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Ephesians
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Paul,
an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus,
the faithful in Christ Jesus: {2} Grace and peace to you from God
our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. {3} Praise be to the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly
realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. {4} For he chose
us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in
his sight. In love {5} he predestined us to be adopted as his
sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--
{6} to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given
us in the One he loves. {7} In him we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's
grace {8} that he lavished on us with all wisdom and
understanding. {9} And he made known to us the mystery of his
will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
{10} to be put into effect when the times will have reached their
fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under
one head, even Christ. {11} In him we were also chosen, having
been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything
in conformity with the purpose of his will, {12} in order that
we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his
glory. {13} And you also were included in Christ when you heard
the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you
were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, {14}
who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of
those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory. {15}
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus
and your love for all the saints, {16} I have not stopped giving
thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. {17} I keep asking
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you
the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
{18} I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in
order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches
of his glorious inheritance in the saints, {19} and his
incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the
working of his mighty strength, {20} which he exerted in Christ
when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the
heavenly realms, {21} far above all rule and authority, power and
dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age
but also in the one to come. {22} And God placed all things under
his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
{23} which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in
every way. |
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Ephesians
2 |
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As
for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, {2} in
which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of
the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in
those who are disobedient. {3} All of us also lived among them at
one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its
desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
{4} But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
{5} made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in
transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. {6} And God
raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms
in Christ Jesus, {7} in order that in the coming ages he might
show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to
us in Christ Jesus. {8} For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
{9} not by works, so that no one can boast. {10} For we are
God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do. {11} Therefore, remember that
formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by
those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by
the hands of men)-- {12} remember that at that time you were
separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners
to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the
world. {13} But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away
have been brought near through the blood of Christ. {14} For he
himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the
barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, {15} by abolishing in
his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was
to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,
{16} and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through
the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. {17} He came
and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were
near. {18} For through him we both have access to the Father by
one Spirit. {19} Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and
aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's
household, {20} built on the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. {21}
In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a
holy temple in the Lord. {22} And in him you too are being built
together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. |
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Ephesians 3 |
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For
this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you
Gentiles-- {2} Surely you have heard about the administration of
God's grace that was given to me for you, {3} that is, the
mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written
briefly. {4} In reading this, then, you will be able to
understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, {5} which was
not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed
by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. {6} This
mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with
Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the
promise in Christ Jesus. {7} I became a servant of this gospel by
the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.
{8} Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this
grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ, {9} and to make plain to everyone the administration of
this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created
all things. {10} His intent was that now, through the church, the
manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and
authorities in the heavenly realms, {11} according to his eternal
purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. {12} In
him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and
confidence. {13} I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged
because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. {14} For
this reason I kneel before the Father, {15} from whom his whole
family in heaven and on earth derives its name. {16} I pray that
out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his
Spirit in your inner being, {17} so that Christ may dwell in your
hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established
in love, {18} may have power, together with all the saints, to
grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, {19}
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be
filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. {20} Now to him
who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us, {21} to him be
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for
ever and ever! Amen. |
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Ephesians 4 |
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As a
prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the
calling you have received. {2} Be completely humble and gentle;
be patient, bearing with one another in love. {3} Make every
effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. {4}
There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one
hope when you were called-- {5} one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
{6} one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and
in all. {7} But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ
apportioned it. {8} This is why it says: "When he ascended on
high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." {9}
(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the
lower, earthly regions ? {10} He who descended is the very one
who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole
universe.) {11} It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to
be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and
teachers, {12} to prepare God's people for works of service, so
that the body of Christ may be built up {13} until we all reach
unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become
mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
{14} Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the
waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the
cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. {15}
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into
him who is the Head, that is, Christ. {16} From him the whole
body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and
builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. {17} So I
tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer
live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. {18}
They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of
God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of
their hearts. {19} Having lost all sensitivity, they have given
themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of
impurity, with a continual lust for more. {20} You, however, did
not come to know Christ that way. {21} Surely you heard of him
and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
{22} You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put
off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
{23} to be made new in the attitude of your minds; {24} and
to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and
holiness. {25} Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and
speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
{26} "In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while
you are still angry, {27} and do not give the devil a foothold.
{28} He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,
doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to
share with those in need. {29} Do not let any unwholesome talk
come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up
according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. {30}
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed
for the day of redemption. {31} Get rid of all bitterness, rage
and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
{32} Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you. |
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Ephesians 5 |
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Be
imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children {2} and
live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us
as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. {3} But among you
there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of
impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
{4} Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking,
which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. {5} For of this
you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an
idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
{6} Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such
things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. {7}
Therefore do not be partners with them. {8} For you were once
darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
{9} (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,
righteousness and truth) {10} and find out what pleases the Lord.
{11} Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but
rather expose them. {12} For it is shameful even to mention what
the disobedient do in secret. {13} But everything exposed by the
light becomes visible, {14} for it is light that makes everything
visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the
dead, and Christ will shine on you." {15} Be very careful, then,
how you live--not as unwise but as wise, {16} making the most of
every opportunity, because the days are evil. {17} Therefore do
not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. {18} Do
not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled
with the Spirit. {19} Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and
spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, {20}
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ. {21} Submit to one another out of
reverence for Christ. {22} Wives, submit to your husbands as to
the Lord. {23} For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ
is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. {24}
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to
their husbands in everything. {25} Husbands, love your wives,
just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her {26}
to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the
word, {27} and to present her to himself as a radiant church,
without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
{28} In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their
own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. {29} After all,
no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as
Christ does the church-- {30} for we are members of his body.
{31} "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be
united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." {32} This
is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church.
{33} However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves
himself, and the wife must respect her husband. |
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Ephesians 6 |
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Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. {2}
"Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a
promise-- {3} "that it may go well with you and that you may
enjoy long life on the earth." {4} Fathers, do not exasperate
your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of
the Lord. {5} Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and
fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. {6}
Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but
like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. {7}
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, {8}
because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever
good he does, whether he is slave or free. {9} And masters, treat
your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that
he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no
favoritism with him. {10} Finally, be strong in the Lord and in
his mighty power. {11} Put on the full armor of God so that you
can take your stand against the devil's schemes. {12} For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. {13} Therefore
put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you
may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to
stand. {14} Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled
around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
{15} and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from
the gospel of peace. {16} In addition to all this, take up the
shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of
the evil one. {17} Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God. {18} And pray in the Spirit
on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in
mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. {19}
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given
me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
{20} for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare
it fearlessly, as I should. {21} Tychicus, the dear brother and
faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also
may know how I am and what I am doing. {22} I am sending him to
you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may
encourage you. {23} Peace to the brothers, and love with faith
from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. {24} Grace to all
who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. |
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