He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will --

In Christ we too have been claimed as God's own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will

and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength.

And God put all things under Christ's feet, and he gave him to the church as head over all things.

among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest

because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.

that by revelation the divine secret was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly.

Now this secret was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,

For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think,

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling,

It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love.

So I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

if indeed you heard about him and were taught in him, just as the truth is in Jesus.

Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children

and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.

for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light --

Therefore be very careful how you live -- not as unwise but as wise,

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord,

because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church -- he himself being the savior of the body.

But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her

so that he may present the church to himself as glorious -- not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.

In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church,

Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to 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.

Obey with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord and not people,

for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.