Ephesians 1-6

New American Standard Bible 1995

The Blessings of Redemption

1 Paul, ^(A)an apostle of ^(B)Christ Jesus ^[a](C)by the will of God,

To the ^[b](D)saints who are ^[c]at ^(E)Ephesus and ^(F)who are faithful in ^(G)Christ Jesus: ^2 (H)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^3 (I)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in ^(J)the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as ^(K)He chose us in Him before ^(L)the foundation of the world, that we would be ^(M)holy and blameless before ^[d]Him. ^(N)In love ^5 [e]He ^(O)predestined us to ^(P)adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, ^(Q)according to the ^[f]kind intention of His will, ^6 (R)to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in ^(S)the Beloved. ^7 (T)In ^[g]Him we have ^(U)redemption ^(V)through His blood, the ^(W)forgiveness of our trespasses, according to ^(X)the riches of His grace ⁸ which He ^[h]lavished on ^[i]us. In all wisdom and insight ⁹ He ^[j](Y)made known to us the mystery of His will, ^(Z)according to His ^[k]kind intention which He ^(AA)purposed in Him ¹⁰ with a view to an administration ^[l]suitable to ^(AB)the fullness of the times, that is, ^(AC)the summing up of all things in Christ, things ^[m]in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him ^11 [n]also we ^[o](AD)have obtained an inheritance, having been ^(AE)predestined ^(AF)according to His purpose who works all things ^(AG)after the counsel of His will, ¹² to the end that we who were the first to hope in ^[p]Christ would be ^(AH)to the praise of His glory. ¹³ In ^[q]Him, you also, after listening to ^(AI)the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also ^[r]believed, you were ^(AJ)sealed in ^[s]Him with ^(AK)the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is ^[t](AL)given as a pledge of ^(AM)our inheritance, with a view to the ^(AN)redemption of ^(AO)God’s own possession, ^(AP)to the praise of His glory.

¹⁵ For this reason I too, ^(AQ)having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and ^[u]your love for ^(AR)all the ^[v]saints, ^16 (AS)do not cease giving thanks for you, ^(AT)while making mention of you in my prayers; ¹⁷ that the ^(AU)God of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(AV)the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of ^(AW)wisdom and of ^(AX)revelation in the ^[w]knowledge of Him. ¹⁸ I pray that ^(AY)the eyes of your heart ^[x]may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the ^(AZ)hope of His ^(BA)calling, what are ^(BB)the riches of the glory of ^(BC)His inheritance in ^(BD)the ^[y]saints, ¹⁹ and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. ^(BE)These are in accordance with the working of the ^(BF)strength of His might ²⁰ which He brought about in Christ, when He ^(BG)raised Him from the dead and ^(BH)seated Him at His right hand in ^(BI)the heavenly places, ²¹ far above ^(BJ)all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every ^(BK)name that is named, not only in ^(BL)this age but also in the one to come. ²² And He ^(BM)put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as ^(BN)head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His ^(BO)body, the ^(BP)fullness of Him who ^(BQ)fills ^(BR)all in all.

Made Alive in Christ

2 And you ^[z]were ^(BS)dead ^[aa]in your trespasses and sins, ² in which you ^(BT)formerly walked according to the ^[ab]course of ^(BU)this world, according to ^(BV)the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in ^(BW)the sons of disobedience. ³ Among them we too all ^(BX)formerly lived in ^(BY)the lusts of our flesh, ^[ac]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the ^[ad]mind, and were ^(BZ)by nature ^(CA)children of wrath, ^(CB)even as the rest. ⁴ But God, being ^(CC)rich in mercy, because of ^(CD)His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were ^(CE)dead ^[ae]in our transgressions, made us alive together ^[af]with Christ (^(CF)by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and ^(CG)raised us up with Him, and ^(CH)seated us with Him in ^(CI)the heavenly places in ^(CJ)Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing ^(CK)riches of His grace in ^(CL)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For ^(CM)by grace you have been saved ^(CN)through faith; and ^[ag]that not of yourselves, it is ^(CO)the gift of God; ^9 (CP)not as a result of works, so that ^(CQ)no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, ^(CR)created in ^(CS)Christ Jesus for ^(CT)good works, which God ^(CU)prepared beforehand so that we would ^(CV)walk in them.

¹¹ Therefore remember that ^(CW)formerly ^(CX)you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “^(CY)Uncircumcision” by the so-called “^(CZ)Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, ^[ah](DA)excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to ^(DB)the covenants of promise, having ^(DC)no hope and ^(DD)without God in the world. ¹³ But now in ^(DE)Christ Jesus you who ^(DF)formerly were ^(DG)far off ^[ai]have ^(DH)been brought near ^[aj](DI)by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is ^(DJ)our peace, ^(DK)who made both groups into one and broke down the ^[ak]barrier of the dividing wall, ^15 [al]by ^(DL)abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is ^(DM)the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might ^[am](DN)make the two into ^(DO)one new man, thus establishing ^(DP)peace, ¹⁶ and might ^(DQ)reconcile them both in ^(DR)one body to God through the cross, ^[an]by it having ^(DS)put to death the enmity. ¹⁷ And ^(DT)He came and preached ^(DU)peace to you who were ^(DV)far away, and peace to those who were ^(DW)near; ¹⁸ for through Him we both have ^(DX)our access in ^(DY)one Spirit to ^(DZ)the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer ^(EA)strangers and aliens, but you are ^(EB)fellow citizens with the ^[ao]saints, and are of ^(EC)God’s household, ²⁰ having been ^(ED)built on ^(EE)the foundation of ^(EF)the apostles and prophets, ^(EG)Christ Jesus Himself being the ^(EH)corner stone, ^21 (EI)in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into ^(EJ)a holy ^[ap]temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being ^(EK)built together into a ^(EL)dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Paul’s Stewardship

3 For this reason I, Paul, ^(EM)the prisoner of ^(EN)Christ Jesus ^(EO)for the sake of you ^(EP)Gentiles— ² if indeed you have heard of the ^(EQ)stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; ^3 (ER)that ^(ES)by revelation there was ^(ET)made known to me ^(EU)the mystery, ^(EV)as I wrote before in brief. ^4 [aq]By referring to this, when you read you can understand ^(EW)my insight ^[ar]into the ^(EX)mystery of Christ, ⁵ which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy ^(EY)apostles and prophets ^[as]in the Spirit; ⁶ to be specific, that the Gentiles are ^(EZ)fellow heirs and ^(FA)fellow members of the body, and ^(FB)fellow partakers of the promise in ^(FC)Christ Jesus through the gospel, ^7 (FD)of which I was made a ^(FE)minister, according to the gift of ^(FF)God’s grace which was given to me ^(FG)according to the working of His power. ⁸ To me, ^(FH)the very least of all ^[at]saints, this grace was given, to ^(FI)preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable ^(FJ)riches of Christ, ⁹ and to ^[au]bring to light what is the administration of the ^(FK)mystery which for ages has been ^(FL)hidden in God ^(FM)who created all things; ¹⁰ so that the manifold ^(FN)wisdom of God might now be ^(FO)made known through the church to the ^(FP)rulers and the authorities in ^(FQ)the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was in ^(FR)accordance with the ^[av]eternal purpose which He ^[aw]carried out in ^(FS)Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and ^[ax](FT)confident ^(FU)access through faith ^[ay]in Him. ¹³ Therefore I ask ^[az]you not ^(FV)to lose heart at my tribulations ^(FW)on your behalf, ^[ba]for they are your glory.

¹⁴ For this reason I ^(FX)bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom ^[bb]every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to ^(FY)the riches of His glory, to be ^(FZ)strengthened with power through His Spirit in ^(GA)the inner man, ¹⁷ so that ^(GB)Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being ^(GC)rooted and ^(GD)grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with ^(GE)all the ^[bc]saints what is ^(GF)the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know ^(GG)the love of Christ which ^(GH)surpasses knowledge, that you may be ^(GI)filled up to all the ^(GJ)fullness of God.

^20 (GK)Now to Him who is ^(GL)able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, ^(GM)according to the power that works within us, ^21 (GN)to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations ^[bd]forever and ever. Amen.

Unity of the Spirit

4 Therefore I, ^(GO)the prisoner of the Lord, ^(GP)implore you to ^(GQ)walk in a manner worthy of the ^(GR)calling with which you have been ^(GS)called, ² with all ^(GT)humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another ^(GU)in love, ³ being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the ^(GV)bond of peace. ⁴ There is ^(GW)one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one ^(GX)hope of your calling; ^5 (GY)one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all ^(GZ)who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But ^(HA)to each one of us ^(HB)grace was given ^(HC)according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore ^[be]it says,

⁹ (Now this expression, “He ^(HF)ascended,” what ^[bf]does it mean except that He also ^[bg]had descended into ^(HG)the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is Himself also He who ascended ^(HH)far above all the heavens, so that He might ^(HI)fill all things.) ¹¹ And He ^(HJ)gave ^(HK)some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as ^(HL)evangelists, and some as pastors and ^(HM)teachers, ^12 (HN)for the equipping of the ^[bh]saints for the work of service, to the building up of ^(HO)the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to ^(HP)the unity of the faith, and of the ^[bi](HQ)knowledge of the Son of God, to a ^(HR)mature man, to the measure of the stature ^[bj]which belongs to the ^(HS)fullness of Christ. ^14 [bk]As a result, we are ^(HT)no longer to be children, ^(HU)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by ^(HV)craftiness ^[bl]in ^(HW)deceitful scheming; ¹⁵ but ^[bm]speaking the truth ^(HX)in love, ^[bn]we are to ^(HY)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the ^(HZ)head, even Christ, ¹⁶ from whom ^(IA)the whole body, being fitted and held together ^[bo]by what every joint supplies, according to the ^[bp]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself ^(IB)in love.

The Christian’s Walk

^17 (IC)So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, ^(ID)that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the ^(IE)futility of their mind, ¹⁸ being ^(IF)darkened in their understanding, ^[bq](IG)excluded from the life of God because of the ^(IH)ignorance that is in them, because of the ^(II)hardness of their heart; ¹⁹ and they, having ^(IJ)become callous, ^(IK)have given themselves over to ^(IL)sensuality ^[br]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. ²⁰ But you did not ^(IM)learn ^[bs]Christ in this way, ²¹ if indeed you ^(IN)have heard Him and have ^(IO)been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, ²² that, in reference to your former manner of life, you ^(IP)lay aside the ^(IQ)old ^[bt]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the ^(IR)lusts of deceit, ²³ and that you be ^(IS)renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and ^(IT)put on the ^(IU)new ^[bu]self, which ^[bv](IV)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

²⁵ Therefore, ^(IW)laying aside falsehood, ^(IX)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are ^(IY)members of one another. ^26 (IZ)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and do not ^(JA)give the devil ^[bw]an opportunity. ²⁸ He who steals must steal no longer; but rather ^(JB)he must labor, ^(JC)performing with his own hands what is good, ^(JD)so that he will have something to share with ^[bx]one who has need. ²⁹ Let no ^[by](JE)unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for ^(JF)edification ^[bz]according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. ^30 (JG)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ^[ca]by whom you were ^(JH)sealed for the day of redemption. ^31 (JI)Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be ^(JJ)put away from you, along with all ^(JK)malice. ^32 (JL)Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, ^(JM)just as God in Christ also has forgiven ^[cb]you.

Be Imitators of God

5 ^(JN)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; ² and ^(JO)walk in love, just as Christ also ^(JP)loved ^[cc]you and ^(JQ)gave Himself up for us, an ^(JR)offering and a sacrifice to God ^[cd]as a ^(JS)fragrant aroma.

³ But ^(JT)immorality ^[ce]or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among ^[cf]saints; ⁴ and there must be no ^(JU)filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which ^(JV)are not fitting, but rather ^(JW)giving of thanks. ⁵ For this you know with certainty, that ^(JX)no ^[cg]immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom ^(JY)of Christ and God.

^6 (JZ)Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things ^(KA)the wrath of God comes upon ^(KB)the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not be ^(KC)partakers with them; ⁸ for ^(KD)you were formerly ^(KE)darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as ^(KF)children of Light ⁹ (for ^(KG)the fruit of the Light consists in all ^(KH)goodness and righteousness and truth), ^10 [ch](KI)trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ^11 (KJ)Do not participate in the unfruitful ^(KK)deeds of ^(KL)darkness, but instead even ^[ci](KM)expose them; ¹² for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. ¹³ But all things become visible ^(KN)when they are ^[cj]exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. ¹⁴ For this reason ^[ck]it says,

¹⁵ Therefore ^[cl]be careful how you ^(KR)walk, not ^(KS)as unwise men but as wise, ^16 [cm](KT)making the most of your time, because ^(KU)the days are evil. ¹⁷ So then do not be foolish, but ^(KV)understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And ^(KW)do not get drunk with wine, ^[cn]for that is ^(KX)dissipation, but be ^(KY)filled with the Spirit, ^19 (KZ)speaking to ^[co]one another in ^(LA)psalms and ^(LB)hymns and spiritual ^(LC)songs, ^(LD)singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; ^20 (LE)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to ^[cp](LF)God, even the Father; ^21 [cq](LG)and be subject to one another in the ^[cr](LH)fear of Christ.

Marriage Like Christ and the Church

^22 (LI)Wives, ^(LJ)be subject to your own husbands, ^(LK)as to the Lord. ²³ For ^(LL)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the ^(LM)head of the church, He Himself ^(LN)being the Savior of the body. ²⁴ But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

^25 (LO)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(LP)gave Himself up for her, ^26 (LQ)so that He might sanctify her, having ^(LR)cleansed her by the ^(LS)washing of water with ^(LT)the word, ²⁷ that He might ^(LU)present to Himself the church ^[cs]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be ^(LV)holy and blameless. ²⁸ So husbands ought also to ^(LW)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; ²⁹ for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, ³⁰ because we are ^(LX)members of His ^(LY)body. ^31 (LZ)For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. ³² This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to ^(MA)love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she ^[ct](MB)respects her husband.

Family Relationships

6 ^(MC)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ^2 (MD)Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), ³ so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

^4 (ME)Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but ^(MF)bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

^5 (MG)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your ^[cu]masters according to the flesh, with ^(MH)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, ^(MI)as to Christ; ^6 (MJ)not ^[cv]by way of eyeservice, as ^(MK)men-pleasers, but as ^(ML)slaves of Christ, ^(MM)doing the will of God from the ^[cw]heart. ⁷ With good will ^[cx]render service, ^(MN)as to the Lord, and not to men, ^8 (MO)knowing that ^(MP)whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, ^(MQ)whether slave or free.

⁹ And masters, do the same things to them, and ^(MR)give up threatening, knowing that ^(MS)both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is ^(MT)no partiality with Him.

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, ^(MU)be strong in the Lord and in ^(MV)the strength of His might. ^11 (MW)Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the ^(MX)schemes of the devil. ¹² For our ^(MY)struggle is not against ^[cy](MZ)flesh and blood, but ^(NA)against the rulers, against the powers, against the ^(NB)world forces of this ^(NC)darkness, against the ^(ND)spiritual forces of wickedness in ^(NE)the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up ^(NF)the full armor of God, so that you will be able to ^(NG)resist in ^(NH)the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, ^(NI)having girded your loins with truth, and having ^(NJ)put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having ^(NK)shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ^16 [cz]in addition to all, taking up the ^(NL)shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the ^(NM)flaming arrows of ^(NN)the evil one. ¹⁷ And take ^(NO)the helmet of salvation, and the ^(NP)sword of the Spirit, which is ^(NQ)the word of God.

^18 [da]With all ^(NR)prayer and petition ^[db](NS)pray at all times ^(NT)in the Spirit, and with this in view, ^[dc](NU)be on the alert with all ^(NV)perseverance and ^(NW)petition for all the saints, ¹⁹ and ^(NX)pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me ^(NY)in the opening of my mouth, to make known with ^(NZ)boldness ^(OA)the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ^(OB)ambassador ^(OC)in ^[dd]chains; that ^[de]in proclaiming it I may speak ^(OD)boldly, ^(OE)as I ought to speak.

^21 (OF)But that you also may know about my circumstances, ^[df]how I am doing, ^(OG)Tychicus, ^(OH)the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. ^22 [dg](OI)I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know ^[dh]about us, and that he may ^(OJ)comfort your hearts.

^23 (OK)Peace be to the brethren, and ^(OL)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ ^[di]with incorruptible love.