1 Paul, called to be an apostle^(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,^(B) and our brother Sosthenes,^(C)

² To the church of God^(D) in Corinth,^(E) to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called^(F) to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name^(G) of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

²⁴ Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom^(A) to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.^{(B) 25} For he must reign^(C) until he has put all his enemies under his feet.^{(D) 26} The last enemy to be destroyed is death.^{(E) 27} For he “has put everything under his feet.”^[a](F) Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.^{(G) 28} When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him,^(H) so that God may be all in all.^(I)

⁴ For he chose us^(A) in him before the creation of the world^(B) to be holy and blameless^(C) in his sight. In love^{(D) 5} he^[a] predestined^(E) us for adoption to sonship^[b](F) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure^(G) and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace,^(H) which he has freely given us in the One he loves.^{(I) 7} In him we have redemption^(J) through his blood,^(K) the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches^(L) of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he^[c] made known to us the mystery^(M) of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed^(N) in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment^(O)—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.^(P)

¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[d] having been predestined^(Q) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose^(R) 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.^{(S) 13} And you also were included in Christ^(T) when you heard the message of truth,^(U) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,^(V) the promised Holy Spirit,^{(W) 14} who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance^(X) until the redemption^(Y) of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.^(Z)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus^(AA) and your love for all God’s people,^{(AB) 16} I have not stopped giving thanks for you,^(AC) remembering you in my prayers.^{(AD) 17} I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^(AE) may give you the Spirit^[e] of wisdom^(AF) and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened^(AG) in order that you may know the hope to which he has called^(AH) you, the riches^(AI) of his glorious inheritance^(AJ) in his holy people,^{(AK) 19} and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power^(AL) is the same as the mighty strength^{(AM) 20} he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead^(AN) and seated him at his right hand^(AO) in the heavenly realms,^{(AP) 21} far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,^(AQ) and every name^(AR) that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.^{(AS) 22} And God placed all things under his feet^(AT) and appointed him to be head^(AU) over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body,^(AV) the fullness of him^(AW) who fills everything in every way.^(AX)

Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,^{(A) 2} 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) 3} 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. ⁴ But because of his great love for us,^(H) God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions^(I)—it is by grace you have been saved.^{(J) 6} And God raised us up with Christ^(K) and seated us with him^(L) in the heavenly realms^(M) in Christ Jesus, ⁷ 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. ⁸ 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— ⁹ 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.

God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles

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

² Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me^(B) for you, ³ that is, the mystery^(C) made known to me by revelation,^(D) as I have already written briefly. ⁴ In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight^(E) into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ 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) 6} 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)

⁷ 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) 8} 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) 9} 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. ¹⁰ 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) 11} according to his eternal purpose^(U) that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father,^(A) who has qualified you^[a] to share in the inheritance^(B) of his holy people in the kingdom of light.^{(C) 13} For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness^(D) and brought us into the kingdom^(E) of the Son he loves,^{(F) 14} in whom we have redemption,^(G) the forgiveness of sins.^(H)

Stand Firm

¹³ But we ought always to thank God for you,^(A) brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits^[a](B) to be saved^(C) through the sanctifying work of the Spirit^(D) and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you^(E) to this through our gospel,^(F) that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹² That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame,^(A) because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard^(B) what I have entrusted to him until that day.^(C)

¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything^(A) for the sake of the elect,^(B) that they too may obtain the salvation^(C) that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.^(D)