Paul, by God's will an apostle of Christ Jesus, to God's people who are faithful in Christ Jesus;

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who through Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm.

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.

By whom we have redemption through his blood, that is to say, even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches 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 whom we are made heirs, and were thereto predestinate according to the purpose of him which worketh all things after the purpose of his own will:

that we who had first put our hope in Christ might praise His glory.

In whom also ye - after that ye heard the word of truth, I mean the gospel of your salvation wherein ye believed - were sealed with the holy spirit of promise,

who is the first installment of our inheritance, so that we may finally come into full possession of the prize of redemption, and praise His glory for it.

and how surpassingly great is His power for us who believe, measured by His tremendously mighty power

which is His body, that is being filled by Him who fills everything everywhere.

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

in which you once lived in accordance with the spirit of this present world, and the mighty prince of the air, who is always at work in the disobedient, among whom all of us, we Jews as well as you heathen,

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

But God, who is so rich in mercy on account of the great love He has for us,

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

So remember that you were once heathen in a physical sense, called the uncircumcised by those who call themselves the circumcised -- though only in a physical sense, by human hands.

But now through your union with Christ Jesus you who were once far away have through the blood of Christ been brought near.

For He Himself is our peace, He is the one who has made us both into one body and has broken down the barrier that kept us apart;

When He came, He brought the good news of peace for you who were far away and for you 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 every building coupled together, groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord,

in whom ye also are built together, and made a habitation for God in the 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, -

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

by whom we are bold to draw nigh in that trust, which we have by faith on him.

from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,

To Him who by His power that is at work within us can do surpassingly more than all we ask or imagine,

I urge you, then--I who am a prisoner in the Master's cause-- to live lives worthy of the Call that you have received;

one God and Father of all, who is over us all, who pervades us all, and who is within us all.

he who went down is the same also who went up far above all the heavens, that He may fill all things --

And it is he who gifted some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, and still others to be 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, on the other hand, we shall go on holding to the truth and in love growing up into perfect union with Him, that is, Christ Himself who is the Head.

in whom all the body is coupled and knit together, in every joint, wherewith one ministereth to another - according to the operation as every part hath his measure - and increaseth the body, unto the edifying 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 being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

(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] you take off, according to your former way of life, the old man, who is being destroyed according to deceitful desires,

and put on the new man (in accordance with God), who is created in righteousness and holiness from the truth.

The man who used to steal must now stop stealing; rather, he must keep on working and toiling with his own hands at some honest vocation, so as to have something to contribute 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.

And grieve not the holy spirit of God, by whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

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 you may be absolutely sure that no one who is sexually impure, immoral or greedy for gain (for that is idolatry) can have a part in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Do not let anyone deceive you with meaningless words, for it is because of these things that God becomes angry with those who disobey.

For while once upon a time you were darkness, now in the Lord you are light; lead the life of those who are children of the light

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

wherefore he saith, 'Arouse thyself, thou who art sleeping, and arise out of the dead, and the Christ shall 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,

This is the way married men ought to love their wives, as they do their own bodies. The married man who loves his wife is really loving himself,

Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with reverence and humility, in singleness of heart as if to Christ himself;

Do not do this only while you're being watched in order to please them, but be like slaves of the Messiah, who are determined to obey God's will.

And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening: knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him.

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

May grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with sincerity.