Chronological
1 Paul[a], an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints being in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed Be The God Who Has Blessed Us In Christ With Every Spiritual Blessing
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the One having blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ—
In Christ And By Grace He Chose Us To Be Holy, And Predestined Us For Adoption
4 ... even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we might be holy and without-blemish in His presence, in[b] love 5 having predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ to Himself according-to[c] the good-pleasure of His will, 6 for the praise of the glory of His grace which He graciously-bestowed-on us in the Beloved[d] One,
In Christ And By Grace He Redeemed Us And Revealed The Mystery of His Will To Us
7 ... in[e] Whom we have the redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He caused-to-abound to us, in[f] all wisdom and understanding 9 having made-known to us the mystery of His will according to His good-pleasure, which He purposed in Himself [g] 10 for a stewardship[h] of [i] the fullness of times, that He might sum-up[j] all things in Christ— the things at the heavens and the things on the earth, in Him,
In Christ He Predestined Us For an Inheritance
11 ... in Whom also we were allotted an inheritance[k], having been predestined[l] according to the purpose[m] of the One working all things in accordance with the counsel[n] of His will 12 so-that we, the ones having previously-hoped[o] in the[p] Christ, might be for the praise of His glory,
In Christ He Sealed Us With The Holy Spirit As a Pledge of Our Inheritance
13 ... in Whom also you— having heard the word of truth, the good-news of your salvation, in which[q] also having put-faith— you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 Who is a pledge of our inheritance until the [final] redemption of His possession[r] for the praise of His glory.
I Pray You May Understand The Hope of His Calling And The Greatness of His Power Toward Us
15 For this reason I also, having heard-of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love toward all the saints, 16 do not cease giving-thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of [s] glory, may give you a spirit[t] of [u] wisdom and revelation in[v] the knowledge of Him 18 so that you, the eyes of your heart having been enlightened, may know what is the hope of His calling, what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance among[w] the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us, the ones believing
This Power Raised Christ From The Dead And Seated Him In Great Glory
... in-accordance-with the working of the might of His strength 20 which He worked in Christ, having raised Him from the dead and having seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and lordship and every name being named— not only in this age, but also in the one coming. 22 And He subjected all things under His feet. And He gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of the One filling all things in all[x].
This Power Made Us Alive From The Dead And Seated Us With Christ As Recipients of Grace
2 Indeed, you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you formerly walked in accordance with the [present] age[y] of this world, in accordance with the ruler of the authority[z] of the air, of [aa] the spirit[ab] now being at-work in the sons of [ac] disobedience, 3 among whom even we all formerly conducted-ourselves[ad] in the desires of our flesh, doing the wants[ae] of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature children of [af] wrath, as also the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even we being dead in trespasses, made-us-alive-with Christ— by grace you are saved— 6 and raised-us-with Him and seated-us-with Him in the heavenly-places in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that He might demonstrate[ag] in the coming ages[ah] the surpassing riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For We Are Saved By Grace For The Good Works Which God Prepared For Us
8 For by grace you are saved through faith. And this[ai] is not from you. It is the gift of God— 9 not of works, in order that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared-beforehand in order that we might walk in them.
So Remember Your Hopeless Condition As Gentiles Without Christ And God’s Promises
11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh— the ones being called “the uncircumcised” by the one being called “the circumcised” (one done-by-human-hands in the flesh)— 12 that you were at that time without Christ, having been excluded from the citizenship[aj] of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without-God in the world.
But Now Christ Made Peace And Reconciled Jews And Gentiles To God Through The Cross
13 But now in Christ Jesus you, the ones formerly being far-away, were made near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, the One having made both one and having broken-down the dividing-wall of partition[ak], the hostility— in His flesh 15 having abolished[al] the Law of commandments in decrees[am] in order that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, making peace, 16 and reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility by it[an]. 17 And having come, He announced-as-good-news peace to you, the ones far-away, and peace to the ones near, 18 because[ao] through Him we both have the access in[ap] one Spirit to the Father.
So You Are No Longer Strangers, But In Christ You Are Fellow Citizens And Family Members
19 So then, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow-citizens with the saints and family-members of God, 20 having been built upon the foundation of [aq] the apostles and prophets— Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, 21 in Whom the whole building being fitted-together[ar] is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in Whom also you are being built-together into a dwelling-place of God in[as] the Spirit.
For This Reason, I Paul, a Prisoner of Christ For You Gentiles...
3 For this reason, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you the Gentiles—
For I Am a Steward of God’s Plan To Make Gentiles Partakers of His Promises
2 ... if indeed you heard-of the stewardship[at] of the grace of God having been given[au] to me for you, 3 that by way of revelation the mystery was made-known to me (just as I wrote-before in brief, 4 with reference to which you are able, while reading, to perceive my understanding in[av] the mystery of Christ) 5 which in other generations was not made-known to the sons of humans as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit— 6 that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs and fellow-body-members and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the good-news, 7 of which I was made a minister[aw] in-accordance-with the gift of the grace of God having been given[ax] to me by-way-of the working of His power.
It Was Granted To Me To Enlighten Everyone To See The Creator’s Long Hidden Plan
8 This grace was given to me, the less-than-least of all saints, that I might announce-as-good-news to the Gentiles the untraceable riches of Christ, 9 and enlighten everyone to see what is the stewardship[ay] of the mystery having been hidden from the past ages in God, the One having created all things, 10 so that now the multifaceted wisdom of God might be made-known to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places through the church, 11 in-accordance-with the purpose of the ages[az] which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in Whom we have boldness and access in confidence through faith[ba] in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you not lose-heart in connection with my afflictions for-your-sake, which is your glory!
For This Reason I Pray For You To Know The Love of Christ And The Fullness of God
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from Whom the whole[bb] family in the heavens and on earth is named, 16 asking that He might grant to you in accordance with the riches of His glory that you be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner person 17 so-that[bc] Christ may dwell[bd] in your hearts through faith, 18 in-order-that[be] you, having[bf] been rooted and founded in love, might be strong-enough[bg] to grasp[bh] together-with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ surpassing knowledge, in-order-that[bi] you might be filled to all the fullness of God.
To God Be The Glory
20 Now to the One being able to do super-abundantly beyond all of the things which we ask or think[bj] according to the power being at-work[bk] in us— 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations forever and ever, amen.
Therefore I Exhort You To Walk Worthily of Your Calling, Keeping The Unity of The Spirit
4 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all humblemindedness and gentleness, with patience bearing-with one another in love, 3 being diligent to keep[bl] the unity of [bm] the Spirit in the bond of [bn] peace—
God Made Us One, And Gave Gifts And Grace To Each One of Us
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, the One over all and through all and in all; 7 and to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
For Scripture Says Jesus Ascended On High And Gave Gifts To His People
8 For this reason it says, “having ascended to on-high, He led captivity captive[bo], He gave gifts to people” [Ps 68:18].
9 Now what does the “He ascended” mean except that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth[bp]? 10 The One having descended is Himself also the One having ascended far above all the heavens, in order that He might fill all things.
He Gave Gifted People To Equip The Saints To Build Up The Body of Christ To Maturity
11 And He Himself gave some as apostles, and others as prophets, and others as evangelists, and others as shepherds and teachers, 12 for[bq] the equipping[br] of the saints for the work of ministry[bs], for the building-up of the body of Christ 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature[bt] man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, being tossed-about and carried-around by every wind of teaching, by the trickery of people, by craftiness with-regard-to[bu] the scheme of [bv] error[bw], 15 but that while speaking-the-truth in love, we may grow as to all things into Him Who is the head— Christ, 16 from Whom the whole body, being fitted-together[bx] and held-together by every joint of supply according to the working in measure of each individual part, is producing the growth of the body for the building-up of itself in love.
So Walk No Longer In The Futile Darkness of The Gentiles, As They Pursue Impurity
17 Therefore this I say and testify in the Lord, that you be walking no longer as indeed the Gentiles are walking, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, having been excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance being in them, because of the hardness of their hearts— 19 who, having become callous, gave themselves over to sensuality for the practice[by] of every impurity with greed.
Lay Aside The Old Person. Be Renewed In Your Mind And Put On The New Person
20 But you did not learn Christ in this manner, 21 if indeed you heard Him and were taught in Him, even as it is the truth in Jesus 22 that in-relation-to your former way-of-life you lay-aside the old person being corrupted[bz] in-accordance-with the desires of [ca] deception, 23 and that you be being renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put-on the new person having been created in accordance with God, in righteousness and holiness of [cb] truth.
Live Out Righteousness And Truth
25 Therefore, having laid-aside the lie[cc], each of you be speaking truth with his neighbor, because we are body-parts of one another. 26 Be angry and-yet do not be sinning. Do not let the sun go down upon your angriness[cd], 27 nor give a place[ce] to the devil. 28 Let the one stealing be stealing no longer. But rather let him be laboring, working the good thing with his own hands in order that he might have something to give to the one having a need. 29 Let every bad[cf] word not proceed out of your mouth, but if there is something good for edification of the need, speak in order that it may give grace to the ones hearing. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with[cg] Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and anger and wrath and clamor and blasphemy[ch] be taken-away[ci] from you, along-with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other just as God in Christ also forgave you.
As Beloved Children, Be Imitators of God And Walk In Love
5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And be walking in love, just as Christ also loved us and handed Himself over for us— an offering and a sacrifice to God for an aroma of fragrance.
But Don’t Let Any Kind of Impurity Or Greed Exist Among You
3 But let sexual-immorality and all impurity or greed not even be named[cj] among you, as is proper for saints— 4 and filthiness[ck] and foolish-talk or coarse-joking[cl], which are not fitting, but rather thanksgiving.
You Know This Is Right, So Don’t Be Partakers With Those Inheriting Wrath
5 For you know this[cm]— recognizing[cn] that every sexually-immoral or impure or greedy person (that is, an idolater) does not have an 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 is coming upon the sons of [co] disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be fellow-partakers with them.
For You Were Formerly Darkness, But Now You Are Light; Walk As Children of Light
8 For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Be walking as children of [cp] light (9 for the fruit of the light is in[cq] all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 approving what is pleasing[cr] to the Lord.
Expose The Works of Darkness To God’s Light
11 And do not be participating in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even be exposing[cs] them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak the things being done in secret by them, 13 but all things being exposed by the light become-visible[ct]. 14 For everything becoming-visible is[cu] light. Therefore he[cv] says, “Awake, sleeping one, and rise-up from the dead, and Christ will shine-on you.”
So Walk Wisely, Redeeming The Time. Be Filled With The Spirit, And Subject To One Another
15 Therefore be watching carefully how you walk— not as unwise, but as wise, 16 redeeming[cw] the time, because the days are evil. 17 For this reason, do not be foolish ones, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get-drunk with wine, in[cx] which is wild-living, but be filled with[cy] the Spirit, 19 speaking to each other with[cz] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making-melody with your heart to the Lord, 20 giving-thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father, 21 being-subject[da] to one another in the fear[db] of Christ—
Wives, Be Subject To Your Husbands As The Church Is Subject To Christ
22 ... wives— to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 Because a husband is the head of his wife as also Christ is the head of the church, He being the Savior of the body. 24 Nevertheless[dc], as the church is subject to Christ, in this manner also let the wives be to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, Love Your Wives As Christ Loved The Church
25 Husbands, be loving your wives just-as Christ also loved the church and handed Himself over for her 26 in order that He might sanctify[dd] her, having cleansed[de] her with[df] the washing[dg] of water by[dh] the word, 27 in order that He might present the church to Himself as glorious— not having spot or wrinkle or any of such things, but that she might be holy and without-blemish. 28 In this manner[di], husbands ought also to be loving their wives as their own bodies. The one loving his wife is loving himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are body-parts of His body. 31 “For this cause a man shall leave-behind his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two will be one flesh” [Gen 2:24]. 32 This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and with reference to the church. 33 Nevertheless, you also individually, let each in this manner be loving his wife as himself. And let the wife see that she be respecting her husband.
Children, Honor Your Parents
6 Children, be obeying your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Be honoring your father and mother”— which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “in order that it may be well with you and you may be long-lived upon the earth” [Deut 5:16].
Fathers, Nourish Your Children In The Lord
4 And fathers, do not be provoking your children to anger, but be nourishing them in the training[dj] and admonition[dk] of the Lord.
Slaves And Masters, Live As Slaves of Christ
5 Slaves, be obeying your masters according-to the flesh with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ— 6 not by way of eye-service as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul, 7 serving with good-will as to the Lord and not to people, 8 knowing that each one, if he does anything good, will receive this back from the Lord, whether slave or free. 9 And masters, be doing the same things to them, giving-up the threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in the heavens, and there is no respect-of-persons with Him.
Finally, Put On The Full Armor of God So You Can Stand Against The Spiritual Forces of Evil
10 Finally, become-strong in the Lord and in the might of His strength. 11 Put-on the full-armor of God so-that you may be able to stand against the schemes[dl] of the devil, 12 because the struggle[dm] for us is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-powers[dn] of this darkness, against the spiritual forces[do] of evilness in the heavenly-places. 13 For this reason, take-up the full-armor of God in order that you may be able to resist[dp] on the evil day, and having worked[dq] everything, to stand.
Stand Armored With Truth, Righteousness, And Faith, Wielding God’s Word And Prayer
14 Stand [firm] therefore, having girded[dr] your waist with truth, and having put-on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having sandaled your feet with the readiness[ds] of the good-news of peace, 16 with all these having taken-up the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword[dt] of [du] the Spirit, which is the Word of God, 18 praying with every-kind-of prayer and petition at every opportunity[dv] in the Spirit, and keeping-alert for it with all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints— 19 and for me, that a word may be given to me in connection with the opening of my mouth with boldness to make-known the mystery of the good-news 20 for the sake of which I am-an-ambassador in a chain, that with[dw] it I may speak-boldly[dx] as I ought-to speak.
Closing Remarks
21 Now in order that you also may know the things concerning me, what I am doing, Tychicus will make everything known to you— the beloved brother and faithful minister[dy] in the Lord 22 whom I sent to you for this very reason, in order that you may know the things concerning us and he may encourage your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all the ones loving our Lord Jesus Christ with undecayability[dz].
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing