Chronological

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

1 Paul, ^(A)an apostle of ^(B)Christ Jesus ^[a](C)by the will of God,

To the ^[b](D)saints who are ^[c]at ^(E)Ephesus and ^(F)who are faithful in ^(G)Christ Jesus: ^2 (H)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^3 (I)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in ^(J)the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as ^(K)He chose us in Him before ^(L)the foundation of the world, that we would be ^(M)holy and blameless before ^[d]Him ^(N)in love, ⁵ by ^(O)predestining us to ^(P)adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, ^(Q)according to the good pleasure of His will, ^6 (R)to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He graciously bestowed on us in ^(S)the Beloved. ^7 (T)In ^[e]Him we have ^(U)redemption ^(V)through His blood, the ^(W)forgiveness of our transgressions, according to ^(X)the riches of His grace ⁸ which He caused to abound to us in all wisdom and insight, ^9 (Y)making known to us the mystery of His will, ^(Z)according to His good pleasure which He ^(AA)purposed in Him ¹⁰ for an administration of ^(AB)the fullness of the times, that is, ^(AC)the summing up of all things in Christ, things ^[f]in the heavens and things on the earth in Him. ¹¹ In ^[g]Him, we also ^[h](AD)have been made an inheritance, having been ^(AE)predestined ^(AF)according to the purpose of Him who works all things ^(AG)according to the counsel of His will, ¹² to the end that we who first have hoped in ^[i]Christ would be ^(AH)to the praise of His glory. ¹³ In ^[j]Him, you also, after listening to ^(AI)the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also ^[k]believed, you were ^(AJ)sealed in ^[l]Him with ^(AK)the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is ^[m](AL)given as a pledge of ^(AM)our inheritance, unto the ^(AN)redemption of ^(AO)God’s own possession, ^(AP)to the praise of His glory.

¹⁵ For this reason I too, ^(AQ)having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and ^[n]your love for ^(AR)all the ^[o]saints, ^16 (AS)do not cease giving thanks for you, ^(AT)while making mention of you in my prayers: ¹⁷ that the ^(AU)God of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(AV)the Father of glory, may give to you the ^[p]Spirit of ^(AW)wisdom and of ^(AX)revelation in the ^[q]full knowledge of Him, ¹⁸ so that you—^(AY)the eyes of your heart having been enlightened—will know what is the ^(AZ)hope of His ^(BA)calling, what are ^(BB)the riches of the glory of ^(BC)His inheritance in ^(BD)the ^[r]saints, ¹⁹ and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe ^(BE)according to the working of the ^(BF)might of His strength, ²⁰ which He worked in Christ, by ^(BG)raising Him from the dead and ^(BH)seating Him at His right hand in ^(BI)the heavenly places, ²¹ far above ^(BJ)all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every ^(BK)name that is named, not only in ^(BL)this age but also in the one to come. ²² And ^(BM)He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as ^(BN)head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His ^(BO)body, the ^(BP)fullness of Him who ^(BQ)fills ^(BR)all in all.

By Grace Through Faith

2 And you ^[s]were ^(BS)dead ^[t]in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you ^(BT)formerly walked according to the ^[u]course of ^(BU)this world, according to ^(BV)the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working in ^(BW)the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom we all also ^(BX)formerly conducted ourselves in ^(BY)the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the ^[v]mind, and were ^(BZ)by nature ^(CA)children of wrath, ^(CB)even as the rest. ⁴ But God, being ^(CC)rich in mercy because of ^(CD)His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were ^(CE)dead ^[w]in our transgressions, made us alive together ^[x]with Christ—^(CF)by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and ^(CG)raised us up with Him, and ^(CH)seated us with Him in ^(CI)the heavenly places in ^(CJ)Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing ^(CK)riches of His grace in ^(CL)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For ^(CM)by grace you have been saved ^(CN)through faith, and ^[y]this not of yourselves, it is ^(CO)the gift of God; ^9 (CP)not of works, so that ^(CQ)no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, ^(CR)created in ^(CS)Christ Jesus for ^(CT)good works, which God ^(CU)prepared beforehand so that we would ^(CV)walk in them.

¹¹ Therefore, remember that ^(CW)formerly ^(CX)you—the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “^(CY)Uncircumcision” by the so-called “^(CZ)Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time without Christ, ^(DA)alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers to ^(DB)the covenants of promise, having ^(DC)no hope and ^(DD)without God in the world. ¹³ But now in ^(DE)Christ Jesus you who ^(DF)formerly were ^(DG)far off ^[z]have ^(DH)been brought near ^(DI)by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is ^(DJ)our peace, ^(DK)who made both groups one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition ^15 [aa]by ^(DL)abolishing in His flesh the enmity, ^(DM)the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might ^(DN)create the two into ^(DO)one new man, making ^(DP)peace, ¹⁶ and might ^(DQ)reconcile them both in ^(DR)one body to God through the cross, having in Himself ^(DS)put to death the enmity. ¹⁷ And ^(DT)He came and preached ^(DU)the good news of peace to you who were ^(DV)far away, and peace to those who were ^(DW)near; ¹⁸ for through Him we both have ^(DX)our access in ^(DY)one Spirit to ^(DZ)the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer ^(EA)strangers and sojourners, but you are ^(EB)fellow citizens with the ^[ab]saints, and are of ^(EC)God’s household, ²⁰ having been ^(ED)built on ^(EE)the foundation of ^(EF)the apostles and prophets, ^(EG)Christ Jesus Himself being the ^(EH)corner stone, ^21 (EI)in whom the whole building, being joined together, is growing into ^(EJ)a holy ^[ac]sanctuary in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being ^(EK)built together into a ^(EL)dwelling of God in the Spirit.

The Mystery of Christ Revealed

3 For this reason I, Paul, ^(EM)the prisoner of ^(EN)Christ Jesus ^(EO)on behalf of you ^(EP)Gentiles— ² if indeed you heard of the ^(EQ)stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; ^3 (ER)that ^(ES)by revelation there was ^(ET)made known to me ^(EU)the mystery, ^(EV)as I wrote before in brief. ⁴ About which, when you read you can understand ^(EW)my insight ^[ad]into the ^(EX)mystery of Christ, ⁵ which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy ^(EY)apostles and prophets ^[ae]in the Spirit: ⁶ that the Gentiles are ^(EZ)fellow heirs and ^(FA)fellow members of the body, and ^(FB)fellow partakers of the promise in ^(FC)Christ Jesus through the gospel, ^7 (FD)of which I was made a ^(FE)minister, according to the gift of ^(FF)God’s grace which was given to me ^(FG)according to the working of His power. ⁸ To me, ^(FH)the very least of all ^[af]saints, this grace was given, to ^(FI)proclaim to the Gentiles the good news of the unfathomable ^(FJ)riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light for all what is the administration of the ^(FK)mystery which for ages has been ^(FL)hidden in God ^(FM)who created all things; ¹⁰ so that the manifold ^(FN)wisdom of God might now be ^(FO)made known through the church to the ^(FP)rulers and the authorities in ^(FQ)the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was in ^(FR)accordance with the ^[ag]eternal purpose which He ^[ah]carried out in ^(FS)Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and ^[ai](FT)confident ^(FU)access through faith ^[aj]in Him. ¹³ Therefore I ask ^[ak]you not ^(FV)to lose heart at my afflictions ^(FW)on your behalf, which are your glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Power

¹⁴ For this reason I ^(FX)bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom ^[al]every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would give you, according to ^(FY)the riches of His glory, to be ^(FZ)strengthened with power through His Spirit in ^(GA)the inner man, ¹⁷ so that ^(GB)Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being firmly ^(GC)rooted and ^(GD)grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with ^(GE)all the ^[am]saints what is ^(GF)the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know ^(GG)the love of Christ which ^(GH)surpasses knowledge, that you may be ^(GI)filled up to all the ^(GJ)fullness of God.

^20 (GK)Now to Him who is ^(GL)able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or understand, ^(GM)according to the power that works within us, ^21 (GN)to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations ^[an]forever and ever. Amen.

Unity of the Spirit

4 Therefore I, ^(GO)the prisoner in the Lord, ^(GP)exhort you to ^(GQ)walk worthy of the ^(GR)calling with which you have been ^(GS)called, ² with all ^(GT)humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another ^(GU)in love, ³ being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the ^(GV)bond of peace. ⁴ There is ^(GW)one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one ^(GX)hope of your calling; ^5 (GY)one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all ^(GZ)who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But ^(HA)to each one of us ^(HB)grace was given ^(HC)according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore ^[ao]it says,

⁹ (Now this expression, “He ^(HF)ascended,” what ^[ap]does it mean except that He also ^[aq]descended into ^(HG)the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is Himself also He who ascended ^(HH)far above all the heavens, so that He might ^(HI)fill all things.) ¹¹ And He Himself ^(HJ)gave ^(HK)some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as ^(HL)evangelists, and some as pastors and ^(HM)teachers, ^12 (HN)for the equipping of the ^[ar]saints for the work of service, to the building up of ^(HO)the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to ^(HP)the unity of the faith, and of the ^[as](HQ)full knowledge of the Son of God, to a ^(HR)mature man, to the measure of the stature ^[at]which belongs to the ^(HS)fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that we are ^(HT)no longer to be children, ^(HU)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by ^(HV)craftiness ^[au]in ^(HW)deceitful scheming, ¹⁵ but ^[av]speaking the truth ^(HX)in love, ^[aw]we are to ^(HY)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the ^(HZ)head, that is Christ, ¹⁶ from whom ^(IA)the whole body, being joined and held together ^[ax]by what every joint supplies, according to the properly ^(IB)measured working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself ^(IC)in love.

Put On the New Man

^17 (ID)Therefore this I say, and testify in the Lord, ^(IE)that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the ^(IF)futility of their mind, ¹⁸ being ^(IG)darkened in their mind, ^(IH)alienated from the life of God because of the ^(II)ignorance that is in them, because of the ^(IJ)hardness of their heart. ¹⁹ And they, having ^(IK)become callous, ^(IL)have given themselves over to ^(IM)sensuality ^[ay]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. ²⁰ But you did not ^(IN)learn ^[az]Christ in this way— ²¹ if indeed you ^(IO)heard Him and were ^(IP)taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, ^22 [ba]to ^(IQ)lay aside, in reference to your former conduct, the ^(IR)old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the ^(IS)lusts of deceit, ²³ and to be ^(IT)renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and to ^(IU)put on the ^(IV)new man, which ^[bb](IW)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

²⁵ Therefore, ^(IX)laying aside falsehood, ^(IY)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are ^(IZ)members of one another. ^26 (JA)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and do not ^(JB)give the devil ^[bc]an opportunity. ²⁸ He who steals must steal no longer, but rather ^(JC)he must labor, ^(JD)performing with his own hands what is good, ^(JE)so that he will have something to share with ^[bd]one who has need. ²⁹ Let no ^[be](JF)unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for ^(JG)building up ^[bf]what is needed, so that it will give grace to those who hear. ^30 (JH)And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ^[bg]by whom you were ^(JI)sealed for the day of redemption. ^31 (JJ)Let all bitterness and anger and wrath and shouting and slander be ^(JK)put away from you, along with all ^(JL)malice. ^32 (JM)Instead, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, graciously forgiving each other, ^(JN)just as God in Christ also has graciously forgiven ^[bh]you.

Be Imitators of God

5 ^(JO)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, ² and ^(JP)walk in love, just as Christ also ^(JQ)loved ^[bi]us and ^(JR)gave Himself up for us, an ^(JS)offering and a sacrifice to God ^[bj]as a ^(JT)fragrant aroma.

³ But ^(JU)sexual immorality ^[bk]or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among ^[bl]saints; ⁴ nor ^(JV)filthiness and foolish talk, or coarse jesting, which ^(JW)are not fitting, but rather ^(JX)giving of thanks. ⁵ For this you know with certainty, that ^(JY)no one sexually immoral or impure or greedy, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom ^(JZ)of Christ and God.

^6 (KA)Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things ^(KB)the wrath of God comes upon ^(KC)the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not be ^(KD)partakers with them, ⁸ for ^(KE)you were formerly ^(KF)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as ^(KG)children of light ⁹ (for ^(KH)the fruit of that light consists in all ^(KI)goodness and righteousness and truth), ^10 [bm](KJ)trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ^11 (KK)And do not participate in the unfruitful ^(KL)works of ^(KM)darkness, but instead even ^[bn](KN)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 ^(KO)when they are ^[bo]exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. ¹⁴ For this reason ^[bp]it says,

¹⁵ Therefore look carefully how you ^(KS)walk, not ^(KT)as unwise but as wise, ^16 (KU)redeeming the time, because ^(KV)the days are evil. ¹⁷ On account of this, do not be foolish, but ^(KW)understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And ^(KX)do not get drunk with wine, ^[bq]for that is ^(KY)dissipation, but be ^(KZ)filled with the Spirit, ^19 (LA)speaking to ^[br]one another in ^(LB)psalms and ^(LC)hymns and spiritual ^(LD)songs, ^(LE)singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; ^20 (LF)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to ^[bs](LG)God, even the Father; ^21 [bt](LH)and being subject to one another in the ^[bu](LI)fear of Christ.

Wives and Husbands

^22 (LJ)Wives, ^(LK)be subject to your own husbands, ^(LL)as to the Lord. ²³ For ^(LM)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the ^(LN)head of the church, He Himself ^(LO)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 (LP)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(LQ)gave Himself up for her, ^26 (LR)so that He might sanctify her, having ^(LS)cleansed her by the ^(LT)washing of water with ^(LU)the word, ²⁷ that He might ^(LV)present to Himself the church ^[bv]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be ^(LW)holy and blameless. ²⁸ So husbands ought also to ^(LX)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 ^(LY)members of His ^(LZ)body. ^31 (MA)For this reason a man shall leave his father and 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, each individual among you also is to ^(MB)love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she ^[bw](MC)respects her husband.

Children and Parents

6 ^(MD)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ^2 (ME)Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), ³ so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long in the land.

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

^5 (MH)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your ^[bx]masters according to the flesh, with ^(MI)fear and trembling, in the ^[by]integrity of your heart, ^(MJ)as to Christ; ^6 (MK)not ^[bz]by way of eyeservice, as ^(ML)men-pleasers, but as ^(MM)slaves of Christ, ^(MN)doing the will of God from the ^[ca]heart, ⁷ serving with good will ^(MO)as to the Lord, and not to men, ^8 (MP)knowing that ^(MQ)whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, ^(MR)whether slave or free.

⁹ And masters, do the same things to them, ^(MS)giving up threatening, knowing that ^(MT)both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is ^(MU)no partiality with Him.

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, ^(MV)be strong in the Lord and in ^(MW)the might of His strength. ^11 (MX)Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the ^(MY)schemes of the devil. ¹² For our ^(MZ)struggle is not against ^[cb](NA)flesh and blood, but ^(NB)against the rulers, against the authorities, against the ^(NC)world forces of this ^(ND)darkness, against the ^(NE)spiritual forces of wickedness in ^(NF)the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up ^(NG)the full armor of God, so that you will be able to ^(NH)resist in ^(NI)the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, ^(NJ)having girded your loins with truth, and having ^(NK)put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having ^(NL)shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. ^16 [cc]In addition to all, having taken up the ^(NM)shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the ^(NN)flaming arrows of ^(NO)the evil one, ¹⁷ also receive ^(NP)the helmet of salvation, and the ^(NQ)sword of the Spirit, which is ^(NR)the word of God,

^18 (NS)praying at all times ^[cd]with all ^(NT)prayer and petition ^(NU)in the Spirit, and to this end, ^(NV)being on the alert with all ^(NW)perseverance and ^(NX)petition for all the saints, ¹⁹ as well as ^(NY)on my behalf, that ^[ce]words may be given to me ^(NZ)in the opening of my mouth, to make known with ^(OA)boldness ^(OB)the mystery of the gospel— ²⁰ for which I am an ^(OC)ambassador ^(OD)in ^[cf]chains—so that ^[cg]in proclaiming it I may speak ^(OE)boldly, ^(OF)as I ought to speak.

^21 (OG)But that you also may know about all my affairs, ^[ch]how I am doing, ^(OH)Tychicus, ^(OI)the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you. ^22 [ci](OJ)I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know ^[cj]our circumstances, and that he may ^(OK)encourage your hearts.

^23 (OL)Peace be to the brothers, and ^(OM)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ ^[ck]with incorruptible love.