Ephesians 3–4

God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles

3For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner^g of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

²Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me^h for you, ³that is, the mysteryⁱ made known to me by revelation,^j as I have already written briefly. ⁴In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight^k into the mystery of Christ, ⁵which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.^{l 6}This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs^m together with Israel, members together of one body,ⁿ and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.^o

⁷I became a servant of this gospel^p by the gift of God’s grace given me^q through the working of his power.^{r 8}Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people,^s this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles^t the boundless riches of Christ,^{u 9}and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery,^v which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. ¹⁰His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God^w should be made known^x to the rulers and authorities^y in the heavenly realms,^{z 11}according to his eternal purpose^a that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹²In him and through faith in him we may approach God^b with freedom and confidence.^{c 13}I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

A Prayer for the Ephesians

¹⁴For this reason I kneel^d before the Father, ¹⁵from whom every family^a in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches^e he may strengthen you with power^f through his Spirit in your inner being,^{g 17}so that Christ may dwell in your hearts^h through faith. And I pray that you, being rootedⁱ and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,^j to grasp how wide and long and high and deep^k is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge^l—that you may be filled^m to the measure of all the fullness of God.ⁿ

²⁰Now to him who is able^o to do immeasurably more than all we ask^p or imagine, according to his power^q that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.^r

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

4As a prisoner^s for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy^t of the calling^u you have received. ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another^v in love.^{w 3}Make every effort to keep the unity^x of the Spirit through the bond of peace.^{y 4}There is one body^z and one Spirit,^a just as you were called to one hope when you were called^b; ⁵one Lord,^c one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all,^d who is over all and through all and in all.^e

⁷But to each one of us^f grace^g has been given^h as Christ apportioned it. ⁸This is why it^a says:

“When he ascended on high,

he took many captivesⁱ

and gave gifts to his people.”^bj

⁹(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions^c? ¹⁰He who descended is the very one who ascended^k higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)^{l 11}So Christ himself gave^m the apostles,ⁿ the prophets,^o the evangelists,^p the pastors and teachers,^{q 12}to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ^r may be built up^{s 13}until we all reach unity^t in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God^u and become mature,^v attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.^w

¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants,^x tossed back and forth by the waves,^y and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.^{z 15}Instead, speaking the truth in love,^a we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,^b that is, Christ. ¹⁶From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows^c and builds itself up^d in love,^e as each part does its work.

Instructions for Christian Living

¹⁷So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer^f live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.^{g 18}They are darkened in their understanding^h and separated from the life of Godⁱ because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.^{j 19}Having lost all sensitivity,^k they have given themselves over^l to sensuality^m so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

²⁰That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²²You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put offⁿ your old self,^o which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;^{p 23}to be made new in the attitude of your minds;^{q 24}and to put on^r the new self,^s created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.^t

²⁵Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully^u to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.^{v 26}“In your anger do not sin”^d:^w Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷and do not give the devil a foothold.^{x 28}Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,^y doing something useful with their own hands,^z that they may have something to share with those in need.^a

²⁹Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,^b but only what is helpful for building others up^c according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,^d with whom you were sealed^e for the day of redemption.^{f 31}Get rid of^g all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.^{h 32}Be kind and compassionate to one another,ⁱ forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.^j