Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 2

From Death to Life

¹ And you were dead^(a) in your trespasses and sins ² in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world,^(b) according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens,^[a](c) the spirit^(d) now working in the disobedient.^{[b] 3} We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly^(e) desires, carrying out the inclinations^(f) of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath^(g) as the others were also. ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy,^(h) because of His great love⁽ⁱ⁾ that He had for us,^{[c] 5} made us alive^(j) with the Messiah even though we were dead^(k) in trespasses. You are saved by grace! ⁶ Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens,^{(l) 7} so that in the coming ages^(m) He might display the immeasurable riches⁽ⁿ⁾ of His grace through His kindness^(o) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For you are saved by grace^(p) through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are His creation, created^(q) in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time^(r) so that we should walk in them.

Unity in Christ

¹¹ So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called "the uncircumcised" by those called "the circumcised,"^(s) which is done in the flesh by human hands.^{(t) 12} At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise,^(u) without hope^(v) and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood^(w) of the Messiah. ¹⁴ For He is our peace, who made both groups one^(x) and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, ¹⁵ He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create^(y) in Himself one^(z) new man from the two, resulting in peace. ¹⁶ He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body^(aa) through the cross and put the hostility to death by it.^{[d] 17} When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news^(ab) of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^{(ac) 18} For through Him we both have access^(ad) by one Spirit to the Father.^{(ae) 19} So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God's household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,^(af) with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. ²¹ The whole building, being put together^(ag) by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord.^{(ah) 22} You also are being built together^(ai) for God's dwelling^(aj) in the Spirit.

Chapter 3

Paul's Ministry to the Gentiles

¹ For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner^(a) of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² you have heard, haven't you, about the administration of God's grace that He gave to me for you? ³ The mystery was made known to me by revelation,^(b) as I have briefly written above. ⁴ By reading this you are able to understand my insight about the mystery of the Messiah.^{(c) 5} This was not made known to people^[a] in other generations as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets^(d) by the Spirit: ⁶ The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners of the promise^(e) in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ⁷ I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace that was given to me by the working of His power.^(f)

⁸ This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches^(g) of the Messiah, ⁹ and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created^(h) all things. ¹⁰ This is so God's multi-faceted wisdom⁽ⁱ⁾ may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.^{(j) 11} This is according to His eternal purpose^(k) accomplished in the Messiah, Jesus our Lord. ¹² In Him we have boldness and confident access^(l) through faith in Him.^{[b] 13} So then I ask you not to be discouraged^(m) over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.⁽ⁿ⁾

Prayer for Spiritual Power

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel^(o) before the Father^{[c] 15} from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. ¹⁶ I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches^(p) of His glory,^(q) to be strengthened with power^(r) in the inner man^(s) through His Spirit, ¹⁷ and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love,^{(t) 19} and to know the Messiah's love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to Him who is able^(u) to do above and beyond all that we ask or think^(v) according to the power^(w) that works in us— ²¹ to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.^(x)

Chapter 4

Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ

¹ Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord,^(a) urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, ² with all humility^(b) and gentleness, with patience,^(c) accepting^[a](d) one another in love,^{(e) 3} diligently keeping the unity^(f) of the Spirit^(g) with the peace^(h) that binds us. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit⁽ⁱ⁾—just as you were called to one hope^[b](j) at your calling— ⁵ one Lord,^(k) one faith,^(l) one baptism, ⁶ one God^(m) and Father⁽ⁿ⁾ of all, who is above all and through all and in all.^(o)

⁷ Now grace was given to each one of us^(p) according to the measure of the Messiah's gift. ⁸ For it says:

⁹ But what does "He ascended" mean except that He^[e] descended to the lower parts of the earth?^{[f](s) 10} The One who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens,^(t) that He might fill^[g] all things.^{(u) 11} And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,^{(v) 13} until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son,^(w) growing into a mature man with a stature^(x) measured by Christ's fullness. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching,^(y) by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head^(z)—Christ. ¹⁶ From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together^(aa) by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth^(ab) of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Living the New Life

¹⁷ Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. ¹⁹ They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity^(ac) with a desire for more and more.^[h]

²⁰ But that is not how you learned about the Messiah, ²¹ assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, because the truth^(ad) is in Jesus. ²² You took off^[i](ae) your former way of life,^(af) the old self^[j](ag) that is corrupted by deceitful desires; ²³ you are being renewed^[k] in the spirit^(ah) of your minds; ²⁴ you put on^[l](ai) the new self, the one created^(aj) according to God's likeness^(ak) in righteousness and purity of the truth.

²⁵ Since you put away^(al) lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, ^(am)[m] because we are members of one another. ²⁶  Be angry and do not sin. ^(an)[n] Don't let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and don't give the Devil an opportunity. ²⁸ The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share^(ao) with anyone in need. ²⁹ No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need,^[o] so that it gives grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And don't grieve God's Holy Spirit.^(ap) You were sealed by Him^[p] for the day of redemption.^{(aq) 31} All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. ³² And be kind^(ar) and compassionate^(as) to one another, forgiving^(at) one another, just as God also forgave you^[q] in Christ.

Chapter 5

¹ Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. ² And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us,^(a) a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. ³ But sexual immorality^(b) and any impurity^(c) or greed^(d) should not even be heard of^[a] among you, as is proper for saints. ⁴ Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. ⁵ For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral^(e) or impure^(f) or greedy^(g) person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom^(h) of the Messiah and of God.

Light versus Darkness

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God's wrath⁽ⁱ⁾ is coming on the disobedient because of these things.^{[b] 7} Therefore, do not become their partners. ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light^(j) in the Lord. Walk as children of light^(k)— ⁹ for the fruit of the light^[c] results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth^(l)— ¹⁰ discerning^(m) what is pleasing⁽ⁿ⁾ to the Lord. ¹¹ Don't participate in the fruitless^(o) works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. ¹³ Everything exposed by the light is made clear,^{(p) 14} for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:

Consistency in the Christian Life

¹⁵ Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— ¹⁶ making the most of the time,^[e](t) because the days are evil. ¹⁷ So don't be foolish, but understand^(u) what the Lord's will^(v) is. ¹⁸ And don't get drunk^(w) with wine,^(x) which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:^(y)

Wives and Husbands

²² Wives,^(aa) submit^[f](ab) to your own husbands^(ac) as to the Lord, ²³ for the husband is the head of the wife^(ad) as Christ is the head^(ae) of the church. He is the Savior of the body.^{(af) 24} Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives,^(ag) just as Christ loved^(ah) the church and gave Himself^(ai) for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing^[g] her with the washing of water by the word. ²⁷ He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.^{(aj) 28} In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, ³⁰ since we are members of His body.^[h]

³² This mystery^(am) is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.

Chapter 6

Children and Parents

¹ Children, obey^(a) your parents as you would the Lord,^[a] because this is right. ²  Honor your father and mother , which is the first commandment^[b] with a promise, ³  so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land. ^{[c](b)[d] 4} Fathers, don't stir up anger^(c) in your children, but bring them up in the training^(d) and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

⁵ Slaves, obey your human^[e] masters^(e) with fear and trembling,^(f) in the sincerity^(g) of your heart, as to Christ. ⁶ Don't work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God's will^(h) from your heart.^{[f] 7} Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,^{(i) 8} knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. ⁹ And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening^(j) them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism^(k) with Him.^(l)

Christian Warfare

¹⁰ Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.^{(m) 11} Put on⁽ⁿ⁾ the full armor^(o) of God so that you can stand against the tactics^[g] of the Devil. ¹² For our battle is not against flesh^(p) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(q) against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil^(r) in the heavens.^{(s) 13} This is why you must take up the full armor^(t) of God, so that you may be able to resist^(u) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. ¹⁴ Stand,^(v) therefore,

¹⁸ Pray^(af) at all times in the Spirit^(ag) with every prayer and request, and stay alert^(ah) in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness^(ai) the mystery of the gospel. ²⁰ For this I am an ambassador^(aj) in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.

Paul's Farewell

²¹ Tychicus,^(ak) our dearly loved brother and faithful servant^[i] in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. ²² I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage^(al) your hearts.^(am)

²³ Peace to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father^(an) and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.^[j][k]