¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

⁴ Little children, you are from God and have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ⁵ They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them.

¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.^{(A) 15} I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.^{[a](B) 16} They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.

⁴ just as he chose us in Christ^[a] before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.^{(A) 5} He destined us^[b] for adoption as his children^[c] through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will,^{(B) 6} to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace^{(C) 8} that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight ⁹ he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,^{(D) 10} as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.^{(E) 11} In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance,^[d] having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will,^(F)

³ For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another.^{(A) 4} But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,^{(B) 5} he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water^[a] of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.^{(C) 6} This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.^(D)

² in which you once walked, following the course of this world,^[a] following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.^{[b](A) 3} All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, doing the will of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else,^{(B) 4} but God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us^{(C) 5} even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ^[c]—by grace you have been saved—

¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.^(A)

¹⁹ We know that we are God’s children and that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one.^{(A) 20} And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true;^[a] and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.^(B)

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people,^[a] in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.^(A)

Live as Servants of God

¹¹ Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul.^{[b](C) 12} Conduct yourselves honorably among the gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.^[c](D)