Ephesians 3-4

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles

3 This is the reason that I, Paul, am a prisoner for^[a] Christ Jesus^[b] for the sake of you gentiles, ² for surely^[c] you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you ³ and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words,^{[d](A) 4} a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ.^{(B) 5} In former generations this mystery^[e] was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:^{(C) 6} that is, the gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.^(D)

⁷ Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power. ⁸ Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ^{(E) 9} and to make everyone see^[f] what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in^[g] God, who created all things,^{(F) 10} so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.^{[h](G) 11} This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have access in boldness and confidence through faith in him.^{[i](H) 13} I pray, therefore, that you^[j] may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.

Prayer for the Readers

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,^{[k] 15} from whom every family^[l] in heaven and on earth takes its name. ¹⁶ I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit^{(I) 17} and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. ¹⁸ I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth^{(J) 19} and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.^(K)

²⁰ Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine,^{(L) 21} to him be glory in the church and^[m] in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Unity in the Body of Christ

4 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,^{(M) 2} with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,^{(N) 3} making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: ⁴ there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling,^{(O) 5} one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.^[n]

⁷ But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.^{(P) 8} Therefore it is said,

⁹ (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended^[p] into the lower parts of the earth?^{[q] 10} He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) ¹¹ He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers^{(R) 12} to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,^{(S) 13} until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity,^[r] to the measure of the full stature of Christ.^{(T) 14} We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming;^{(U) 15} but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,^{(V) 16} from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

The Old Life and the New

¹⁷ Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer walk as the^[s] gentiles walk, in the futility of their minds;^{(W) 18} they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart.^{(X) 19} They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰ That is not the way you learned Christ! ²¹ For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, ²² to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts,^{(Y) 23} and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.^(Z)

Rules for the New Life

²⁵ So then, putting away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are members of one another.^{(AA) 26} Be angry but do not sin;^[t] do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and do not make room for the devil. ²⁸ Those who steal must give up stealing; rather, let them labor, doing good work with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. ²⁹ Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is good for building up,^[u] as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.^{(AB) 31} Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice.^{(AC) 32} Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.^[v](AD)