Ephesians 2:1-6:9

New American Standard Bible

Made Alive in Christ

2 And ^[a]you ^[b]were ^(A)dead ^[c]in your offenses and sins, ² in which you ^(B)previously walked according to the ^[d]course of ^(C)this world, according to ^(D)the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in ^(E)the ^[e]sons of disobedience. ³ Among them ^[f]we too all ^(F)previously lived in ^(G)the lusts of our flesh, ^[g]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the ^[h]mind, and were ^(H)by nature ^(I)children of wrath, ^(J)just as the rest. ⁴ But God, being ^(K)rich in mercy, because of ^(L)His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were ^(M)dead ^[i]in our wrongdoings, made us alive together ^[j]with Christ (^(N)by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and ^(O)raised us up with Him, and ^(P)seated us with Him in ^(Q)the heavenly places in ^(R)Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the ^[k]boundless ^(S)riches of His grace in ^(T)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For ^(U)by grace you have been saved ^(V)through faith; and ^[l]this is not of yourselves, it is ^(W)the gift of God; ^9 (X)not a result of works, so that ^(Y)no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, ^(Z)created in ^(AA)Christ Jesus for ^(AB)good works, which God ^(AC)prepared beforehand so that we would ^(AD)walk in them.

¹¹ Therefore remember that ^(AE)previously ^(AF)you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “^(AG)Uncircumcision” by the so-called “^(AH)Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, ^[m](AI)excluded from ^[n]the people of Israel, and strangers to ^(AJ)the covenants of the promise, having ^(AK)no hope and ^(AL)without God in the world. ¹³ But now in ^(AM)Christ Jesus you who ^(AN)previously were ^(AO)far away ^[o]have ^(AP)been brought near ^[p](AQ)by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is ^(AR)our peace, ^(AS)who made both groups into one and broke down the ^[q]barrier of the dividing wall, ^15 [r]by ^(AT)abolishing ^[s]in His flesh the hostility, which is ^(AU)the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might ^[t](AV)make the two ^(AW)one new person, in this way establishing ^(AX)peace; ¹⁶ and that He might ^(AY)reconcile them both in ^(AZ)one body to God through the cross, ^[u]by it having ^(BA)put to death the hostility. ¹⁷ And ^(BB)He came and preached ^(BC)peace to you who were ^(BD)far away, and peace to those who were ^(BE)near; ¹⁸ for through Him we both have ^(BF)our access in ^(BG)one Spirit to ^(BH)the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer ^(BI)strangers and foreigners, but you are ^(BJ)fellow citizens with the ^[v]saints, and are of ^(BK)God’s household, ²⁰ having been ^(BL)built on ^(BM)the foundation of ^(BN)the apostles and prophets, ^(BO)Christ Jesus Himself being the ^(BP)cornerstone, ^21 (BQ)in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into ^(BR)a holy ^[w]temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being ^(BS)built together into a ^(BT)dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Paul’s Stewardship

3 For this reason I, Paul, ^(BU)the prisoner of ^(BV)Christ Jesus ^(BW)for the sake of you ^(BX)Gentiles— ² if indeed you have heard of the ^(BY)administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you; ^3 (BZ)that ^(CA)by revelation there was ^(CB)made known to me ^(CC)the mystery, ^(CD)as I wrote before briefly. ^4 [x]By referring to this, when you read you can understand ^(CE)my insight ^[y]into the ^(CF)mystery of Christ, ⁵ which in other generations was not made known to ^[z]mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy ^(CG)apostles and prophets ^[aa]in the Spirit; ⁶ to be specific, that the Gentiles are ^(CH)fellow heirs and ^(CI)fellow members of the body, and ^(CJ)fellow partakers of the promise in ^(CK)Christ Jesus through the gospel, ^7 (CL)of which I was made a ^(CM)minister, according to the gift of ^(CN)God’s grace which was given to me ^(CO)according to the working of His power. ⁸ To me, ^(CP)the very least of all ^[ab]saints, this grace was given, to ^(CQ)preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable ^(CR)riches of Christ, ⁹ and to ^[ac]enlighten all people as to what the plan of the ^(CS)mystery is which for ages has been ^(CT)hidden in God, ^(CU)who created all things; ¹⁰ so that the multifaceted ^(CV)wisdom of God might now be ^(CW)made known through the church to the ^(CX)rulers and the authorities in ^(CY)the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was in ^(CZ)accordance with the ^[ad]eternal purpose which He ^[ae]carried out in ^(DA)Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and ^[af](DB)confident ^(DC)access through faith ^[ag]in Him. ¹³ Therefore I ask ^[ah]you not ^(DD)to become discouraged about my tribulations ^(DE)in your behalf, ^[ai]since they are your glory.

¹⁴ For this reason I ^(DF)bend my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom ^[aj]every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to ^(DG)the riches of His glory, to be ^(DH)strengthened with power through His Spirit in ^(DI)the inner ^[ak]self, ¹⁷ so that ^(DJ)Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being ^(DK)rooted and ^(DL)grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with ^(DM)all the ^[al]saints what is ^(DN)the width and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know ^(DO)the love of Christ which ^(DP)surpasses knowledge, that you may be ^(DQ)filled to all the ^(DR)fullness of God.

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

Unity of the Spirit

4 Therefore I, ^(DW)the prisoner of the Lord, ^(DX)urge you to ^(DY)walk in a manner worthy of the ^(DZ)calling with which you have been ^(EA)called, ² with all ^(EB)humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another ^(EC)in love, ³ being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the ^(ED)bond of peace. ⁴ There is ^(EE)one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one ^(EF)hope of your calling; ^5 (EG)one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all ^(EH)who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But ^(EI)to each one of us ^(EJ)grace was given ^(EK)according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore ^[an]it says,

⁹ (Now this expression, “He ^(EN)ascended,” what ^[ao]does it mean except that He also ^[ap]had descended into ^(EO)the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is Himself also He who ascended ^(EP)far above all the heavens, so that He might ^(EQ)fill all things.) ¹¹ And He ^(ER)gave ^(ES)some as apostles, some as prophets, some as ^(ET)evangelists, some as ^[aq]pastors and ^(EU)teachers, ^12 (EV)for the equipping of the ^[ar]saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of ^(EW)the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to ^(EX)the unity of the faith, and of the ^[as](EY)knowledge of the Son of God, to a ^(EZ)mature man, to the measure of the stature ^[at]which belongs to the ^(FA)fullness of Christ. ^14 [au]As a result, we are ^(FB)no longer to be children, ^(FC)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by ^(FD)craftiness ^[av]in ^(FE)deceitful scheming; ¹⁵ but ^[aw]speaking the truth ^(FF)in love, ^[ax]we are to ^(FG)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the ^(FH)head, that is, Christ, ¹⁶ from whom ^(FI)the whole body, being fitted and held together ^[ay]by what every joint supplies, according to the ^[az]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself ^(FJ)in love.

The Christian’s Walk

^17 (FK)So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, ^(FL)that you are to no longer walk just as the ^[ba]Gentiles also walk, in the ^(FM)futility of their minds, ¹⁸ being ^(FN)darkened in their understanding, ^[bb](FO)excluded from the life of God because of the ^(FP)ignorance that is in them, because of the ^(FQ)hardness of their heart; ¹⁹ and they, having ^(FR)become callous, ^(FS)have given themselves up to ^(FT)indecent behavior ^[bc]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. ²⁰ But you did not ^(FU)learn Christ in this way, ²¹ if indeed you ^(FV)have heard Him and have ^(FW)been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, ²² that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to ^(FX)rid yourselves of the ^(FY)old ^[bd]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the ^(FZ)lusts of deceit, ²³ and that you are to be ^(GA)renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to ^(GB)put on the ^(GC)new ^[be]self, which ^[bf](GD)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

²⁵ Therefore, ^(GE)ridding yourselves of falsehood, ^(GF)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are ^(GG)parts of one another. ^26 (GH)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and do not ^(GI)give the devil ^[bg]an opportunity. ²⁸ The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather ^(GJ)he must labor, ^(GK)producing with his own hands what is good, ^(GL)so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. ²⁹ Let no ^[bh](GM)unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for ^(GN)edification ^[bi]according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. ^30 (GO)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ^[bj]by whom you were ^(GP)sealed for the day of redemption. ^31 (GQ)All bitterness, wrath, anger, ^[bk]clamor, and slander must be ^(GR)removed from you, along with all ^(GS)malice. ^32 (GT)Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, ^(GU)just as God in Christ also has forgiven ^[bl]you.

Be Imitators of God

5 ^(GV)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; ² and ^(GW)walk in love, just as Christ also ^(GX)loved ^[bm]you and ^(GY)gave Himself up for us, an ^(GZ)offering and a sacrifice to God ^[bn]as a ^(HA)fragrant aroma.

³ But ^(HB)sexual immorality ^[bo]or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among ^[bp]saints; ⁴ and there must be no ^(HC)filthiness ^[bq]or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which ^(HD)are not fitting, but rather ^(HE)giving of thanks. ⁵ For this you know with certainty, that ^(HF)no sexually immoral or ^[br]impure or greedy person, which ^[bs]amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom ^(HG)of Christ and God.

^6 (HH)See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things ^(HI)the wrath of God comes upon ^(HJ)the ^[bt]sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not become ^(HK)partners with them; ⁸ for ^(HL)you were once ^(HM)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as ^(HN)children of light ⁹ (for ^(HO)the fruit of the light consists in all ^(HP)goodness, righteousness, and truth), ^10 [bu](HQ)as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ^11 (HR)Do not participate in the useless ^(HS)deeds of ^(HT)darkness, but instead even ^(HU)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 ^(HV)when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. ¹⁴ For this reason ^[bv]it says,

¹⁵ So then, ^[bw]be careful how you ^(HZ)walk, not ^(IA)as unwise people but as wise, ^16 [bx](IB)making the most of your time, because ^(IC)the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but ^(ID)understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And ^(IE)do not get drunk with wine, ^[by]in which there is ^(IF)debauchery, but be ^(IG)filled with the Spirit, ^19 (IH)speaking to ^[bz]one another in ^(II)psalms and ^(IJ)hymns and spiritual ^(IK)songs, ^(IL)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; ^20 (IM)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our ^(IN)God and Father; ^21 [ca](IO)and subject yourselves to one another in the ^[cb](IP)fear of Christ.

Marriage like Christ and the Church

^22 (IQ)Wives, ^(IR)subject yourselves to your own husbands, ^(IS)as to the Lord. ²³ For ^(IT)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the ^(IU)head of the church, He Himself ^(IV)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 (IW)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(IX)gave Himself up for her, ^26 (IY)so that He might sanctify her, having ^(IZ)cleansed her by the ^(JA)washing of water with ^(JB)the word, ²⁷ that He might ^(JC)present to Himself the church ^[cc]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be ^(JD)holy and blameless. ²⁸ So husbands also ought to ^(JE)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 ^(JF)parts of His ^(JG)body. ^31 (JH)For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and 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, as for you individually, each husband is to ^(JI)love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she ^(JJ)respects her husband.

Children and Parents

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

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

Slaves and Masters

^5 (JO)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your ^[cd]masters according to the flesh, with ^(JP)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, ^(JQ)as to Christ; ^6 (JR)not ^[ce]by way of ^[cf]eye-service, as ^(JS)people-pleasers, but as ^(JT)slaves of Christ, ^(JU)doing the will of God from the ^[cg]heart. ⁷ With goodwill ^[ch]render service, ^(JV)as to the Lord, and not to people, ^8 (JW)knowing that ^(JX)whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, ^(JY)whether slave or free.

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