Study Desk

Paul, an apostle^(a) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,^(b) To God's holy people^(c) in Ephesus,^[a](d) the faithful^(e) in Christ Jesus:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(f)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(g) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms^(h) with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

For he chose us⁽ⁱ⁾ in him before the creation of the world^(j) to be holy and blameless^(k) in his sight. In love^(l)

he^[b] predestined^(m) us for adoption to sonship^[c](n) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure^(o) and will—

to the praise of his glorious grace,^(p) which he has freely given us in the One he loves.^(q)

In him we have redemption^(r) through his blood,^(s) the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches^(t) of God's grace

that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,

he^[d] made known to us the mystery^(u) of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed^(v) in Christ,

to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment^(w)—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.^(x)

In him we were also chosen,^[e] having been predestined^(y) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose^(z) of his will,

in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.^(aa)

And you also were included in Christ^(ab) when you heard the message of truth,^(ac) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,^(ad) the promised Holy Spirit,^(ae)

who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance^(af) until the redemption^(ag) of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.^(ah)

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus^(ai) and your love for all God's people,^(aj)

I have not stopped giving thanks for you,^(ak) remembering you in my prayers.^(al)

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^(am) may give you the Spirit^[f] of wisdom^(an) and revelation, so that you may know him better.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened^(ao) in order that you may know the hope to which he has called^(ap) you, the riches^(aq) of his glorious inheritance^(ar) in his holy people,^(as)

and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power^(at) is the same as the mighty strength^(au)

he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead^(av) and seated him at his right hand^(aw) in the heavenly realms,^(ax)

far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,^(ay) and every name^(az) that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.^(ba)

And God placed all things under his feet^(bb) and appointed him to be head^(bc) over everything for the church,

which is his body,^(bd) the fullness of him^(be) who fills everything in every way.^(bf)

Made Alive in Christ

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,^(a)

in which you used to live^(b) when you followed the ways of this world^(c) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,^(d) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.^(e)

All of us also lived among them at one time,^(f) gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a](g) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

But because of his great love for us,^(h) God, who is rich in mercy,

made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions⁽ⁱ⁾—it is by grace you have been saved.^(j)

And God raised us up with Christ^(k) and seated us with him^(l) in the heavenly realms^(m) in Christ Jesus,

in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,⁽ⁿ⁾ expressed in his kindness^(o) to us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace^(p) you have been saved,^(q) through faith^(r)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

not by works,^(s) so that no one can boast.^(t)

For we are God's handiwork,^(u) created^(v) in Christ Jesus to do good works,^(w) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Therefore, remember that formerly^(x) you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)^(y)—

remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners^(z) to the covenants of the promise,^(aa) without hope^(ab) and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once^(ac) were far away have been brought near^(ad) by the blood of Christ.^(ae)

For he himself is our peace,^(af) who has made the two groups one^(ag) and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,

by setting aside in his flesh^(ah) the law with its commands and regulations.^(ai) His purpose was to create in himself one^(aj) new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,

and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,^(ak) by which he put to death their hostility.

He came and preached peace^(al) to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^(am)

For through him we both have access^(an) to the Father^(ao) by one Spirit.^(ap)

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,^(aq) but fellow citizens^(ar) with God's people and also members of his household,^(as)

built^(at) on the foundation^(au) of the apostles and prophets,^(av) with Christ Jesus himself^(aw) as the chief cornerstone.^(ax)

In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple^(ay) in the Lord.

And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.^(az)

God's Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner^(a) of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me^(b) for you,

that is, the mystery^(c) made known to me by revelation,^(d) as I have already written briefly.

In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight^(e) into the mystery of Christ,

which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.^(f)

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs^(g) together with Israel, members together of one body,^(h) and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.⁽ⁱ⁾

I became a servant of this gospel^(j) by the gift of God's grace given me^(k) through the working of his power.^(l)

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people,^(m) this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles⁽ⁿ⁾ the boundless riches of Christ,^(o)

and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery,^(p) which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God^(q) should be made known^(r) to the rulers and authorities^(s) in the heavenly realms,^(t)

according to his eternal purpose^(u) that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In him and through faith in him we may approach God^(v) with freedom and confidence.^(w)

I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

For this reason I kneel^(x) before the Father,

from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name.

I pray that out of his glorious riches^(y) he may strengthen you with power^(z) through his Spirit in your inner being,^(aa)

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts^(ab) through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted^(ac) and established in love,

may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people,^(ad) to grasp how wide and long and high and deep^(ae) is the love of Christ,

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge^(af)—that you may be filled^(ag) to the measure of all the fullness of God.^(ah)

Now to him who is able^(ai) to do immeasurably more than all we ask^(aj) or imagine, according to his power^(ak) that is at work within us,

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.^(al)