Ephesians 1-6

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Greeting

1 Paul,^(A) an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will:^(B)

To the faithful saints^(C) in Christ Jesus at Ephesus.^[a](D)

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Rich Blessings

³ Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.^{(E) 4} For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight.^[b](F) In love^{[c] 5} He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, ⁶ to the praise of His glorious grace^(G) that He favored us with in the Beloved.^(H)

⁷ We have redemption in Him^(I) through His blood, the forgiveness^(J) of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace ⁸ that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. ⁹ He made known to us the mystery of His will,^(K) according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him^{(L) 10} for the administration^[d] of the days of fulfillment^[e]—to bring everything together in the Messiah,^(M) both things in heaven and things on earth^(N) in Him.^(O)

¹¹ We have also received an inheritance^[f] in Him, predestined^(P) according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will, ¹² so that we who had already put our hope^(Q) in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.^(R)

¹³ When you heard the message of truth,^(S) the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.^{(T) 14} He is the down payment^(U) of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession,^[g] to the praise of His glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Insight

¹⁵ This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^[h] would give you a spirit^[i](V) of wisdom and revelation^(W) in the knowledge of Him. ¹⁸ I pray that the perception of your mind^[j] may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope^(X) of His calling,^(Y) what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power^(Z) to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.

God’s Power in Christ

²⁰ He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand^(AA) in the heavens^(AB)— ²¹ far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given,^[k](AC) not only in this age but also in the one to come.^{(AD) 22} And He put everything under His feet^(AE)[l] and appointed Him as head^(AF) over everything for the church, ²³ which is His body,^(AG) the fullness^(AH) of the One who fills all things^(AI) in every way.

From Death to Life

2 And you were dead^(AJ) in your trespasses and sins ² in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world,^(AK) according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens,^[m](AL) the spirit^(AM) now working in the disobedient.^{[n] 3} We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly^(AN) desires, carrying out the inclinations^(AO) of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath^(AP) as the others were also. ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy,^(AQ) because of His great love^(AR) that He had for us,^{[o] 5} made us alive^(AS) with the Messiah even though we were dead^(AT) in trespasses. You are saved by grace! ⁶ Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens,^{(AU) 7} so that in the coming ages^(AV) He might display the immeasurable riches^(AW) of His grace through His kindness^(AX) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For you are saved by grace^(AY) through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are His creation, created^(AZ) in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time^(BA) so that we should walk in them.

Unity in Christ

¹¹ So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,”^(BB) which is done in the flesh by human hands.^{(BC) 12} At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise,^(BD) without hope^(BE) and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood^(BF) of the Messiah. ¹⁴ For He is our peace, who made both groups one^(BG) and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, ¹⁵ He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create^(BH) in Himself one^(BI) new man from the two, resulting in peace. ¹⁶ He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body^(BJ) through the cross and put the hostility to death by it.^{[p] 17} When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news^(BK) of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^{(BL) 18} For through Him we both have access^(BM) by one Spirit to the Father.^{(BN) 19} So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,^(BO) with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. ²¹ The whole building, being put together^(BP) by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord.^{(BQ) 22} You also are being built together^(BR) for God’s dwelling^(BS) in the Spirit.

Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles

3 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner^(BT) of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² you have heard, haven’t you, about the administration of God’s grace that He gave to me for you? ³ The mystery was made known to me by revelation,^(BU) as I have briefly written above. ⁴ By reading this you are able to understand my insight about the mystery of the Messiah.^{(BV) 5} This was not made known to people^[q] in other generations as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets^(BW) by the Spirit: ⁶ The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners of the promise^(BX) in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ⁷ I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of His power.^(BY)

⁸ This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches^(BZ) of the Messiah, ⁹ and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created^(CA) all things. ¹⁰ This is so God’s multi-faceted wisdom^(CB) may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.^{(CC) 11} This is according to His eternal purpose^(CD) accomplished in the Messiah, Jesus our Lord. ¹² In Him we have boldness and confident access^(CE) through faith in Him.^{[r] 13} So then I ask you not to be discouraged^(CF) over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.^(CG)

Prayer for Spiritual Power

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel^(CH) before the Father^{[s] 15} from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. ¹⁶ I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches^(CI) of His glory,^(CJ) to be strengthened with power^(CK) in the inner man^(CL) through His Spirit, ¹⁷ and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,^{(CM) 19} and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to Him who is able^(CN) to do above and beyond all that we ask or think^(CO) according to the power^(CP) that works in us— ²¹ to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.^(CQ)

Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ

4 Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord,^(CR) urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, ² with all humility^(CS) and gentleness, with patience,^(CT) accepting^[t](CU) one another in love,^{(CV) 3} diligently keeping the unity^(CW) of the Spirit^(CX) with the peace^(CY) that binds us. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit^(CZ)—just as you were called to one hope^[u](DA) at your calling— ⁵ one Lord,^(DB) one faith,^(DC) one baptism, ⁶ one God^(DD) and Father^(DE) of all, who is above all and through all and in all.^(DF)

⁷ Now grace was given to each one of us^(DG) according to the measure of the Messiah’s gift. ⁸ For it says:

⁹ But what does “He ascended” mean except that He^[x] descended to the lower parts of the earth?^{[y](DJ) 10} The One who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens,^(DK) that He might fill^[z] all things.^{(DL) 11} And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,^{(DM) 13} until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son,^(DN) growing into a mature man with a stature^(DO) measured by Christ’s fullness. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching,^(DP) by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head^(DQ)—Christ. ¹⁶ From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together^(DR) by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth^(DS) of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Living the New Life

¹⁷ Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. ¹⁹ They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity^(DT) with a desire for more and more.^[aa]

²⁰ But that is not how you learned about the Messiah, ²¹ assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, because the truth^(DU) is in Jesus. ²² You took off^[ab](DV) your former way of life,^(DW) the old self^[ac](DX) that is corrupted by deceitful desires; ²³ you are being renewed^[ad] in the spirit^(DY) of your minds; ²⁴ you put on^[ae](DZ) the new self, the one created^(EA) according to God’s likeness^(EB) in righteousness and purity of the truth.

²⁵ Since you put away^(EC) lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor,^(ED)[af] because we are members of one another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin.^(EE)[ag] Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and don’t give the Devil an opportunity. ²⁸ The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share^(EF) with anyone in need. ²⁹ No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need,^[ah] so that it gives grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit.^(EG) You were sealed by Him^[ai] for the day of redemption.^{(EH) 31} All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. ³² And be kind^(EI) and compassionate^(EJ) to one another, forgiving^(EK) one another, just as God also forgave you^[aj] in Christ.

5 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. ² And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us,^(EL) a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. ³ But sexual immorality^(EM) and any impurity^(EN) or greed^(EO) should not even be heard of^[ak] among you, as is proper for saints. ⁴ Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. ⁵ For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral^(EP) or impure^(EQ) or greedy^(ER) person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom^(ES) of the Messiah and of God.

Light versus Darkness

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath^(ET) is coming on the disobedient because of these things.^{[al] 7} Therefore, do not become their partners. ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light^(EU) in the Lord. Walk as children of light^(EV)— ⁹ for the fruit of the light^[am] results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth^(EW)— ¹⁰ discerning^(EX) what is pleasing^(EY) to the Lord. ¹¹ Don’t participate in the fruitless^(EZ) works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. ¹³ Everything exposed by the light is made clear,^{(FA) 14} for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:

Consistency in the Christian Life

¹⁵ Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— ¹⁶ making the most of the time,^[ao](FE) because the days are evil. ¹⁷ So don’t be foolish, but understand^(FF) what the Lord’s will^(FG) is. ¹⁸ And don’t get drunk^(FH) with wine,^(FI) which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:^(FJ)

Wives and Husbands

²² Wives,^(FL) submit^[ap](FM) to your own husbands^(FN) as to the Lord, ²³ for the husband is the head of the wife^(FO) as Christ is the head^(FP) of the church. He is the Savior of the body.^{(FQ) 24} Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives,^(FR) just as Christ loved^(FS) the church and gave Himself^(FT) for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing^[aq] her with the washing of water by the word. ²⁷ He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.^{(FU) 28} In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, ³⁰ since we are members of His body.^[ar]

³² This mystery^(FX) is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.

Children and Parents

6 Children, obey^(FY) your parents as you would the Lord,^[at] because this is right. ² Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment^[au] with a promise, ³ so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.^{[av](FZ)[aw] 4} Fathers, don’t stir up anger^(GA) in your children, but bring them up in the training^(GB) and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

⁵ Slaves, obey your human^[ax] masters^(GC) with fear and trembling,^(GD) in the sincerity^(GE) of your heart, as to Christ. ⁶ Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will^(GF) from your heart.^{[ay] 7} Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,^{(GG) 8} knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. ⁹ And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening^(GH) them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism^(GI) with Him.^(GJ)

Christian Warfare

¹⁰ Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.^{(GK) 11} Put on^(GL) the full armor^(GM) of God so that you can stand against the tactics^[az] of the Devil. ¹² For our battle is not against flesh^(GN) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(GO) against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil^(GP) in the heavens.^{(GQ) 13} This is why you must take up the full armor^(GR) of God, so that you may be able to resist^(GS) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. ¹⁴ Stand,^(GT) therefore,

¹⁸ Pray^(HD) at all times in the Spirit^(HE) with every prayer and request, and stay alert^(HF) in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness^(HG) the mystery of the gospel. ²⁰ For this I am an ambassador^(HH) in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.

Paul’s Farewell

²¹ Tychicus,^(HI) our dearly loved brother and faithful servant^[bb] in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. ²² I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage^(HJ) your hearts.^(HK)

²³ Peace to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father^(HL) and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.^[bc][bd]