By Grace Through Faith

And (A)you He made alive, (B)who were dead in trespasses and sins, (C)in which you once walked according to the [a]course of this world, according to (D)the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in (E)the sons of disobedience, (F)among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in (G)the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and (H)were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

But God, (I)who is rich in mercy, because of His (J)great love with which He loved us, (K)even when we were dead in trespasses, (L)made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together (M)in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in (N)His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (O)For by grace you have been saved (P)through faith, and that not of yourselves; (Q)it is the gift of God, not of (R)works, lest anyone should (S)boast. 10 For we are (T)His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:2 Gr. aion, aeon

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) 10 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.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.

But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all (A)our righteousnesses are like [a]filthy rags;
We all (B)fade as a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind,
Have taken us away.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 64:6 Lit. a filthy garment

All of us have become like one who is unclean,(A)
    and all our righteous(B) acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,(C)
    and like the wind our sins sweep us away.(D)

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Build on the Rock(A)

24 “Therefore (B)whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that (C)the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 (D)for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

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The Wise and Foolish Builders(A)

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice(B) is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things,(C) the crowds were amazed at his teaching,(D) 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

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God’s Covenant with Abram(A)

15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram (B)in a vision, saying, (C)“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your (D)shield, [a]your exceedingly (E)great reward.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 15:1 Or your reward shall be very great

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my [a]strength, (A)in whom I will trust;
My shield and the [b]horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 18:2 Lit. rock
  2. Psalm 18:2 Strength

The Lord is my rock,(A) my fortress(B) and my deliverer;(C)
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,(D)
    my shield[a](E) and the horn[b] of my salvation,(F) my stronghold.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 18:2 Or sovereign
  2. Psalm 18:2 Horn here symbolizes strength.

31 (A)For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?

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31 For who is God besides the Lord?(A)
    And who is the Rock(B) except our God?

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46 The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.

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46 The Lord lives!(A) Praise be to my Rock!(B)
    Exalted be God(C) my Savior!(D)

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But (A)God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.(A)

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being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun (A)a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

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being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion(A) until the day of Christ Jesus.(B)

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13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard (A)the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, (B)you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 (C)who[a] is the [b]guarantee of our inheritance (D)until the redemption of (E)the purchased possession, (F)to the praise of His glory.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:14 NU which
  2. Ephesians 1:14 down payment, earnest

13 And you also were included in Christ(A) when you heard the message of truth,(B) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,(C) the promised Holy Spirit,(D) 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance(E) until the redemption(F) of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.(G)

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21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and (A)has anointed us is God, 22 who (B)also has sealed us and (C)given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

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21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm(A) in Christ. He anointed(B) us, 22 set his seal(C) of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.(D)

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30 And (A)do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

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30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,(A) with whom you were sealed(B) for the day of redemption.(C)

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Greeting

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

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

Redemption in Christ

(A)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as (B)He chose us in Him (C)before the foundation of the world, that we should (D)be holy and without blame before Him in love, (E)having predestined us to (F)adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, (G)according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, (H)by which He [a]made us accepted in (I)the Beloved.

(J)In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to (K)the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and [b]prudence, (L)having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure (M)which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of (N)the fullness of the times (O)He might gather together in one (P)all things in Christ, [c]both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 (Q)In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to (R)the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 (S)that we (T)who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard (U)the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, (V)you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 (W)who[d] is the [e]guarantee of our inheritance (X)until the redemption of (Y)the purchased possession, (Z)to the praise of His glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

15 Therefore I also, (AA)after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 (AB)do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that (AC)the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, (AD)may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 (AE)the eyes of your [f]understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is (AF)the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, (AG)according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when (AH)He raised Him from the dead and (AI)seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 (AJ)far above all (AK)principality[g] and [h]power and [i]might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

22 And (AL)He put all things under His feet, and gave Him (AM)to be head over all things to the church, 23 (AN)which is His body, (AO)the fullness of Him (AP)who fills all in all.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:6 Lit. bestowed grace (favor) upon us
  2. Ephesians 1:8 understanding
  3. Ephesians 1:10 NU, M omit both
  4. Ephesians 1:14 NU which
  5. Ephesians 1:14 down payment, earnest
  6. Ephesians 1:18 NU, M hearts
  7. Ephesians 1:21 rule
  8. Ephesians 1:21 authority
  9. Ephesians 1:21 power

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 for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

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, 10 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)

11 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, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.(AA) 13 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) 14 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)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus(AI) and your love for all God’s people,(AJ) 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you,(AK) remembering you in my prayers.(AL) 17 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. 18 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) 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power(AT) is the same as the mighty strength(AU) 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead(AV) and seated him at his right hand(AW) in the heavenly realms,(AX) 21 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) 22 And God placed all things under his feet(BB) and appointed him to be head(BC) over everything for the church, 23 which is his body,(BD) the fullness of him(BE) who fills everything in every way.(BF)

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:1 Some early manuscripts do not have in Ephesus.
  2. Ephesians 1:5 Or sight in love. He
  3. Ephesians 1:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
  4. Ephesians 1:9 Or us with all wisdom and understanding. And he
  5. Ephesians 1:11 Or were made heirs
  6. Ephesians 1:17 Or a spirit