Ephesians 3 - Philippians 1

New King James Version

The Mystery Revealed

3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— ² if indeed you have heard of the ^[a]dispensation of the grace of God ^(A)which was given to me for you, ^3 (B)how that by revelation ^(C)He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, ⁴ by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), ⁵ which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: ⁶ that the Gentiles ^(D)should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, ^7 (E)of which I became a minister ^(F)according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by ^(G)the effective working of His power.

Purpose of the Mystery

⁸ To me, ^(H)who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles ^(I)the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make all see what is the ^[b]fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who ^(J)created all things ^[c]through Jesus Christ; ^10 (K)to the intent that now ^(L)the ^[d]manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church ^(M)to the ^[e]principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ^11 (N)according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access ^(O)with confidence through faith in Him. ^13 (P)Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, ^(Q)which is your glory.

Appreciation of the Mystery

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees to the ^(R)Father ^[f]of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, ^(S)according to the riches of His glory, ^(T)to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in ^(U)the inner man, ^17 (V)that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, ^(W)being rooted and grounded in love, ^18 (X)may be able to comprehend with all the saints ^(Y)what is the width and length and depth and height— ¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled ^(Z)with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now ^(AA)to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly ^(AB)above all that we ask or think, ^(AC)according to the power that works in us, ^21 (AD)to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Walk in Unity

4 I, therefore, the prisoner ^[g]of the Lord, ^[h]beseech you to ^(AE)walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ² with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, ³ endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit ^(AF)in the bond of peace. ^4 (AG)There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ^5 (AH)one Lord, ^(AI)one faith, ^(AJ)one baptism; ^6 (AK)one God and Father of all, who is above all, and ^(AL)through all, and in ^[i]you all.

Spiritual Gifts

⁷ But ^(AM)to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore He says:

^9 (AO)(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also ^[j]first descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is also the One ^(AP)who ascended far above all the heavens, ^(AQ)that He might fill all things.)

¹¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, ^(AR)for the ^[k]edifying of ^(AS)the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith ^(AT)and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to ^(AU)a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ¹⁴ that we should no longer be ^(AV)children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of ^(AW)deceitful plotting, ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the ^(AX)head—Christ— ^16 (AY)from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

The New Man

¹⁷ This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should ^(AZ)no longer walk as ^[l]the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, ¹⁸ having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the ^(BA)blindness of their heart; ^19 (BB)who, being past feeling, ^(BC)have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

²⁰ But you have not so learned Christ, ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you ^(BD)put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and ^(BE)be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you ^(BF)put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Do Not Grieve the Spirit

²⁵ Therefore, putting away lying, ^(BG)“Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for ^(BH)we are members of one another. ^26 (BI)“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ^27 (BJ)nor give ^[m]place to the devil. ²⁸ Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather ^(BK)let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something ^(BL)to give him who has need. ^29 (BM)Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but ^(BN)what is good for necessary ^[n]edification, ^(BO)that it may impart grace to the hearers. ³⁰ And ^(BP)do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ^31 (BQ)Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, ^[o]clamor, and ^(BR)evil speaking be put away from you, ^(BS)with all malice. ³² And ^(BT)be kind to one another, tenderhearted, ^(BU)forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Walk in Love

5 Therefore^(BV) be imitators of God as dear ^(BW)children. ² And ^(BX)walk in love, ^(BY)as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God ^(BZ)for a sweet-smelling aroma.

³ But fornication and all ^(CA)uncleanness or ^(CB)covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; ^4 (CC)neither filthiness, nor ^(CD)foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, ^(CE)which are not fitting, but rather ^(CF)giving of thanks. ⁵ For ^[p]this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any ^(CG)inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not be ^(CH)partakers with them.

Walk in Light

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are ^(CI)light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹ (for ^(CJ)the fruit of the ^[q]Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ^10 (CK)finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. ¹¹ And have ^(CL)no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather ^[r]expose them. ^12 (CM)For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. ¹³ But ^(CN)all things that are ^[s]exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. ¹⁴ Therefore He says:

Walk in Wisdom

^15 (CP)See then that you walk ^[t]circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ^16 (CQ)redeeming the time, ^(CR)because the days are evil.

^17 (CS)Therefore do not be unwise, but ^(CT)understand ^(CU)what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And ^(CV)do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another ^(CW)in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making ^(CX)melody in your heart to the Lord, ^20 (CY)giving thanks always for all things to God the Father ^(CZ)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^21 (DA)submitting to one another in the fear of ^[u]God.

Marriage—Christ and the Church^(DB)

²² Wives, ^(DC)submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For ^(DD)the husband is head of the wife, as also ^(DE)Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. ²⁴ Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands ^(DF)in everything.

^25 (DG)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(DH)gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might ^[v]sanctify and cleanse her ^(DI)with the washing of water ^(DJ)by the word, ^27 (DK)that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, ^(DL)not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ So husbands ought to love their own 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 the Lord does the church. ³⁰ For ^(DM)we are members of His body, ^[w]of His flesh and of His bones. ^31 (DN)“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the ^(DO)two shall become one flesh.” ³² This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless ^(DP)let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she ^(DQ)respects her husband.

Children and Parents^(DR)

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

⁴ And ^(DU)you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but ^(DV)bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Bondservants and Masters

^5 (DW)Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, ^(DX)with fear and trembling, ^(DY)in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; ^6 (DZ)not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, ^8 (EA)knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

⁹ And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that ^[x]your own ^(EB)Master also is in heaven, and ^(EC)there is no partiality with Him.

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ^11 (ED)Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the ^[y]wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ^(EE)principalities, against powers, against ^(EF)the rulers of ^[z]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ^13 (EG)Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand ^(EH)in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, ^(EI)having girded your waist with truth, ^(EJ)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ^15 (EK)and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking ^(EL)the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And ^(EM)take the helmet of salvation, and ^(EN)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ^18 (EO)praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, ^(EP)being watchful to this end with all perseverance and ^(EQ)supplication for all the saints— ¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, ^(ER)that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which ^(ES)I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

A Gracious Greeting

²¹ But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, ^(ET)Tychicus, a beloved brother and ^(EU)faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; ^22 (EV)whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may ^(EW)comfort your hearts.

²³ Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Greeting

1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the ^[aa]bishops and ^(EX)deacons:

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

Thankfulness and Prayer

^3 (EY)I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, ⁴ always in ^(EZ)every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, ^5 (FA)for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun ^(FB)a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; ⁷ just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. ⁸ For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

⁹ And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, ¹¹ being filled with the fruits of righteousness ^(FC)which are by Jesus Christ, ^(FD)to the glory and praise of God.

Christ Is Preached

¹² But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, ¹³ so that it has become evident ^(FE)to the whole ^[ab]palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; ¹⁴ and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: ^16 [ac]The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; ¹⁷ but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

To Live Is Christ

¹⁹ For I know that ^(FF)this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but ^(FG)with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life ^(FH)or by death. ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I ^[ad]cannot tell. ^23 [ae]For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a ^(FI)desire to depart and be with Christ, which is ^(FJ)far better. ²⁴ Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. ²⁵ And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, ²⁶ that ^(FK)your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

Striving and Suffering for Christ

²⁷ Only ^(FL)let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, ^(FM)with one mind ^(FN)striving together for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but ^[af]to you of salvation, and that from God. ²⁹ For to you ^(FO)it has been granted on behalf of Christ, ^(FP)not only to believe in Him, but also to ^(FQ)suffer for His sake, ^30 (FR)having the same conflict ^(FS)which you saw in me and now hear is in me.