Ephesians 2:2 - Philippians 2:14

English Standard Version

^2 (A)in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following ^(B)the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in ^(C)the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in ^(D)the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body^[a] and the mind, and ^(E)were by nature ^(F)children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.^{[b] 4} But^[c] God, being ^(G)rich in mercy, ^(H)because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even ^(I)when we were dead in our trespasses, ^(J)made us alive together with Christ—^(K)by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and ^(L)seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable ^(M)riches of his grace in ^(N)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For ^(O)by grace you have been saved ^(P)through faith. And this is ^(Q)not your own doing; ^(R)it is the gift of God, ^9 (S)not a result of works, ^(T)so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For ^(U)we are his workmanship, ^(V)created in Christ Jesus ^(W)for good works, ^(X)which God prepared beforehand, ^(Y)that we should walk in them.

One in Christ

¹¹ Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called ^(Z)the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— ¹² remember ^(AA)that you were at that time separated from Christ, ^(AB)alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to ^(AC)the covenants of promise, ^(AD)having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were ^(AE)far off have been brought near ^(AF)by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For ^(AG)he himself is our peace, ^(AH)who has made us both one and has broken down ^(AI)in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ^(AJ)ordinances, that he might create in himself one ^(AK)new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶ and might ^(AL)reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. ¹⁷ And he came and ^(AM)preached peace to you who were ^(AN)far off and peace to those who were ^(AO)near. ¹⁸ For ^(AP)through him we both have ^(AQ)access in ^(AR)one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer ^(AS)strangers and aliens,^[d] but you are ^(AT)fellow citizens with the saints and ^(AU)members of the household of God, ^20 (AV)built on the foundation of the ^(AW)apostles and prophets, ^(AX)Christ Jesus himself being ^(AY)the cornerstone, ^21 (AZ)in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into ^(BA)a holy temple in the Lord. ²² In him ^(BB)you also are being built together ^(BC)into a dwelling place for God by^[e] the Spirit.

The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed

3 For this reason I, Paul, ^(BD)a prisoner of Christ Jesus ^(BE)on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming that you have heard of ^(BF)the stewardship of ^(BG)God's grace that was given to me for you, ^3 (BH)how the mystery was made known to me ^(BI)by revelation, ^(BJ)as I have written briefly. ^4 (BK)When you read this, you can perceive my insight into ^(BL)the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶ This mystery is^[f] that the Gentiles are ^(BM)fellow heirs, ^(BN)members of the same body, and ^(BO)partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

^7 (BP)Of this gospel I was made ^(BQ)a minister according to the gift of ^(BR)God's grace, which was given me ^(BS)by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, ^(BT)though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, ^(BU)to preach to the Gentiles the ^(BV)unsearchable ^(BW)riches of Christ, ⁹ and ^(BX)to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery ^(BY)hidden for ages in^[g] God, ^(BZ)who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold ^(CA)wisdom of God ^(CB)might now be made known to ^(CC)the rulers and authorities ^(CD)in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was ^(CE)according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have ^(CF)boldness and ^(CG)access with ^(CH)confidence through our ^(CI)faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering ^(CJ)for you, ^(CK)which is your glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom ^(CL)every family^[h] in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to ^(CM)the riches of his glory ^(CN)he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit ^(CO)in your inner being, ^17 (CP)so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being ^(CQ)rooted and ^(CR)grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to ^(CS)comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and ^(CT)height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ ^(CU)that surpasses knowledge, that ^(CV)you may be filled with all ^(CW)the fullness of God.

^20 (CX)Now to ^(CY)him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, ^(CZ)according to the power at work within us, ^21 (DA)to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Unity in the Body of Christ

4 I therefore, ^(DB)a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to ^(DC)walk in a manner worthy of ^(DD)the calling to which you have been called, ² with all ^(DE)humility and ^(DF)gentleness, with ^(DG)patience, ^(DH)bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in ^(DI)the bond of peace. ⁴ There is ^(DJ)one body and ^(DK)one Spirit—just as you were called to the one ^(DL)hope that belongs to your call— ^5 (DM)one Lord, ^(DN)one faith, ^(DO)one baptism, ^6 (DP)one God and Father of all, ^(DQ)who is over all and through all and in all. ⁷ But ^(DR)grace was given ^(DS)to each one of us ^(DT)according to the measure of Christ's gift. ⁸ Therefore it says,

⁹ (^(DW)In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into ^(DX)the lower regions, the earth?^{[j] 10} He who descended is the one who also ^(DY)ascended ^(DZ)far above all the heavens, that he might ^(EA)fill all things.) ¹¹ And ^(EB)he gave the ^(EC)apostles, the prophets, the ^(ED)evangelists, the ^(EE)shepherds^[k] and teachers,^{[l] 12 (EF)}to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for ^(EG)building up ^(EH)the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to ^(EI)the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, ^(EJ)to mature manhood,^[m] to the measure of the stature of ^(EK)the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, ^(EL)tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in ^(EM)deceitful schemes. ¹⁵ Rather, ^(EN)speaking the truth in love, we are to ^(EO)grow up in every way into him who is ^(EP)the head, into Christ, ^16 (EQ)from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, ^(ER)when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

The New Life

¹⁷ Now this I say and ^(ES)testify in the Lord, ^(ET)that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, ^(EU)in the futility of their minds. ¹⁸ They ^(EV)are darkened in their understanding, ^(EW)alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to ^(EX)their hardness of heart. ¹⁹ They ^(EY)have become callous and ^(EZ)have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰ But that is not the way you ^(FA)learned Christ!— ²¹ assuming that ^(FB)you have heard about him and ^(FC)were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²² to ^(FD)put off ^(FE)your old self,^[n] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through ^(FF)deceitful desires, ²³ and ^(FG)to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on ^(FH)the new self, ^(FI)created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

²⁵ Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you ^(FJ)speak the truth with his neighbor, for ^(FK)we are members one of another. ^26 (FL)Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and ^(FM)give no opportunity to the devil. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal, but rather ^(FN)let him labor, ^(FO)doing honest work with his own hands, so ^(FP)that he may have something to share with anyone in need. ^29 (FQ)Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give ^(FR)grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And ^(FS)do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ^(FT)by whom you were sealed for the day of ^(FU)redemption. ^31 (FV)Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ^32 (FW)Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, ^(FX)forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Walk in Love

5 ^(FY)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ² And ^(FZ)walk in love, ^(GA)as Christ loved us and ^(GB)gave himself up for us, a ^(GC)fragrant ^(GD)offering and sacrifice to God.

³ But ^(GE)sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness ^(GF)must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴ Let there be ^(GG)no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, ^(GH)which are out of place, but instead ^(GI)let there be thanksgiving. ⁵ For you may be sure of this, that ^(GJ)everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (^(GK)that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ^6 (GL)Let no one ^(GM)deceive you with empty words, for because of these things ^(GN)the wrath of God comes upon ^(GO)the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore ^(GP)do not become partners with them; ⁸ for ^(GQ)at one time you were ^(GR)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. ^(GS)Walk as children of light ⁹ (for ^(GT)the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰ and ^(GU)try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ^11 (GV)Take no part in the ^(GW)unfruitful ^(GX)works of darkness, but instead ^(GY)expose them. ¹² For ^(GZ)it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. ¹³ But when ^(HA)anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, ¹⁴ for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

^15 (HE)Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ^16 (HF)making the best use of the time, because ^(HG)the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what ^(HH)the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And ^(HI)do not get drunk with wine, for that is ^(HJ)debauchery, but ^(HK)be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in ^(HL)psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ^20 (HM)giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father ^(HN)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^21 (HO)submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands

^22 (HP)Wives, ^(HQ)submit to your own husbands, ^(HR)as to the Lord. ²³ For ^(HS)the husband is the head of the wife even as ^(HT)Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is ^(HU)himself its Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit ^(HV)in everything to their husbands.

^25 (HW)Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and ^(HX)gave himself up for her, ²⁶ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by ^(HY)the washing of water ^(HZ)with the word, ²⁷ so ^(IA)that he might present the church to himself in splendor, ^(IB)without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.^{[o] 28} In the same way ^(IC)husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, ³⁰ because ^(ID)we are members of his body. ^31 (IE)“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and ^(IF)the two shall become one flesh.” ³² This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. ³³ However, ^(IG)let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she ^(IH)respects her husband.

Children and Parents

6 ^(II)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ^2 (IJ)“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), ³ “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” ⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, ^(IK)but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Bondservants and Masters

^5 (IL)Bondservants,^[p] obey your earthly masters^[q] with fear and trembling, ^(IM)with a sincere heart, ^(IN)as you would Christ, ⁶ not by the way of eye-service, as ^(IO)people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, ^8 (IP)knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, ^(IQ)whether he is a bondservant or is free. ⁹ Masters, do the same to them, ^(IR)and stop your threatening, knowing that ^(IS)he who is both their Master^[r] and yours is in heaven, and that ^(IT)there is no partiality with him.

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, ^(IU)be strong in the Lord and in ^(IV)the strength of his might. ^11 (IW)Put on ^(IX)the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against ^(IY)the schemes of the devil. ¹² For ^(IZ)we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ^(JA)the rulers, against the authorities, against ^(JB)the cosmic powers over ^(JC)this present darkness, against ^(JD)the spiritual forces of evil ^(JE)in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore ^(JF)take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in ^(JG)the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, ^(JH)having fastened on the belt of truth, and ^(JI)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, ^(JJ)as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up ^(JK)the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all ^(JL)the flaming darts of ^(JM)the evil one; ¹⁷ and take ^(JN)the helmet of salvation, and ^(JO)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying ^(JP)at all times ^(JQ)in the Spirit, ^(JR)with all prayer and supplication. To that end, ^(JS)keep alert with all perseverance, making ^(JT)supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and ^(JU)also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth ^(JV)boldly to proclaim ^(JW)the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I ^(JX)am an ambassador ^(JY)in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Final Greetings

^21 (JZ)So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, ^(KA)Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. ²² I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may ^(KB)encourage your hearts.

^23 (KC)Peace be to the brothers,^[s] and ^(KD)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all who ^(KE)love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Greeting

1 Paul and Timothy, servants^[t] of Christ Jesus,

To all the ^(KF)saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the ^(KG)overseers^[u] and ^(KH)deacons:^[v]

^2 (KI)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

^3 (KJ)I thank my God ^(KK)in all my remembrance of you, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, ^5 (KL)because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ And I am sure of this, that he who began ^(KM)a good work in you ^(KN)will bring it to completion at ^(KO)the day of Jesus Christ. ⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you ^(KP)in my heart, for you are all ^(KQ)partakers with me of grace,^[w] both ^(KR)in my imprisonment and in ^(KS)the defense and confirmation of the gospel. ⁸ For ^(KT)God is my witness, ^(KU)how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And it is my prayer that ^(KV)your love may abound more and more, ^(KW)with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve what is excellent, ^(KX)and so be pure and blameless ^(KY)for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled ^(KZ)with the fruit of righteousness that comes ^(LA)through Jesus Christ, ^(LB)to the glory and praise of God.

The Advance of the Gospel

¹² I want you to know, brothers,^[x] that what has happened to me has really ^(LC)served to advance the gospel, ¹³ so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard^[y] and ^(LD)to all the rest that ^(LE)my imprisonment is for Christ. ¹⁴ And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold ^(LF)to speak the word^[z] without fear.

^15 (LG)Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. ¹⁶ The latter do it out of love, ^(LH)knowing that I am put here for ^(LI)the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former proclaim Christ ^(LJ)out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

To Live Is Christ

Yes, and I will rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that ^(LK)through your prayers and ^(LL)the help of ^(LM)the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, ²⁰ as it is my eager expectation and hope ^(LN)that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full ^(LO)courage now as always Christ ^(LP)will be honored in my body, ^(LQ)whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me ^(LR)to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. ^23 (LS)I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is ^(LT)to depart and ^(LU)be with Christ, for that is far better. ²⁴ But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ^25 (LV)Convinced of this, ^(LW)I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your ^(LX)progress and ^(LY)joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that in me ^(LZ)you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

²⁷ Only ^(MA)let your manner of life be ^(MB)worthy^[aa] of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you ^(MC)that you are standing firm in one spirit, with ^(MD)one mind ^(ME)striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is ^(MF)a clear sign to them of their destruction, but ^(MG)of your salvation, and that from God. ²⁹ For ^(MH)it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also ^(MI)suffer for his sake, ³⁰ engaged in the same ^(MJ)conflict that ^(MK)you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Christ's Example of Humility

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from ^(ML)love, any ^(MM)participation in the Spirit, any ^(MN)affection and sympathy, ^2 (MO)complete my joy by being ^(MP)of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from ^(MQ)selfish ambition or ^(MR)conceit, but in ^(MS)humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you ^(MT)look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ^5 (MU)Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,^{[ab] 6 (MV)}who, though he was in ^(MW)the form of God, did not count equality with God ^(MX)a thing to be grasped,^{[ac] 7} but ^(MY)emptied himself, by taking the form of a ^(MZ)servant,^{[ad] (NA)}being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by ^(NB)becoming obedient to the point of death, ^(NC)even death on a cross. ^9 (ND)Therefore ^(NE)God has ^(NF)highly exalted him and bestowed on him ^(NG)the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus ^(NH)every knee should bow, ^(NI)in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and ^(NJ)every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is ^(NK)Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

¹² Therefore, my beloved, ^(NL)as you have always ^(NM)obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for ^(NN)it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for ^(NO)his good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things ^(NP)without grumbling or ^(NQ)disputing,