an entire building, in process of being fitly joined together, is growing into a holy shrine in the Lord;

In whom, ye also, are being builded together, into a habitation of God in Spirit.

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,

That they who are of the nations should be joint heirs, and a joint body, and joint partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through means of the glad-message, -

To me, who am less than the least of all saints, has this grace been given, that I should proclaim among the Gentiles the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ;

And to bring to light - what is the administration of the sacred secret which had been hidden away from the ages in God, who did all things create:

In whom we have our freedom of speech and introduction with assurance, through the faith of him; -

From whom every fatherhood in the heavens and upon the earth is named, -

Now, unto him who is able to do, above all things, exceeding abundantly above the things which we ask or conceive, - according to the power which doth energise itself within us, -

I, then, the prisoner for the Master's sake, entreat you to live and act as becomes those who have received the call that you have received--

One God and Father of all - who is over all, and through all, and in all.

He that descended, he, it is who also ascended over-above all the heavens, that he might fill all things;

It is he who made some men apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

till we should all attain the unity of the faith and knowledge of God's Son, reaching maturity, reaching the full measure of development which belongs to the fulness of Christ ??14 instead of remaining immature, blown from our course and swayed by every passing wind of doctrine, by the adroitness of men who are dexterous in devising error;

So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes.

But, pursuing truth - may, in love, grow into him in all things, - who is the head, Christ, -

Out of whom all the body - fitly framing itself together, and connecting itself, through means of every joint of supply, by way of energising in the measure of each single part - secureth the growing of the body, unto an upbuilding of itself in love.

Whose thoughts are dark, to whom the life of God is strange because they are without knowledge, and their hearts have been made hard;

Who, indeed, having become past feeling, have delivered, themselves, up, with wantonness, unto making a trade of all impurity with greed.

(for it is Christ whom you have been taught, it is in Christ that you have been instructed ??the real Christ who is in Jesus);

That ye were to strip off - as regardeth the former behaviour - the old man, who corrupteth himself according to his deceitful covetings,

And were to put on the man of new mould, who, after God, hath been created in his truthful righteousness and loving kindness.

Let him who stole steal no more, but let him work, and in honest industry toil with his hands, so that he may have something to give to the needy.

Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [but seek to please Him], by whom you were sealed and marked [branded as God’s own] for the day of redemption [the final deliverance from the consequences of sin].

And live a life of love, following the example of the Christ, who loved you and gave himself for you as 'an offering and a sacrifice to God, that should be fragrant and acceptable.'

For, this, ye know, if ye take note - that no fornicator, or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and God.

Do not be turned from the right way by foolish words; for because of these things the punishment of God comes on those who do not put themselves under him.

for you people were once darkness [i.e., when living in sin], but now you are light in [fellowship with] the Lord. [So], live like people who belong to light [i.e., who live godly lives],

Do not have fellowship with [people who practice] worthless deeds of darkness [i.e., sinful living], but expose them instead.

Therefore he says, Awake, thou who sleep. And arise from the dead, and the Christ will shine upon thee.

giving thanks at all times for all things to him who is God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

For the husband is the head of his wife as the Messiah is the head of the church. It is he who is the Savior of the body.

You who are husbands must love your wives, just as Christ loves the church and gave himself for her,

Even so husbands should and are morally obligated to love their own wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.

Ye servants, be obedient unto them who, after the flesh, are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto the Christ;

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.

You masters, do the same [showing goodwill] toward them, and give up threatening and abusive words, knowing that [He who is] both their true Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with Him [regardless of one’s earthly status].

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.

But that ye also may know my affairs, and what I am doing here, Tychicus a beloved brother, and a faithful minister in the Lord, shall make all known to you: whom I have sent to you,

Whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may get to know the things concerning us, and he may encourage your hearts.

Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying and incorruptible love.