PAUL, by the will of God an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the saints who are faithful in Jesus Christ:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who in Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly sphere!

in whom we enjoy our redemption, the forgiveness of our trespasses, by the blood he shed.

so to order it in the fulness of the ages that all things in heaven and earth alike should be gathered up in Christ ??11 in the Christ in whom we have had our heritage allotted us (as was decreed in the design of him who carries out everything according to the counsel of his will),

the church which is his Body, filled by him who fills the universe entirely.

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.

Remember, then, that once upon a time you Gentiles in the flesh, who are called 'the Uncircumcision' by that so-called 'Circumcision' which is itself the product of human hands in the flesh ??12 remember you were in those days outside Christ, aliens to the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the Promise, devoid of hope and God within the world.

Whereas now, within Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, he who has made both of us a unity and destroyed the barrier which kept us apart;

he came with a gospel of peace for those far away (that is, for you) and for those who were near,

For this reason I Paul, I whom Jesus has made a prisoner for the sake of you Gentiles ??2 for surely you have heard how the grace of God which was vouchsafed me in your interests has ordered it,

through whom, as we have faith in him, we enjoy our confidence of free access.

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

Now to him who by the action of his power within us can do all things, aye far more than we ever ask or imagine,

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

He who descended is he who ascended above all the heavens to fill the universe;

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;

their intelligence is darkened, they are estranged from the life of God by the ignorance which their dulness of heart has produced in them ??19 men who have recklessly abandoned themselves to sensuality, with a lust for the business of impurity in every shape and form.

(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);

Let no bad word pass your lips, but only such speech as is good for edification, as occasion may require, words that are gracious and a means of grace to those who hear them.

And do not vex God's holy Spirit, by whom you have been sealed for the day of redemption.

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

So ought husbands to love their wives ??to love them as their own bodies (he who loves his wife loves himself).

Servants, be obedient to those who are your masters here below with reverence and trembling, with singleness of heart as to Christ himself;

instead of merely working when their eye is on you, like those who court human favour, do God's will from the heart like servants of Christ,

Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.