Galatians 1:8 - Ephesians 5:10

English Standard Version

⁸ But even if we or ^(A)an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, ^(B)let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, ^(C)let him be accursed.

¹⁰ For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying ^(D)to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a ^(E)servant^[a] of Christ.

Paul Called by God

¹¹ For ^(F)I would have you know, brothers, that ^(G)the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.^{[b] 12 (H)}For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it ^(I)through a revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹³ For you have heard of ^(J)my former life in Judaism, how ^(K)I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely ^(L)zealous was I for ^(M)the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ But when he ^(N)who had set me apart ^(O)before I was born,^[c] and who ^(P)called me by his grace, ¹⁶ was pleased to reveal his Son to^[d] me, in order ^(Q)that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;^{[e] 17} nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

¹⁸ Then ^(R)after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ But I saw none of the other apostles except James ^(S)the Lord's brother. ²⁰ (In what I am writing to you, ^(T)before God, I do not lie!) ^21 (U)Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² And I was still unknown in person to ^(V)the churches of Judea that are in Christ. ²³ They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they glorified God because of me.

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

2 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. ² I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those ^(W)who seemed influential) the gospel that ^(X)I proclaim among the Gentiles, ^(Y)in order to make sure I was not running or had not ^(Z)run in vain. ³ But even Titus, who was with me, ^(AA)was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. ^4 (AB)Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who ^(AC)slipped in to spy out ^(AD)our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, ^(AE)so that they might bring us into slavery— ⁵ to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that ^(AF)the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. ⁶ And from those ^(AG)who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; ^(AH)God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential ^(AI)added nothing to me. ⁷ On the contrary, when they saw that I had been ^(AJ)entrusted with ^(AK)the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised ⁸ (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), ⁹ and when James and Cephas and John, ^(AL)who seemed to be ^(AM)pillars, perceived the ^(AN)grace that was given to me, they ^(AO)gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. ¹⁰ Only, they asked us to remember the poor, ^(AP)the very thing I was eager to do.

Paul Opposes Peter

¹¹ But ^(AQ)when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him ^(AR)to his face, because he stood condemned. ¹² For before certain men came from James, ^(AS)he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing ^(AT)the circumcision party.^{[f] 13} And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. ¹⁴ But when I saw that their ^(AU)conduct was not in step with ^(AV)the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas ^(AW)before them all, “If you, though a Jew, ^(AX)live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Justified by Faith

¹⁵ We ourselves are Jews by birth and not ^(AY)Gentile sinners; ¹⁶ yet we know that ^(AZ)a person is not justified^[g] by works of the law ^(BA)but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, ^(BB)because by works of the law no one will be justified.

¹⁷ But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found ^(BC)to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! ¹⁸ For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. ¹⁹ For through the law I ^(BD)died to the law, so that I might ^(BE)live to God. ²⁰ I have been ^(BF)crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives ^(BG)in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, ^(BH)who loved me and ^(BI)gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God, for ^(BJ)if righteousness^[h] were through the law, ^(BK)then Christ died for no purpose.

By Faith, or by Works of the Law?

3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? ^(BL)It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly ^(BM)portrayed as crucified. ² Let me ask you only this: ^(BN)Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by ^(BO)hearing with faith? ³ Are you so foolish? ^(BP)Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by^[i] the flesh? ^4 (BQ)Did you suffer^[j] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? ⁵ Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and ^(BR)works miracles among you do so ^(BS)by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— ⁶ just as ^(BT)Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

⁷ Know then that it is ^(BU)those of faith who are ^(BV)the sons of Abraham. ⁸ And the Scripture, foreseeing that ^(BW)God would justify^[k] the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ^(BX)“In you shall all the nations be blessed.” ⁹ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

¹⁰ For all who rely on works of the law are ^(BY)under a curse; for it is written, ^(BZ)“Cursed be everyone who does not ^(CA)abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” ¹¹ Now it is evident that ^(CB)no one is justified before God by the law, for ^(CC)“The righteous shall live by faith.”^{[l] 12} But the law is not of faith, rather ^(CD)“The one who does them shall live by them.” ¹³ Christ ^(CE)redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ^(CF)“Cursed is everyone who is hanged ^(CG)on a tree”— ¹⁴ so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might ^(CH)come to the Gentiles, so that ^(CI)we might receive ^(CJ)the promised Spirit^[m] through faith.

The Law and the Promise

^15 (CK)To give a human example, brothers:^{[n] (CL)}even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. ¹⁶ Now ^(CM)the promises were made ^(CN)to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, ^(CO)“And to your offspring,” who is Christ. ¹⁷ This is what I mean: the law, which came ^(CP)430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as ^(CQ)to make the promise void. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but ^(CR)God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

¹⁹ Why then the law? ^(CS)It was added because of transgressions, ^(CT)until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was ^(CU)put in place through angels ^(CV)by an intermediary. ²⁰ Now ^(CW)an intermediary implies more than one, but ^(CX)God is one.

²¹ Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For ^(CY)if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. ²² But the Scripture ^(CZ)imprisoned everything under sin, so that ^(DA)the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given ^(DB)to those who believe.

²³ Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, ^(DC)imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴ So then, ^(DD)the law was our ^(DE)guardian until Christ came, ^(DF)in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶ for in Christ Jesus ^(DG)you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as ^(DH)were baptized ^(DI)into Christ have ^(DJ)put on Christ. ^28 (DK)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave^[o] nor free, ^(DL)there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And ^(DM)if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, ^(DN)heirs according to promise.

Sons and Heirs

4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,^[p] though he is the owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. ³ In the same way we also, when we were children, ^(DO)were enslaved to the elementary principles^[q] of the world. ⁴ But ^(DP)when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, ^(DQ)born ^(DR)of woman, born ^(DS)under the law, ^5 (DT)to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive ^(DU)adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent ^(DV)the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then ^(DW)an heir through God.

Paul's Concern for the Galatians

⁸ Formerly, when you ^(DX)did not know God, you ^(DY)were enslaved to those that by nature ^(DZ)are not gods. ⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather ^(EA)to be known by God, ^(EB)how can you turn back again to ^(EC)the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? ^10 (ED)You observe days and months and seasons and years! ¹¹ I am afraid ^(EE)I may have labored over you in vain.

¹² Brothers,^{[r] (EF)}I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. ^(EG)You did me no wrong. ¹³ You know it was ^(EH)because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you ^(EI)at first, ¹⁴ and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me ^(EJ)as an angel of God, ^(EK)as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I then become your enemy by ^(EL)telling you the truth?^{[s] 17} They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. ¹⁸ It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and ^(EM)not only when I am present with you, ^19 (EN)my little children, ^(EO)for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ ^(EP)is formed in you! ²⁰ I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Example of Hagar and Sarah

²¹ Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^(EQ)one by a slave woman and ^(ER)one by a free woman. ²³ But ^(ES)the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while ^(ET)the son of the free woman was born through promise. ²⁴ Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two ^(EU)covenants. ^(EV)One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;^[t] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But ^(EW)the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written,

²⁸ Now you,^[u] brothers, ^(EY)like Isaac, ^(EZ)are children of promise. ²⁹ But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh ^(FA)persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^(FB)so also it is now. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say? ^(FC)“Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” ³¹ So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but ^(FD)of the free woman.

Christ Has Set Us Free

5 For ^(FE)freedom Christ has ^(FF)set us free; ^(FG)stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to ^(FH)a yoke of ^(FI)slavery.

² Look: I, Paul, say to you that ^(FJ)if you accept circumcision, ^(FK)Christ will be of no advantage to you. ³ I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that ^(FL)he is obligated to keep the whole law. ⁴ You are ^(FM)severed from Christ, ^(FN)you who would be justified^[v] by the law; ^(FO)you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly ^(FP)wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus ^(FQ)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but ^(FR)only faith working through love.

^7 (FS)You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying ^(FT)the truth? ⁸ This persuasion is not from ^(FU)him who calls you. ^9 (FV)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ^10 (FW)I have confidence in the Lord that you will ^(FX)take no other view, and ^(FY)the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. ¹¹ But if I, brothers,^[w] still preach^[x] circumcision, ^(FZ)why am I still being persecuted? In that case ^(GA)the offense of the cross has been removed. ¹² I wish ^(GB)those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brothers. ^(GC)Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love ^(GD)serve one another. ¹⁴ For ^(GE)the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ^(GF)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you ^(GG)bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Keep in Step with the Spirit

¹⁶ But I say, ^(GH)walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify ^(GI)the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(GJ)the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, ^(GK)to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are ^(GL)led by the Spirit, ^(GM)you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now ^(GN)the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, ^(GO)divisions, ²¹ envy,^[y] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that ^(GP)those who do^[z] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But ^(GQ)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(GR)love, joy, peace, patience, ^(GS)kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 (GT)gentleness, ^(GU)self-control; ^(GV)against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus ^(GW)have crucified the flesh with its ^(GX)passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, ^(GY)let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ^26 (GZ)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another's Burdens

6 Brothers,^{[aa] (HA)}if anyone is caught in any transgression, ^(HB)you who are spiritual should restore him in ^(HC)a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ^2 (HD)Bear one another's burdens, and ^(HE)so fulfill ^(HF)the law of Christ. ³ For ^(HG)if anyone thinks he is something, ^(HH)when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one ^(HI)test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. ⁵ For ^(HJ)each will have to bear his own load.

^6 (HK)Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. ^7 (HL)Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for ^(HM)whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸ For ^(HN)the one who sows to his own flesh ^(HO)will from the flesh reap corruption, but ^(HP)the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ And ^(HQ)let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, ^(HR)if we do not give up. ¹⁰ So then, ^(HS)as we have opportunity, let us ^(HT)do good to everyone, and especially to those who are ^(HU)of the household of faith.

Final Warning and Benediction

¹¹ See with what large letters I am writing to you ^(HV)with my own hand. ^12 (HW)It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh ^(HX)who would force you to be circumcised, and only ^(HY)in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But far be it from me to boast ^(HZ)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which^[ab] the world ^(IA)has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For ^(IB)neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but ^(IC)a new creation. ¹⁶ And as for all who walk by this rule, ^(ID)peace and mercy be upon them, and upon ^(IE)the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

^18 (IF)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ^(IG)with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Greeting

1 Paul, ^(IH)an apostle of Christ Jesus ^(II)by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and ^(IJ)are faithful^[ac] in Christ Jesus:

^2 (IK)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

^3 (IL)Blessed be ^(IM)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing ^(IN)in the heavenly places, ^4 (IO)even as he ^(IP)chose us in him ^(IQ)before the foundation of the world, that we should be ^(IR)holy and blameless before him. In love ^5 (IS)he predestined us^[ad] for ^(IT)adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, ^(IU)according to the purpose of his will, ^6 (IV)to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in ^(IW)the Beloved. ^7 (IX)In him we have ^(IY)redemption ^(IZ)through his blood, ^(JA)the forgiveness of our trespasses, ^(JB)according to the riches of his grace, ⁸ which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ^9 (JC)making known^[ae] to us the mystery of his will, ^(JD)according to his purpose, which he ^(JE)set forth in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for ^(JF)the fullness of time, ^(JG)to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

¹¹ In him we have obtained ^(JH)an inheritance, ^(JI)having been predestined ^(JJ)according to the purpose of him who works all things according to ^(JK)the counsel of his will, ¹² so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be ^(JL)to the praise of his glory. ¹³ In him you also, when you heard ^(JM)the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, ^(JN)were sealed with the ^(JO)promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is ^(JP)the guarantee^[af] of our ^(JQ)inheritance until ^(JR)we acquire ^(JS)possession of it,^{[ag] (JT)}to the praise of his glory.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

¹⁵ For this reason, ^(JU)because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love^[ah] toward all the saints, ¹⁶ I ^(JV)do not cease to give thanks for you, ^(JW)remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that ^(JX)the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, ^(JY)may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ^18 (JZ)having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is ^(KA)the hope to which he has called you, what are ^(KB)the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, ^(KC)according to the working of ^(KD)his great might ²⁰ that he worked in Christ ^(KE)when he raised him from the dead and ^(KF)seated him at his right hand ^(KG)in the heavenly places, ^21 (KH)far above ^(KI)all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above ^(KJ)every name that is named, not only in ^(KK)this age but also in the one to come. ²² And ^(KL)he put all things under his feet and gave him as ^(KM)head over all things to the church, ^23 (KN)which is his body, ^(KO)the fullness of him ^(KP)who fills ^(KQ)all in all.

By Grace Through Faith

2 ^(KR)And you were ^(KS)dead in the trespasses and sins ^2 (KT)in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following ^(KU)the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in ^(KV)the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in ^(KW)the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body^[ai] and the mind, and ^(KX)were by nature ^(KY)children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.^{[aj] 4} But^[ak] God, being ^(KZ)rich in mercy, ^(LA)because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even ^(LB)when we were dead in our trespasses, ^(LC)made us alive together with Christ—^(LD)by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and ^(LE)seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable ^(LF)riches of his grace in ^(LG)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For ^(LH)by grace you have been saved ^(LI)through faith. And this is ^(LJ)not your own doing; ^(LK)it is the gift of God, ^9 (LL)not a result of works, ^(LM)so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For ^(LN)we are his workmanship, ^(LO)created in Christ Jesus ^(LP)for good works, ^(LQ)which God prepared beforehand, ^(LR)that we should walk in them.

One in Christ

¹¹ Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called ^(LS)the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— ¹² remember ^(LT)that you were at that time separated from Christ, ^(LU)alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to ^(LV)the covenants of promise, ^(LW)having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were ^(LX)far off have been brought near ^(LY)by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For ^(LZ)he himself is our peace, ^(MA)who has made us both one and has broken down ^(MB)in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ^(MC)ordinances, that he might create in himself one ^(MD)new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶ and might ^(ME)reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. ¹⁷ And he came and ^(MF)preached peace to you who were ^(MG)far off and peace to those who were ^(MH)near. ¹⁸ For ^(MI)through him we both have ^(MJ)access in ^(MK)one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer ^(ML)strangers and aliens,^[al] but you are ^(MM)fellow citizens with the saints and ^(MN)members of the household of God, ^20 (MO)built on the foundation of the ^(MP)apostles and prophets, ^(MQ)Christ Jesus himself being ^(MR)the cornerstone, ^21 (MS)in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into ^(MT)a holy temple in the Lord. ²² In him ^(MU)you also are being built together ^(MV)into a dwelling place for God by^[am] the Spirit.

The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed

3 For this reason I, Paul, ^(MW)a prisoner of Christ Jesus ^(MX)on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming that you have heard of ^(MY)the stewardship of ^(MZ)God's grace that was given to me for you, ^3 (NA)how the mystery was made known to me ^(NB)by revelation, ^(NC)as I have written briefly. ^4 (ND)When you read this, you can perceive my insight into ^(NE)the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶ This mystery is^[an] that the Gentiles are ^(NF)fellow heirs, ^(NG)members of the same body, and ^(NH)partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

^7 (NI)Of this gospel I was made ^(NJ)a minister according to the gift of ^(NK)God's grace, which was given me ^(NL)by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, ^(NM)though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, ^(NN)to preach to the Gentiles the ^(NO)unsearchable ^(NP)riches of Christ, ⁹ and ^(NQ)to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery ^(NR)hidden for ages in^[ao] God, ^(NS)who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold ^(NT)wisdom of God ^(NU)might now be made known to ^(NV)the rulers and authorities ^(NW)in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was ^(NX)according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have ^(NY)boldness and ^(NZ)access with ^(OA)confidence through our ^(OB)faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering ^(OC)for you, ^(OD)which is your glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom ^(OE)every family^[ap] in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to ^(OF)the riches of his glory ^(OG)he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit ^(OH)in your inner being, ^17 (OI)so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being ^(OJ)rooted and ^(OK)grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to ^(OL)comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and ^(OM)height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ ^(ON)that surpasses knowledge, that ^(OO)you may be filled with all ^(OP)the fullness of God.

^20 (OQ)Now to ^(OR)him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, ^(OS)according to the power at work within us, ^21 (OT)to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Unity in the Body of Christ

4 I therefore, ^(OU)a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to ^(OV)walk in a manner worthy of ^(OW)the calling to which you have been called, ² with all ^(OX)humility and ^(OY)gentleness, with ^(OZ)patience, ^(PA)bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in ^(PB)the bond of peace. ⁴ There is ^(PC)one body and ^(PD)one Spirit—just as you were called to the one ^(PE)hope that belongs to your call— ^5 (PF)one Lord, ^(PG)one faith, ^(PH)one baptism, ^6 (PI)one God and Father of all, ^(PJ)who is over all and through all and in all. ⁷ But ^(PK)grace was given ^(PL)to each one of us ^(PM)according to the measure of Christ's gift. ⁸ Therefore it says,

⁹ (^(PP)In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into ^(PQ)the lower regions, the earth?^{[ar] 10} He who descended is the one who also ^(PR)ascended ^(PS)far above all the heavens, that he might ^(PT)fill all things.) ¹¹ And ^(PU)he gave the ^(PV)apostles, the prophets, the ^(PW)evangelists, the ^(PX)shepherds^[as] and teachers,^{[at] 12 (PY)}to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for ^(PZ)building up ^(QA)the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to ^(QB)the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, ^(QC)to mature manhood,^[au] to the measure of the stature of ^(QD)the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, ^(QE)tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in ^(QF)deceitful schemes. ¹⁵ Rather, ^(QG)speaking the truth in love, we are to ^(QH)grow up in every way into him who is ^(QI)the head, into Christ, ^16 (QJ)from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, ^(QK)when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

The New Life

¹⁷ Now this I say and ^(QL)testify in the Lord, ^(QM)that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, ^(QN)in the futility of their minds. ¹⁸ They ^(QO)are darkened in their understanding, ^(QP)alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to ^(QQ)their hardness of heart. ¹⁹ They ^(QR)have become callous and ^(QS)have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰ But that is not the way you ^(QT)learned Christ!— ²¹ assuming that ^(QU)you have heard about him and ^(QV)were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²² to ^(QW)put off ^(QX)your old self,^[av] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through ^(QY)deceitful desires, ²³ and ^(QZ)to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on ^(RA)the new self, ^(RB)created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

²⁵ Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you ^(RC)speak the truth with his neighbor, for ^(RD)we are members one of another. ^26 (RE)Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and ^(RF)give no opportunity to the devil. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal, but rather ^(RG)let him labor, ^(RH)doing honest work with his own hands, so ^(RI)that he may have something to share with anyone in need. ^29 (RJ)Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give ^(RK)grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And ^(RL)do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ^(RM)by whom you were sealed for the day of ^(RN)redemption. ^31 (RO)Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ^32 (RP)Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, ^(RQ)forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Walk in Love

5 ^(RR)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ² And ^(RS)walk in love, ^(RT)as Christ loved us and ^(RU)gave himself up for us, a ^(RV)fragrant ^(RW)offering and sacrifice to God.

³ But ^(RX)sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness ^(RY)must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴ Let there be ^(RZ)no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, ^(SA)which are out of place, but instead ^(SB)let there be thanksgiving. ⁵ For you may be sure of this, that ^(SC)everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (^(SD)that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ^6 (SE)Let no one ^(SF)deceive you with empty words, for because of these things ^(SG)the wrath of God comes upon ^(SH)the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore ^(SI)do not become partners with them; ⁸ for ^(SJ)at one time you were ^(SK)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. ^(SL)Walk as children of light ⁹ (for ^(SM)the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰ and ^(SN)try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.