AFV2020 - Ephesians

Chapter 1

1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

1:2  Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly things with Christ;

1:4  According as He has personally chosen us for Himself before the foundation of the world in order that we might be holy and blameless before Him in love;

1:5  Having predestinated us for sonship to Himself through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His own will,

1:6  To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us objects of His grace in the Beloved Son;

1:7  In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the remission of sins, according to the riches of His grace,

1:8  Which He has made to abound toward us in all wisdom and intelligence;

1:9  Having made known to us the mystery of His own will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself;

1:10  That in the divine plan for the fulfilling of the times, He might bring all things together in Christ, both the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth;

1:11  Yes, in Him, in Whom we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestinated according to His purpose, Who is working out all things according to the counsel of His own will;

1:12  That we might be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in the Christ;

1:13  In Whom you also trusted after hearing the Word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation; in Whom also, after believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

1:15  For this cause, I also, after hearing of the faith in the Lord Jesus that is among you, and the love toward all the saints,

1:16  Do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

1:18  And may the eyes of your mind be enlightened in order that you may comprehend what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the inner working of His mighty power,

1:20  Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

1:21  Far above every principality and authority and power and lordship, and every name that is named—not only in this age, but also in the age to come;

1:22  For He has subordinated all things under His feet, and has given Him to be head over all things to the church,

1:23  Which is His body—the fullness of Him Who fills all things in all.

Chapter 2

2:1  Now you were dead in trespasses and sins,

2:2  In which you walked in times past according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working within the children of disobedience;

2:3  Among whom also we all once had our conduct in the lusts of our flesh, doing the things willed by the flesh and by the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as the rest of the world.

2:4  But God, Who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

2:5  Even when we were dead in our trespasses, has made us alive together with Christ. (For you have been saved by grace.)

2:6  And He has raised us up together and has caused us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

2:7  So that in the ages that are coming He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this especially is not of your own selves; it is the gift of God,

2:9  Not of works, so that no one may boast.

2:10  For we are His workmanship, being created in Christ Jesus unto the good works that God ordained beforehand in order that we might walk in them.

2:11  Therefore, remember that you were once Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by those who are called circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

2:12  And that you were without Christ at that time, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.

2:13  But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off are made near by the blood of Christ.

2:14  For He is our peace, Who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition,

2:15  Having annulled in His flesh the enmity, the law of commandments contained in the decrees of men, so that in Himself He might create both into one new man, making peace;

2:16  And that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross, having slain the enmity by it.

2:17  Now when He came, He preached the gospel—peace to you who were far off and to those who were near.

2:18  For through Him we both have direct access by one Spirit to the Father.

2:19  So then, you are no longer aliens and foreigners; but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of the household of God.

2:20  You are being built up on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief Cornerstone

2:21  In Whom all the building, being conjointly fitted together, is increasing into a holy temple in the Lord;

2:22  In Whom you also are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

Chapter 3

3:1  For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles,

3:2  If indeed you have heard of the ministry of the grace of God that was given to me for you;

3:3  How He made known to me by revelation the mystery (even as I wrote briefly before,

3:4  So that when you read this, you will be able to comprehend my understanding in the mystery of Christ),

3:5  Which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

3:6  That the Gentiles might be joint heirs, and a joint body, and joint partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

3:7  Of which I became a servant according to the gift of the grace of God, which was given to me through the inner working of His power.

3:8  To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, was this grace given, that I might preach the gospel among the Gentiles— even the unsearchable riches of Christ;

3:9  And that I might enlighten all as to what is the fellowship of the mystery that has been hidden from the ages in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ;

3:10  So that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places,

3:11  According to His eternal purpose, which He has wrought in Christ Jesus our Lord,

3:12  In Whom we have boldness and direct access with confidence through His very own faith.

3:13  So then, I beseech you not to faint at my tribulations for you, which are working for your glory.

3:14  For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

3:15  Of Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

3:16  That He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power by His Spirit in the inner man;

3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;

3:18  And that being rooted and grounded in love, you may be fully able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height,

3:19  And to know the love of Christ, which surpasses human knowledge; so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

3:20  Now to Him Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that is working in us,

3:21  To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations, even into the ages of eternity. Amen.

Chapter 4

4:1  Therefore, I, the prisoner of the Lord, am exhorting you to walk worthily of the calling to which you were called

4:2  With all humility and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love;

4:3  Being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4:4  There is one body and one Spirit, even as you were also called in one hope of your calling;

4:5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism;

4:6  One God and Father of all, Who is over all, and through all, and in you all.

4:7  But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

4:8  For this very reason, He says that after ascending on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.

4:9  Now He Who ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

4:10  He Who descended is the same One Who also ascended above all the heavens so that He might fulfill all things.

4:11  And He gave some as apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers

4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ;

4:13  Until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

4:14  So that we no longer be children, tossed and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men in cunning craftiness, with a view to the systematizing of the error;

4:15  But holding the truth in love, may in all things grow up into Him Who is the Head, even Christ

4:16  From Whom all the body, fitly framed and compacted together by that which every joint supplies, according to its inner working in the measure of each individual part, is making the increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

4:17  So then, I declare and testify this in the Lord that you are no longer to walk even as the rest of the Gentiles are walking, in the vanity of their minds,

4:18  Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their hearts.

4:19  They have cast off all feelings, and have given themselves up to licentiousness, to work every uncleanness with insatiable desire.

4:20  But you have not so learned Christ;

4:21  If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, according to the truth in Jesus:

4:22  That concerning your former conduct, you put off the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts;

4:23  And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

4:24  And that you put on the new man, which according to God is created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

4:25  Therefore, let each one put away lies and speak the truth with his neighbor because we are members of one another.

4:26  When you become angry, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger;

4:27  Neither give place to the devil.

4:28  Let the one who stole, steal no more; rather, let him labor with his hands, working at what is good, so that he may impart something to the one who has need.

4:29  Do not let any corrupt communication come out of your mouth, but that which is good and needful for edification that it may give grace to those who hear.

4:30  And do not vex the Holy Spirit of God by which you have been sealed for the day of redemption.

4:31  Let all bitterness, and indignation, and wrath, and clamor, and evil speaking be removed from you, together with all malice;

4:32  And be kind and tenderhearted toward one another, forgiving one another, even as God has also in Christ forgiven you.

Chapter 5

5:1  Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children;

5:2  And walk in love, even as Christ also loved us, and gave Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.

5:3  But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, do not permit it even to be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

5:4  Nor filthiness, nor foolish talking or jesting, which are not becoming; but instead, thanksgiving.

5:5  For this you know, that no fornicator, or unclean person, or covetous person, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

5:6  Do not let anyone deceive you with vain words; for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.

5:7  Therefore, do not be joint partakers with them.

5:8  For you were once darkness; but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

5:9  (Because the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

5:10  Proving what is well pleasing to the Lord;

5:11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them;

5:12  For it is shameful even to mention the things being done by them in secret.

5:13  But all of these things being exposed by the light are openly revealed.

5:14  Therefore He says, "You who are sleeping—wake up, and arise from the dead! And Christ shall shine upon you."

5:15  So then, take heed that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as those who are wise,

5:16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

5:17  For this reason, do not be foolish, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

5:18  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit:

5:19  Speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and offering praise to the Lord with your hearts;

5:20  Giving thanks at all times for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

5:21  Submit yourselves to one another in the fear of God.

5:22  Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord;

5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the Head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

5:24  For even as the church is subject to Christ, in the same way also let wives be subject to their own husbands in everything.

5:25  Husbands, love your own wives, in the same way that Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;

5:26  So that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it with the washing of the water by the Word;

5:27  That He might present it to Himself as the glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it might be holy and without blame.

5:28  In the same way, husbands are dutybound to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself;

5:29  For no man has ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord does the church.

5:30  For we are members of His body—of His flesh and of His bones.

5:31  For this reason shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall be one flesh.

5:32  This is a great mystery; but I am speaking in respect to Christ and the church.

5:33  Nevertheless, let each one of you love his wife even as himself; and let each wife see that she reverence her husband.

Chapter 6

6:1  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

6:2  Honor your father and your mother, which is the first commandment with a promise,

6:3  That it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

6:4  And fathers, do not provoke your children; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

6:5  Servants, obey your masters according to the flesh with reverence and trembling, in singleness of heart, as unto Christ;

6:6  Not merely with eye service, as do pleasers of men; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

6:7  Do service with goodwill, as to the Lord, and not to men;

6:8  Knowing that whatever good each one has done, this shall he receive from the Lord, whether bond or free.

6:9  And masters, do the same things toward them, forbearing threatening; knowing also that your own Master is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with Him.

6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the might of His strength.

6:11  Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil

6:12  Because we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against principalities and against powers, against the world rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual power of wickedness in high places.

6:13  Therefore, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having worked out all things, to stand.

6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girded about with truth, and wearing the breastplate of righteousness,

6:15  And having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

6:16  Besides all these, take up the shield of the faith, with which you will have the power to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one;

6:17  And put on the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God;

6:18  Praying at all times with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and in this very thing being watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;

6:19  And for me, that boldness of speech may be given to me so that I may open my mouth to make known the mystery of the gospel,

6:20  For which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may speak with boldness, as it behooves me to speak.

6:21  Now that you may also know the things concerning me and what I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you.

6:22  I have sent him to you for this very thing, so that you might know the things concerning us, and that he might encourage your hearts.

6:23  Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

6:24  Grace be with all those whose love for our Lord Jesus Christ is uncorrupted. Amen.