Ephesians 2–3

From Death to Life

²You were dead through the trespasses and sins ²in which you once walked, following the course of this world,^k following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.^{l* 3}All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, doing the will of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else,^{* 4}but God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us^{* 5}even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ^m—by grace you have been saved—⁶and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly placesⁿ in Christ Jesus, ⁷so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—⁹not the result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we may walk in them.^*

One in Christ

¹¹So then, remember that at one time you gentiles by birth,^o called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision”—a circumcision made in the flesh by human hands^*—¹²remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.^{* 13}But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.^{* 14}For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us,^{* 15}abolishing the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace,^{* 16}and might reconcile both to God in one body^p through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.^{q* 17}So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, ¹⁸for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.^{* 19}So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God,^{* 20}built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone;^{r* 21}in him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord,^{* 22}in whom you also are built together spiritually^s into a dwelling place for God.

Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles

³This is the reason that I, Paul, am a prisoner for^t Christ Jesus^u for the sake of you gentiles, ²for surely^v you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you ³and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words,^{w* 4}a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ.^{* 5}In former generations this mystery^x was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:^{* 6}that is, the gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.^*

⁷Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power. ⁸Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ^{* 9}and to make everyone see^y what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in^z God, who created all things,^{* 10}so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.^{a* 11}This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²in whom we have access in boldness and confidence through faith in him.^{b* 13}I pray, therefore, that you^c may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.

Prayer for the Readers

¹⁴For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,^{d 15}from whom every family^e in heaven and on earth takes its name. ¹⁶I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit^{* 17}and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. ¹⁸I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth^{* 19}and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.^*

²⁰Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine,^{* 21}to him be glory in the church and^f in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.