1This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God's holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.G3972G652G2424G5547G1223G2307G2316G40G5607G1722G2181G2532G4103G1722G5547G2424 2May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.G5485G5213G2532G1515G575G2316G2257G3962G2532G2962G2424G5547 3All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.G2128G2316G2532G3962G2257G2962G2424G5547G3588G2127G2248G1722G3956G4152G2129G1722G2032G1722G5547 4Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.G2531G1586G2248G1722G846G4253G2602G2889G2248G1511G40G2532G299G2714G846G1722G26 5God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.G4309G2248G1519G5206G1223G2424G5547G1519G846G2596G2107G846G2307 6So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.G1519G1868G1391G846G5485G1722G3739G5487G2248G5487G1722G25 7He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.G1722G3739G2192G629G1223G846G129G859G3900G2596G4149G846G5485 8He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.G3739G4052G1519G2248G1722G3956G4678G2532G5428 9God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure.G1107G2254G3466G846G2307G2596G846G2107G3739G4388G1722G846 10And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.G1519G3622G4138G2540G346G3956G1722G5547G5037G3588G1722G3772G2532G3588G1909G1093G1722G846 11Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.G1722G3739G2532G2820G4309G2596G4286G1754G3956G2596G1012G846G2307 12God's purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.G1519G2248G1511G1519G1868G846G1391G3588G4276G1722G5547 13And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.G1722G3739G5210G2532G191G3056G225G2098G5216G4991G1722G3739G2532G4100G4972G40G4151G1860 14The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.G3739G2076G728G2257G2817G1519G629G4047G1519G1868G846G1391 15Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God's people everywhere,G1223G5124G2504G191G2596G5209G4102G1722G2962G2424G2532G26G1519G3956G40 16I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly,G3973G3756G2168G5228G5216G4160G3417G5216G1909G3450G4335 17asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.G2443G2316G2257G2962G2424G5547G3962G1391G1325G5213G4151G4678G2532G602G1722G1922G846 18I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.G3788G5216G1271G5461G1519G5209G1492G5101G2076G1680G846G2821G2532G5101G4149G1391G846G2817G1722G40 19I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty powerG2532G5101G5235G3174G846G1411G1519G2248G3588G4100G2596G1753G846G2479G2904 20that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms.G3739G1754G1722G5547G1453G846G1537G3498G2532G2523G1722G846G1188G1722G2032 21Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.G5231G3956G746G2532G1849G2532G1411G2532G2963G2532G3956G3686G3687G3756G3440G1722G5129G165G235G2532G1722G3195 22God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.G2532G5293G3956G5259G846G4228G2532G1325G846G2776G5228G3956G1577 23And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.G3748G2076G846G4983G4138G4137G3956G1722G3956
2Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.G2532G5209G5607G3498G3900G2532G266 2You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.G1722G3739G4218G4043G2596G165G5127G2889G2596G758G1849G109G4151G3568G1754G1722G5207G543 3All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else.G1722G3739G2532G2249G3956G390G4218G1722G1939G2257G4561G4160G2307G4561G2532G1271G2532G2258G5449G5043G3709G2532G5613G3062 4But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,G1161G2316G5607G4145G1722G1656G1223G846G4183G26G3739G25G2248 5that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)G2532G2248G5607G3498G3900G4806G5547G5485G2075G4982 6For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.G2532G4891G2532G4776G1722G2032G1722G5547G2424 7So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.G2443G1722G165G1904G1731G5235G4149G846G5485G1722G5544G1909G2248G1722G5547G2424 8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.G1063G5485G2075G4982G1223G4102G2532G5124G3756G1537G5216G1435G2316 9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.G3756G1537G2041G3363G5100G2744 10For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.G1063G2070G846G4161G2936G1722G5547G2424G1909G18G2041G3739G2316G4282G2443G4043G1722G846 11Don't forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called "uncircumcised heathens" by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.G1352G3421G3754G5210G4218G1484G1722G4561G3588G3004G203G5259G3588G3004G4061G1722G4561G5499 12In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.G3754G1722G1565G2540G2258G5565G5547G526G4174G2474G2532G3581G1242G1860G2192G3361G1680G2532G112G1722G2889 13But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.G1161G3570G1722G5547G2424G5210G3588G4218G5607G3112G1096G1451G1722G129G5547 14For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.G1063G846G2076G2257G1515G3588G4160G297G1520G2532G3089G3320G5418 15He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.G2673G1722G846G4561G2189G3551G1785G1722G1378G2443G2936G1722G1438G1417G1519G1520G2537G444G4160G1515 16Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.G2532G604G297G2316G1722G1520G4983G1223G4716G615G2189G1722G846 17He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near.G2532G2064G2097G1515G5213G3588G3112G2532G1451 18Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.G3754G1223G846G2192G297G2192G4318G1722G1520G4151G4314G3962 19So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family.G3767G686G2075G3765G3581G2532G3941G235G4847G40G2532G3609G2316 20Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.G2026G1909G2310G652G2532G4396G2424G5547G846G5607G204 21We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.G1722G3739G3956G3619G4883G837G1519G40G3485G1722G2962 22Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.G1722G3739G5210G2532G4925G1519G2732G2316G1722G4151
3When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . .G5127G5484G1473G3972G1198G2424G5547G5228G5216G1484 2assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles.G1489G191G3622G5485G2316G3588G1325G3427G1519G5209 3As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me.G3754G2596G602G1107G3427G3466G2531G4270G1722G3641 4As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ.G4314G3739G314G1410G3539G3450G4907G1722G3466G5547 5God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.G3739G1722G2087G1074G1107G3756G1107G5207G444G5613G601G3568G601G846G40G652G2532G4396G1722G4151 6And this is God's plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God's children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.G1484G1511G4789G2532G4954G2532G4830G846G1860G1722G5547G1223G2098 7By God's grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.G3739G1096G1249G2596G1431G5485G2316G1325G3427G2596G1753G846G1411 8Though I am the least deserving of all God's people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.G1698G1647G3956G40G1325G3778G5485G1325G2097G1722G1484G421G4149G5547 9I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.G2532G5461G3956G5461G5101G2842G3466G3588G575G165G613G1722G2316G3588G2936G3956G1223G2424G5547 10God's purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.G2443G3568G746G2532G1849G1722G2032G1107G1223G1577G4182G4678G2316 11This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.G2596G165G4286G3739G4160G1722G5547G2424G2257G2962 12Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence.G1722G3739G2192G3954G2532G4318G1722G4006G1223G4102G846 13So please don't lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.G1352G154G1573G3361G1722G3450G2347G5228G5216G3748G2076G5216G1391 14When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,G5127G5484G2578G3450G1119G4314G3962G2257G2962G2424G5547 15the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.G1537G3739G3956G3965G1722G3772G2532G1909G1093G3687 16I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.G2443G1325G5213G2596G4149G846G1391G2901G1411G1223G846G4151G1519G2080G444 17Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.G5547G2730G1722G5216G2588G1223G4102G2443G4492G2532G2311G1722G26 18And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.G1840G2638G4862G3956G40G5101G4114G2532G3372G2532G899G2532G5311 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.G5037G1097G26G5547G5235G1108G2443G4137G1519G3956G4138G2316 20Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.G1161G1410G4160G5228G1537G4053G5228G3956G3739G154G2228G3539G2596G1411G1754G1722G2254 21Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.G846G1391G1722G1577G1722G5547G2424G1519G3956G1074G165G165G281
4Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.G1473G3767G1198G1722G2962G3870G5209G4043G516G2821G3739G2564 2Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.G3326G3956G5012G2532G4236G3326G3115G430G240G1722G26 3Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.G4704G5083G1775G4151G1722G4886G1515 4For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.G1520G4983G2532G1520G4151G2531G2532G2564G1722G3391G1680G5216G2821 5There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,G1520G2962G1520G4102G3391G908 6and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.G1520G2316G2532G3962G3956G3588G1909G3956G2532G1223G3956G2532G1722G5213G3956 7However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.G1161G1538G1520G2257G1325G5485G2596G3358G1431G5547 8That is why the Scriptures say, "When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people."G1352G3004G305G1519G5311G162G161G2532G1325G1390G444 9Notice that it says "he ascended." This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.G1161G305G5101G2076G1508G3754G2597G2532G2597G4412G1519G2737G3313G1093 10And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.G846G2597G2076G2532G305G5231G3956G3772G2443G4137G3956 11Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.G2532G846G1325G3303G652G1161G4396G1161G2099G1161G4166G2532G1320 12Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.G4314G2677G40G1519G2041G1248G1519G3619G4983G5547 13This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.G3360G3956G2658G1519G1775G4102G2532G1922G5207G2316G1519G5046G435G1519G3358G2244G4138G5547 14Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.G2443G5600G3371G3516G2831G2532G4064G3956G417G1319G1722G2940G444G1722G3834G4314G3180G4106 15Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.G1161G226G1722G26G837G1519G846G3956G3739G2076G2776G5547 16He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.G1537G3739G3956G4983G4883G2532G4822G1223G3956G860G2024G2596G1753G1722G3358G1538G1520G3313G4160G838G4983G1519G3619G1438G1722G26 17With the Lord's authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.G5124G3004G3767G2532G3143G1722G2962G5209G3371G4043G3371G2531G2532G3062G1484G4043G1722G3153G846G3563 18Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.G1271G4654G5607G526G2222G2316G1223G52G5607G1722G846G1223G4457G846G2588 19They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.G3748G524G3860G1438G3860G766G1519G2039G3956G167G1722G4124 20But that isn't what you learned about Christ.G1161G5210G3129G3756G3779G3129G5547 21Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,G1489G191G846G2532G1321G1722G846G2531G225G2076G1722G2424 22throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.G5209G659G2596G4387G391G3820G444G3588G5351G2596G539G1939 23Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.G1161G365G4151G5216G3563 24Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.G2532G1746G2537G444G3588G2596G2316G2936G1722G1343G2532G225G3742 25So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.G1352G659G5579G2980G1538G225G3326G846G4139G3754G2070G3196G240 26And "don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry,G3710G2532G264G3361G1931G3361G2246G1931G1909G5216G3950 27for anger gives a foothold to the devil.G3383G1325G5117G1228 28If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.G2813G2813G2813G3371G1161G3123G2872G2038G5495G18G2443G2192G3330G5532G2192 29Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.G4550G3361G3956G4550G3056G1607G1537G5216G4750G235G1536G18G4314G5532G3619G2443G1325G5485G191 30And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.G2532G3076G3361G40G4151G2316G1722G3739G4972G1519G2250G629 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.G142G3956G4088G2532G2372G2532G3709G2532G2906G2532G988G142G575G5216G4862G3956G2549 32Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.G1161G1096G5543G1519G240G2155G5483G1438G2531G2532G2316G1722G5547G1722G5483G5213
5Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.G1096G3402G3767G3402G2316G5613G27G5043 2Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.G2532G4043G1722G26G2531G5547G2532G25G2248G2532G3860G1438G5228G2257G4376G2532G2378G2316G1519G2175G3744 3Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people.G2532G4202G1161G3956G167G2228G4124G3687G3366G3687G1722G5213G2531G4241G40 4Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.G2532G151G2532G3473G2228G2160G3588G433G3756G433G235G3123G2169 5You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.G1063G5124G2075G1097G3754G3756G3956G4205G2228G169G2228G4123G3739G2076G1496G2192G2817G1722G932G5547G2532G2316 6Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.G538G3367G538G5209G2756G3056G1063G1223G5023G2064G3709G2316G1909G5207G543 7Don't participate in the things these people do.G1096G3361G1096G3767G4830G846 8For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!G1063G2258G4218G4655G1161G3568G5457G1722G2962G4043G5613G5043G5457 9For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.G1063G2590G4151G1722G3956G19G2532G1343G2532G225 10Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.G1381G5101G2076G2101G2962 11Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.G2532G4790G3361G4790G175G2041G4655G1161G3123G2532G1651 12It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.G1063G2076G149G2532G3004G2931G1096G5259G846G2931 13But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them,G1161G3956G1651G5319G5259G5457G1063G3956G5319G2076G5457 14for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, "Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light."G1352G3004G1453G2518G2532G450G1537G3498G2532G5547G2017G4671G2017 15So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise.G991G3767G4459G4043G199G3361G5613G781G235G5613G4680 16Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.G1805G2540G3754G2250G1526G4190 17Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.G1223G5124G1096G3361G878G235G4920G5101G2307G2962 18Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,G2532G3182G3361G3182G3631G1722G3739G2076G810G235G4137G1722G4151 19singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.G2980G1438G5568G2532G5215G2532G4152G5603G103G2532G5567G1722G5216G2588G2962 20And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.G2168G3842G5228G3956G2316G2532G3962G1722G3686G2257G2962G2424G5547 21And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.G5293G240G1722G5401G2316 22For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.G1135G5293G2398G435G5613G2962 23For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church.G3754G435G2076G2776G1135G2532G5613G5547G2776G1577G2532G846G2076G4990G4983 24As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.G235G5618G1577G5293G5547G3779G2532G1135G2398G435G1722G3956 25For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for herG435G25G1438G1135G2531G5547G2532G25G1577G2532G3860G1438G5228G846 26to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word.G2443G846G37G2511G3067G5204G1722G4487 27He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.G2443G3936G846G1438G1741G1577G3361G2192G4696G2228G4512G2228G5100G5108G235G2443G5600G40G2532G299 28In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.G3779G3784G435G25G1438G1135G5613G1438G4983G25G1438G1135G25G1438 29No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church.G1063G3762G4218G3404G1438G4561G235G1625G2532G2282G846G2531G2532G2962G1577 30And we are members of his body.G3754G2070G3196G846G4983G1537G846G4561G2532G1537G846G3747 31As the Scriptures say, "A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one."G473G5127G2641G444G2641G846G3962G2532G3384G2532G4347G4314G846G1135G2532G1417G2071G1519G3391G4561 32This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.G5124G2076G3173G3466G1161G1473G3004G1519G5547G1519G2532G1577 33So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.G4133G2532G25G1520G1538G5210G2596G3779G25G1438G1135G5613G1438G1161G1135G2443G5399G435
Dublin, OH
, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.G3972
