[This letter is from] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, according to God's will, [and is being sent] to the saints [i.e., God's holy people] at Ephesus [Note: This was a major city in the western province of Asia Minor, and now a part of Turkey. The words "at Ephesus" are omitted in some manuscripts, suggesting it was a circular letter], and the faithful ones in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus [everywhere else ?].

May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be praised, for He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in [fellowship with] Christ. [Note: The term "heavenly realms" is used somewhat differently throughout this book. Here it refers to Christians as part of the church on earth].

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

All this accords with the loving-kindness which God lavished upon us, accompanied by countless gifts of wisdom and discernment,

He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ,

[He did this] to fulfill His plan at the proper time, by bringing together everything [in the universe] under Christ's headship --- things both in heaven and on earth.

In him, I say, for by our union with him we became God's Heritage, having from the first been destined for this in the intention of him who, in all that happens, is carrying out his own fixed purpose;

He is a down payment of our inheritance, until God's own possession [i.e., His people] receives redemption. [Note: Here "redemption" refers to receiving a new body in heaven]. May this bring about praise to God's splendor.

For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which ye show toward all the saints,

and what God's tremendous power [working] in us believers is. [This power is] the same as that utilized by God's mighty strength,

He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens—

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

And you being dead in trespasses and sins,??2 in which you formerly walked according to the life of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit which now operates in the children of disobedience,

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

All of us [Jews] also once lived among such people, fulfilling the improper cravings of our physical being and doing what our bodies and minds desired. In this natural [unconverted] state we were deserving of [God's] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind].

[and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption].

For ye are saved by grace, through faith; and this not of yourselves; it is God's gift:

For we [Christians] are the product of God's workmanship, [re-] created in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus for [the purpose of] doing good deeds. God had previously determined that this should be our practice.

For this reason keep it in mind that in the past you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are looked on as being outside the circumcision by those who have circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;

remember, I say, that ye were at that time without Christ, and were reputed aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and were strangers from the testaments of promise, and had no hope, and were without God in this world.

when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace,

He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it.

In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

and how this secret was made known to me through a revelation, just as I wrote about briefly in the past.

By referring to this, when you read it you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

which in other generations was not disclosed to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit;

[it is this:] that the Gentiles are now joint heirs [with the Jews] and members of the same body, and joint partakers [sharing] in the [same divine] promise in Christ Jesus through [their faith in] the good news [of salvation].

Of this [gospel] I was made a minister by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power.

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 help everyone see how this secret that has been at work was hidden for ages by God, who created all things.

This is so God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.

This is in accordance with [the terms of] the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

in whom we have this bold and confident access through our faith in Him.

For this reason it is my prayer that you may not become feeble because of my troubles for you, which are your glory.

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Be ye rooted and grounded in social virtue, that you may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of this mystery:

I then, the prisoner in the Lord, make this request from my heart, that you will see that your behaviour is a credit to the position which God's purpose has given you,

Now to each one of us was given this grace, according to the measure of Christ's gift.

For this reason Scripture says: "He re-ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and gave gifts to men."

(Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?

[This is to be done] until we all [eventually] arrive at unity of the faith and full knowledge of the Son of God; at complete [spiritual] maturity; at the [full] height of Christ's [spiritual] stature.

So that we may be no longer children, sent this way and that, turned about by every wind of teaching, by the twisting and tricks of men, by the deceits of error;

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

for their [moral] understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded; [they are] alienated and self-banished from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the [willful] ignorance and spiritual blindness that is [deep-seated] within them, because of the hardness and insensitivity of their heart.

But you did not learn Christ in this way,

if at least you have heard His voice and in Him have been taught--and this is true Christian teaching--

For this reason, laying aside falsehood, every one of you should speak the truth to his fellow man; for we are, as it were, parts of one another.

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.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

But when all [such] things are exposed by the light [i.e., the truth], they become [clearly] visible [i.e., their true nature is revealed], for everything so revealed becomes illuminated. [Note: Possibly this means "it is light that clearly reveals everything"].

For this reason it is said, "Rise, sleeper; rise from among the dead, and Christ will shed light upon you."

For this reason be not foolish, but understanding what is the will of the Lord.

and this the burthen of the song, "thanks be to God, even the father, for his son Jesus Christ our Lord."

because a husband is the Head of his wife as Christ also is the Head of the Church, being indeed the Saviour of this His Body.

He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.

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,

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Honor [esteem, value as precious] your father and your mother [and be respectful to them]—this is the first commandment with a promise—

And you fathers [Note: This word probably includes both parents], do not stir up your children to become angry, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

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.

knowing that whatever good each shall do, this he shall receive of the Lord, whether bond or free.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

For this reason take to you the panoply of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having accomplished all things, to stand.

and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

praying at all seasons, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching unto this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;

For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.

whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts.