Beginning
4 These three last Chapters contain precepts of manners. 1 He exhorteth them to mutual love. 7 Sundry gifts are therefore bestowed of God, 16 that the Church may be built up. 18 He calleth them from the vanity of infidels, 25 from lying, 29 and from filthy talk.
1 I therefore, [a]being prisoner in the Lord, pray you that ye walk worthy of the [b]vocation whereunto ye are called,
2 [c]With all humbleness of mind, and meekness, with [d]long suffering, supporting one another through love,
3 [e]Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 [f]There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your vocation.
5 There is one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism.
6 One God and Father of all, which is [g]above all, and [h]through all, and [i]in you all.
7 [j]But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the [k]gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended upon high, he led [l]captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now, in that he ascended, what is it but that he had also descended first into the [m]lowest parts of the earth?
10 He that descended, is even the same that ascended, far above all heavens, that he might [n]fill [o]all things.)
11 [p]He therefore gave some to be [q]Apostles, and some [r]Prophets, and some [s]Evangelists, and some [t]Pastors, and Teachers,
12 [u]For the repairing of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edification of the [v]body of Christ,
13 [w]Till we all meet together (in the [x]unity of faith and that acknowledging of the Son of God) unto a perfect man, and unto the measure of the [y]age the fullness of Christ,
14 [z]That we henceforth be no more children, [aa]wavering and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the [ab]deceit of men, and with craftiness, whereby they lay in [ac]wait to deceive.
15 [ad]But let us follow the truth in love, and in all things, grow up into him, which is the head, that is, Christ.
16 By whom all the body being coupled and knit together by every joint, for the furniture thereof (according to the [ae]effectual power, which is in the measure of every part) receiveth [af]increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in [ag]love.
17 [ah]This I say therefore and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as (A)other Gentiles walk, in [ai]vanity of their mind.
18 Having their understanding darkened, and being strangers from the [aj]life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart:
19 Which being [ak]past feeling, have given themselves unto wantonness, to work all uncleanness, even with [al]greediness.
20 [am]But ye have not so learned Christ,
21 If so be ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, [an]as the truth is in Jesus,
22 (B)That is, that ye cast off, concerning the conversation in time past, [ao]that old man, which is corrupt through the deceivable lusts,
23 And be renewed in the [ap]spirit of your mind,
24 And put on the new man, which [aq]after God is created unto [ar]righteousness, and [as]true holiness.
25 [at]Wherefore cast off lying, and speak every man truth unto his neighbor: for we are members one of another.
26 [au]Be [av]angry, but sin not: let not the sun go down [aw]upon your wrath,
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 [ax]Let him that stole, steal no more: but let him rather labor, and work with his hands the thing which is [ay]good, that he may have to give unto him that needeth.
29 [az]Let no [ba]corrupt communication proceed out of your mouths: but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister [bb]grace unto the hearers.
30 [bc]And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, by whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and anger, and wrath, crying, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all maliciousness.
32 Be ye courteous one to another, and tender hearted, freely forgiving one another, [bd]even as God for Christ’s sake, freely forgave you.
5 3 Lest, in those vices which he reprehended, they should set light by his admonitions, 5 he terrifieth them by denouncing severe judgment, 8 and stirreth them forward: 15 Then he defendeth from general lessons of manners, 22 to the particular duties of wives, 25 and husbands.
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children,
2 (C)And walk in love, even as Christ hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savor to God.
3 (D)[be]But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as it becometh Saints,
4 Neither filthiness, neither foolish talking, neither [bf]jesting, which are things not comely, but rather giving of thanks.
5 [bg]For this ye know, that no whoremonger, neither unclean person, nor covetous person, which is an [bh]idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, and of God.
6 (E)Let no man deceive you with vain words: for, for such things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 [bi]Be not therefore companions with them.
8 For ye were once darkness, but are now [bj]light in the Lord: walk as children of light.
9 (For the fruit of the [bk]Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth.)
10 Approving that which is pleasing to the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but even [bl]reprove them rather.
12 For it is shame even to speak of the things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things when they are reproved of the light, are manifest: for it is light that maketh all things manifest.
14 Wherefore [bm]he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and stand up from the [bn]dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 [bo]Take heed therefore that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as (F)wise,
16 [bp]Redeeming the season: for the [bq]days are evil.
17 (G)Wherefore, be ye not unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 [br]And be not drunk with wine, wherein is [bs]excess: but be fulfilled with the Spirit,
19 Speaking unto yourselves in Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord in your [bt]hearts,
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God even the Father, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 [bu]Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 ¶(H)[bv]Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands, [bw]as unto the Lord.
23 (I)[bx]For the husband is the wife’s head, even as Christ is the head of the Church, [by]and the same is the Savior of his body.
24 [bz]Therefore as the Church is in subjection to Christ, even so let the wives be to their husbands in everything.
25 ¶ (J)[ca]Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it,
26 [cb]That he might [cc]sanctify it, and cleanse it by the washing of water through the [cd]word,
27 That he might make it unto himself a glorious Church, [ce]not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy and without blame.
28 [cf]So ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies: he that loveth his wife, loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his [cg]own flesh, but nourished and cherisheth it, even as the Lord doth the Church.
30 For we are members of his body, [ch]of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 (K)For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall [ci]cleave to his wife, and they twain shall be one flesh.
32 [cj]This is a great secret, but I speak concerning Christ, and concerning the Church.
33 [ck]Therefore everyone of you, do ye so: let everyone love his wife, even as himself, and let the wife see that she fear her husband.
6 1 He showeth the duties of children, 5 servants, 9 and masters: 10 Then he speaketh of the fierce battle that the faithful have, 12 and what weapons we must use in the same: 21 In the end he commendeth Tychicus.
1 Children, (L)[cl]obey your parents [cm]in the [cn]Lord: [co]for this is right.
2 (M)[cp]Honor thy father and mother ([cq]which is the first commandment with [cr]promise)
3 That it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on earth.
4 [cs]And ye, fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in instruction and [ct]information of the Lord.
5 (N)[cu]Servants, be obedient unto them that are your masters, [cv]according to the flesh, with [cw]fear and trembling in singleness of your hearts, as unto Christ,
6 Not with service to the eye, as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, [cx]doing the will of God from the heart.
7 With good will, serving the [cy]Lord, and not men.
8 [cz]And know ye that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, that same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free,
9 [da]And ye masters, do the same things unto them, putting away threatening: and know that even your master also is in heaven, neither is there (O)[db]respect of person with him.
10 ¶ [dc]Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the assaults of the devil.
12 [dd]For we wrestle not against flesh and [de]blood, but against (P)[df]principalities, against powers, and against the worldly governors, the princes of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness, which are in the high places.
13 [dg]For this cause take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to resist in the [dh]evil day, and having finished all things, stand fast.
14 Stand therefore, and your loins girded about with verity, and having on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 And your feet shod with the [di]preparation of the Gospel of peace.
16 Above all, take the shield of Faith, wherewith ye may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked,
17 And take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray always with all manner prayer and supplication in the [dj]spirit: and watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints,
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to publish the secret of the Gospel,
20 Whereof I am the ambassador in bonds, that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 ¶ [dk]But that ye may also know mine affairs, and what I do, Tychicus my dear brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall show you of all things.
22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know mine affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be with the brethren, and love with faith from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all them which love our Lord Jesus Christ, to their [dl]immortality, Amen.
¶ Written from Rome unto the Ephesians, and sent by Tychicus.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.