Greeting

1 Paul,^(A) an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will:^(B)

To the faithful saints^(C) in Christ Jesus^[a] at Ephesus.^[b](D)

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Rich Blessings

³ Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.^{(E) 4} For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^{[c](F) 5} He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace^(G) that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.^(H)

⁷ In him we have redemption^(I) through his blood, the forgiveness^(J) of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.^{[d] 9} He made known to us the mystery of his will,^(K) according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ^{(L) 10} as a plan for the right time^[e]—to bring everything together in Christ,^(M) both things in heaven and things on earth^(N) in him.^(O)

¹¹ In him we have also received an inheritance,^[f] because we were predestined^(P) according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, ¹² so that we who had already put our hope^(Q) in Christ might bring praise to his glory.^(R)

¹³ In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit^(S) when you heard the word of truth,^(T) the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. ¹⁴ The Holy Spirit is the down payment^(U) of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Insight

¹⁵ This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^[g] would give you the Spirit^[h](V) of wisdom and revelation^(W) in the knowledge of him. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope^(X) of his calling,^(Y) what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power^(Z) toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.

God’s Power in Christ

²⁰ He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand^(AA) in the heavens^(AB)— ²¹ far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given,^[i](AC) not only in this age but also in the one to come.^{(AD) 22} And he subjected everything under his feet^[j](AE) and appointed him^[k] as head^(AF) over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body,^(AG) the fullness^(AH) of the one who fills all things^(AI) in every way.

Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ

4 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord,^(A) urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, ² with all humility^(B) and gentleness, with patience,^(C) bearing^(D) with one another in love,^{(E) 3} making every effort to keep the unity^(F) of the Spirit^(G) through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit^(H)—just as you were called to one hope^[a](I) at your calling— ⁵ one Lord,^(J) one faith,^(K) one baptism, ⁶ one God^(L) and Father^(M) of all, who is above all and through all and in all.^(N)

⁷ Now grace was given to each one of us^(O) according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ For it says:

⁹ But what does “he ascended” mean except that he^[c] also descended to the lower parts of the earth?^{[d](R) 10} The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens,^(S) to fill all things.^{(T) 11} And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,^{(U) 13} until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son,^(V) growing into maturity with a stature^(W) measured by Christ’s fullness. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching,^(X) by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head^(Y)—Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, fitted and knit together^(Z) by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth^(AA) of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Living the New Life

¹⁷ Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because^[e] of the hardness of their hearts. ¹⁹ They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity^(AB) with a desire for more and more.^[f]

²⁰ But that is not how you came to know Christ, ²¹ assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth^(AC) is in Jesus, ²² to take off^[g](AD) your former way of life,^(AE) the old self^(AF) that is corrupted by deceitful desires, ²³ to be renewed^[h] in the spirit^(AG) of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on^[i](AH) the new self, the one created^(AI) according to God’s likeness^(AJ) in righteousness and purity of the truth.

²⁵ Therefore, putting away^(AK) lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor,^[j](AL) because we are members of one another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin.^[k](AM) Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and don’t give the devil an opportunity. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share^(AN) with anyone in need. ²⁹ No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need,^[l] so that it gives grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit.^(AO) You were sealed by him^[m] for the day of redemption.^{(AP) 31} Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. ³² And be kind^(AQ) and compassionate^(AR) to one another, forgiving^(AS) one another, just as God also forgave you^[n] in Christ.