¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[a] having been predestined^(A) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose^(B) 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.^{(C) 13} And you also were included in Christ^(D) when you heard the message of truth,^(E) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,^(F) the promised Holy Spirit,^{(G) 14} who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance^(H) until the redemption^(I) of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.^(J)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

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

Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,^{(AI) 2} in which you used to live^(AJ) when you followed the ways of this world^(AK) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,^(AL) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.^{(AM) 3} All of us also lived among them at one time,^(AN) gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[c](AO) 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,^(AP) God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions^(AQ)—it is by grace you have been saved.^{(AR) 6} And God raised us up with Christ^(AS) and seated us with him^(AT) in the heavenly realms^(AU) in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,^(AV) expressed in his kindness^(AW) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace^(AX) you have been saved,^(AY) through faith^(AZ)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works,^(BA) so that no one can boast.^{(BB) 10} For we are God’s handiwork,^(BC) created^(BD) in Christ Jesus to do good works,^(BE) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ

¹¹ Therefore, remember that formerly^(BF) 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)^(BG)— ¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners^(BH) to the covenants of the promise,^(BI) without hope^(BJ) and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once^(BK) were far away have been brought near^(BL) by the blood of Christ.^(BM)

¹⁴ For he himself is our peace,^(BN) who has made the two groups one^(BO) and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh^(BP) the law with its commands and regulations.^(BQ) His purpose was to create in himself one^(BR) new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,^(BS) by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace^(BT) to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^{(BU) 18} For through him we both have access^(BV) to the Father^(BW) by one Spirit.^(BX)

¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,^(BY) but fellow citizens^(BZ) with God’s people and also members of his household,^{(CA) 20} built^(CB) on the foundation^(CC) of the apostles and prophets,^(CD) with Christ Jesus himself^(CE) as the chief cornerstone.^{(CF) 21} In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple^(CG) in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.^(CH)