But let each person test his own accomplishments so that he can determine if he should get credit for them or if his neighbor should.

Howbeit, let him who is being orally instructed in the word, have fellowship with him that is so instructing him, in all good things.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap.

Because, he that soweth into his own flesh, out of the flesh, shall reap corruption, whereas, he that soweth into the Spirit, out of the Spirit, shall reap age-abiding life.

And, in doing that which is honourable, let us not be fainthearted; for, in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.

Look at how large the letters are that I am using in writing this, and I am writing them myself.

Those who want to make a good impression in public [before the Jews] try to compel you to be circumcised, just so they will escape being persecuted for [faithfulness to] the cross of Christ.

For even the circumcised [Jews] themselves do not [really] keep the Law, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh [that is, in the fact that they convinced you to be circumcised].

God forbid that I should glory in anything except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, upon which the world has been crucified to me and I have been crucified to the world.

For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation!

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon Israel that pertaineth to God.

Let nobody trouble me after this, for I carry on my body the scars that mark me as Jesus' slave.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints that are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:

just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love

And ordained us before unto himself that we should be chosen before, through Jesus Christ, to be heirs unto himself according to the pleasure of his will,

to the praise of His glorious grace and favor, which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved [His Son, Jesus Christ].

By whom we have redemption through his blood, that is to say, even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace,

that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

when he made known to us, I say, that good pleasure which he purposed in himself

for the government of the fulness of the ages, that all things in heaven and earth are alike should be gathered up in Christ, as Head.

It is by him, that we have a share in the inheritance, which was before allotted to us, in consequence of his design, who executes the whole plan, as he himself had contriv'd it:

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 whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

The Spirit is the guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.

For this cause, I also, - having heard of the faith on your part in the Lord Jesus, and that towards all the saints,

[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son].

And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people),

and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength

Over-above all principality, authority, and power, and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the coming one,

which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills and completes all things in all [believers].

When you were in that destructive state of transgression and sin,

In which at one time ye walked, according to the age of the world, according to the prince of the authority of the air, of the spirit that now energiseth in the sons of disobedience,

And it was among them that we all once lived our lives, indulging the cravings of our earthly nature, and carrying out the desires prompted by that earthly nature and by our own thoughts. Our very nature exposed us to the Divine Wrath, like the rest of mankind.

But God, being rich in mercy, through his great love that he loved us,

even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment).

So that we came back from death with him, and are seated with him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus;

That he might point out, in the oncoming ages, the surpassing riches of his favour in graciousness upon us, in Christ Jesus;

For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;

It is not of works, so that any one can boast of it;

His, in fact we are - his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus upon a footing of good works, which God prepared beforehand, that, therein, we might walk.

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,

That ye were, in that season, separate from Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and godless in the world;

But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, which hath made of both one, and hath broken down the wall in the midst, that was a stop between us,

The enmity, in his flesh - the law of commandments in decrees - bringing to nought, - that, the two, he might create in himself, into one man of new mould, making peace.

And that the two might come into agreement with God in one body through the cross, so putting an end to that division.

And, coming, he announced the glad-message - of peace, unto you, the far off, and peace, unto them that were nigh;

For it is through Him that we both have a [direct] way of approach in one Spirit to the Father.

Take notice then that no longer are you strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household.

you are a building that rests on the apostles and prophets as its foundation, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone;

For this reason [because I preach that you and believing Jews are joint heirs] I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was entrusted to me [to share with you] for your benefit;

How that, by way of revelation, was made known unto me the sacred secret, - even as I before wrote in brief, -

By reading what I have written, you can judge of my insight into that secret truth of Christ

which in other generations was not made known to men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be co-heirs,

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, -

Of which I became a helper according to the gift of that grace of God, which was given to me according to the working of his power.

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 should make all men see the new dispensation of that secret purpose, hidden from eternity in the God who founded the universe,

In order that now, unto the principalities and the authorities in the heavenlies, might be made known, through means of the assembly, the manifold wisdom of God, -

in pursuance of that dispensation which he made to former ages by Christ Jesus our Lord:

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

Wherefore I request, that there be no fainting in my tribulations in your behalf, the which is your glory; -

This is the reason that I bow my knees [in prayer] to the Father,

from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name [God—the first and ultimate Father].

In order that he may give unto you - according to his glorious riches, with power, to be strengthened, through his Spirit, in the inner man,

That the Christ may dwell, through means of your faith, in your hearts, in love, having become rooted and founded,

In order that ye may be mighty enough to grasp firmly, with all the saints, - what is the breadth and length and depth and height,

To get to know, also, the knowledge-surpassing, love of the Christ, - in order that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God:

Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,

So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation],

diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us.

There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]—

That is why God says, "When he went up to the highest place, he led captives into captivity and gave gifts to people."

Now this, He ascended; what is it, - save - that he also descended into the under parts of the earth?

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

It is he then that made some, apostles: some, prophets: some, evangelists: and others, pastors, and teachers:

[and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church];

until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].

That we may, no longer, be infants - billow-tossed and shifted round with every wind of teaching, - in the craft of men, in knavery suited to the artifice of error;

But let us follow the truth in love, and in all things grow in him which is the head, that is to say Christ,

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

This, therefore, am I saying and protesting in the Lord: - that, no longer, ye walk even as, the nations, walk - in the vanity of their minds,

Being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God - by reason of the ignorance that existeth within them, by reason of their hearts being turned into stone,

And they, [the ungodly in their spiritual apathy], having become callous and unfeeling, have given themselves over [as prey] to unbridled sensuality, eagerly craving the practice of every kind of impurity [that their desires may demand].

But that is not how you learned about the Messiah,

If in fact you have [really] heard Him and have been taught by Him, just as truth is in Jesus [revealed in His life and personified in Him],

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

and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Let, the stealer, no more, steal, but rather let him be toiling, - working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have wherewith to be giving away to him that hath need;

Let, no putrid discourse, out of your mouth, be going forth, but if anything is good - suited to the needful upbuilding, - that it may give benefit unto them that hear;

And do not grieve God's Holy Spirit; for it was through that Spirit that God sealed you as his, against the Day of Redemption.

and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

So that fornication, and all uncleanness or covetousness, be not once named among you, as it becometh saints:

There must be no indecency or foolish or scurrilous talk??ll that is unbecoming. There should be thanksgiving instead.

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.

Let no man deceive you with empty arguments, for it is these vices that bring down the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience;

For you at one time were dark, but now are light in the Lord: let your behaviour be that of children of light