Study Desk

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

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.^(e)

For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight.^[b](f) In love^[c]

He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will,

to the praise of His glorious grace^(g) that He favored us with in the Beloved.^(h)

We have redemption in Him⁽ⁱ⁾ through His blood, the forgiveness^(j) of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

He made known to us the mystery of His will,^(k) according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him^(l)

for the administration^[d] of the days of fulfillment^[e]—to bring everything together in the Messiah,^(m) both things in heaven and things on earth⁽ⁿ⁾ in Him.^(o)

We have also received an inheritance^[f] in Him, predestined^(p) according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will,

so that we who had already put our hope^(q) in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.^(r)

When you heard the message of truth,^(s) the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.^(t)

He is the down payment^(u) of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession,^[g] to the praise of His glory.

This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^[h] would give you a spirit^[i](v) of wisdom and revelation^(w) in the knowledge of Him.

I pray that the perception of your mind^[j] may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope^(x) of His calling,^(y) what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints,

and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power^(z) to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.

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

far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given,^[k](ac) not only in this age but also in the one to come.^(ad)

And He put everything under His feet ^(ae)[l] and appointed Him as head^(af) over everything for the church,

which is His body,^(ag) the fullness^(ah) of the One who fills all things^(ai) in every way.

And you were dead^(a) in your trespasses and sins

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]

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.

But God, who is rich in mercy,^(h) because of His great love⁽ⁱ⁾ that He had for us,^[c]

made us alive^(j) with the Messiah even though we were dead^(k) in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens,^(l)

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.

For you are saved by grace^(p) through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift—

not from works, so that no one can boast.

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.

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)

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.

But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood^(w) of the Messiah.

For He is our peace, who made both groups one^(x) and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh,

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.

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]

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)

For through Him we both have access^(ad) by one Spirit to the Father.^(ae)

So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God's household,

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,^(af) with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

The whole building, being put together^(ag) by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord.^(ah)

You also are being built together^(ai) for God's dwelling^(aj) in the Spirit.

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

you have heard, haven't you, about the administration of God's grace that He gave to me for you?

The mystery was made known to me by revelation,^(b) as I have briefly written above.

By reading this you are able to understand my insight about the mystery of the Messiah.^(c)

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:

The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners of the promise^(e) in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

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)

This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches^(g) of the Messiah,

and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created^(h) all things.

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)

This is according to His eternal purpose^(k) accomplished in the Messiah, Jesus our Lord.

In Him we have boldness and confident access^(l) through faith in Him.^[b]

So then I ask you not to be discouraged^(m) over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.⁽ⁿ⁾

For this reason I kneel^(o) before the Father^[c]

from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.

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,

and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,

may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love,^(t)

and to know the Messiah's love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

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—

to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.^(x)

Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord,^(a) urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received,

with all humility^(b) and gentleness, with patience,^(c) accepting^[a](d) one another in love,^(e)

diligently keeping the unity^(f) of the Spirit^(g) with the peace^(h) that binds us.

There is one body and one Spirit⁽ⁱ⁾—just as you were called to one hope^[b](j) at your calling—

one Lord,^(k) one faith,^(l) one baptism,

one God^(m) and Father⁽ⁿ⁾ of all, who is above all and through all and in all.^(o)

Now grace was given to each one of us^(p) according to the measure of the Messiah's gift.

For it says: When He ascended ^(q) on high, He took prisoners into captivity; ^[c] He gave gifts to people. ^(r)[d]

But what does "He ascended" mean except that He^[e] descended to the lower parts of the earth?^[f](s)

The One who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens,^(t) that He might fill^[g] all things.^(u)

And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,^(v)

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.

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.

But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head^(z)—Christ.

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.

Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts.

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.

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]

But that is not how you learned about the Messiah,

assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, because the truth^(ad) is in Jesus.

You took off^[i](ae) your former way of life,^(af) the old self^[j](ag) that is corrupted by deceitful desires;

you are being renewed^[k] in the spirit^(ah) of your minds;

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.

Since you put away^(al) lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, ^(am)[m] because we are members of one another.

Be angry and do not sin. ^(an)[n] Don't let the sun go down on your anger,

and don't give the Devil an opportunity.

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.

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.

And don't grieve God's Holy Spirit.^(ap) You were sealed by Him^[p] for the day of redemption.^(aq)

All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice.

And be kind^(ar) and compassionate^(as) to one another, forgiving^(at) one another, just as God also forgave you^[q] in Christ.

Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children.

And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us,^(a) a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

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.

Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.

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.

Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God's wrath⁽ⁱ⁾ is coming on the disobedient because of these things.^[b]

Therefore, do not become their partners.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light^(j) in the Lord. Walk as children of light^(k)—

for the fruit of the light^[c] results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth^(l)—

discerning^(m) what is pleasing⁽ⁿ⁾ to the Lord.

Don't participate in the fruitless^(o) works of darkness, but instead expose them.

For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret.

Everything exposed by the light is made clear,^(p)

for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper,^(q) and rise up from the dead,^(r) and the Messiah will shine on you.^[d](s)

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—

making the most of the time,^[e](t) because the days are evil.

So don't be foolish, but understand^(u) what the Lord's will^(v) is.

And don't get drunk^(w) with wine,^(x) which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:^(y)

speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the Lord,

giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.^(z)

Wives,^(aa) submit^[f](ab) to your own husbands^(ac) as to the Lord,

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)

Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives are to submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives,^(ag) just as Christ loved^(ah) the church and gave Himself^(ai) for her

to make her holy, cleansing^[g] her with the washing of water by the word.

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

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

For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church,

since we are members of His body.^[h]

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, ^(ak) and the two will become one flesh. ^(al)[i]

This mystery^(am) is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church.

To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.

Children, obey^(a) your parents as you would the Lord,^[a] because this is right.

Honor your father and mother , which is the first commandment^[b] with a promise,

so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land. ^[c](b)[d]

Fathers, don't stir up anger^(c) in your children, but bring them up in the training^(d) and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves, obey your human^[e] masters^(e) with fear and trembling,^(f) in the sincerity^(g) of your heart, as to Christ.

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]

Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,⁽ⁱ⁾

knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.

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)

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.^(m)

Put on⁽ⁿ⁾ the full armor^(o) of God so that you can stand against the tactics^[g] of the Devil.

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)

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.

Stand,^(v) therefore, with truth^(w) like a belt around your waist, righteousness^(x) like armor on your chest,^(y)

and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.^[h]

In every situation take the shield^(z) of faith,^(aa) and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^(ab)

Take the helmet^(ac) of salvation, and the sword^(ad) of the Spirit,^(ae) which is God's word.

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.

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.

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

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.

I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage^(al) your hearts.^(am)

Peace to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father^(an) and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.^[j][k]