1 Paul, an apostle—not an apostle from men nor by human agency, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers with me, to the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins so that he might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father: 5 to him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6 I am amazed that you are turning away so quickly from him who called you by the grace of Christ. I am amazed that you are turning to a different gospel, 7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some men who cause you trouble and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel other than the one we proclaimed to you, let him be cursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, "If someone proclaims to you a gospel other than the one you received, let him be cursed." 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men or of God? Am I seeking to please men? If I am still trying to please men, I am not a servant of Christ.
11 For I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I proclaimed is not man's gospel. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it. Instead, it was by revelation of Jesus Christ to me. 13 You have heard about my former life in Judaism, how I was persecuting the church of God beyond measure and that I was trying to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many of those who were my own age, from out of my own people. That is how extremely zealous I was for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who had set me apart from my mother's womb, and who called me through his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me. Instead, I went to Arabia and then returned to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. 20 In what I write to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying. 21 Then I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was still not known by face to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard it being said, "The man who once persecuted us is now proclaiming as good news the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 So they glorified God because of me.
1 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 the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I spoke privately to those who seemed to be important, in order to make sure that I was not running—or had not run—in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me and who was a Greek, was forced to be circumcised. 4 The false brothers came in secretly to spy on the liberty we have in Christ Jesus. They desired to enslave us, 5 but we did not yield in submission to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. 6 But those who seemed to be important (whatever they were does not matter to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed important added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to those who are uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to those who are circumcised. 8 For God, who worked in Peter for the apostleship to those who are circumcised, also worked in me to the Gentiles. 9 When James, Cephas, and John, who had a reputation as pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles and they should go to the circumcised. 10 They requested only that we remember the poor, the very thing that I was eager to do.
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. 12 Before certain men came from James, Cephas was eating with the Gentiles. But when these men came, he stopped and kept away from the Gentiles. He was afraid of those who were demanding circumcision. 13 Also the rest of the Jews joined in this hypocrisy. Even Barnabas was led astray with them by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their behavior was not following the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of all of them, "If you are a Jew but are living like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?" 15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that no person is justified by the works of the law but through faith in Christ Jesus. So we also have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law. For by the works of the law no flesh will be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? Absolutely not! 18 For if I rebuild those things I once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. [1]20 It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, then Christ died for nothing!
1 Foolish Galatians! Who has put a spell on you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly displayed as crucified. 2 This is the only thing I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now going to be perfected by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things for nothing—if indeed it was for nothing? 5 Does he who gives the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? 6 Just as Abraham "believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness," 7 in the same way, understand, then, that those of faith are the children of Abraham. 8 The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you all the nations will be blessed." 9 So then, those of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 10 All who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; and so it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the law, and do them." 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because "the righteous will live by faith." 12 But the law is not of faith; rather, "The person who does the works of the law must live by them." 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"— 14 so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
15 Brothers, let me speak in human terms. Once a man-made contract is established by law, no one can set it aside or add to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. It does not say, "to descendants," referring to many, but instead to only one, "and to your descendant," who is Christ. 17 Now what I am saying is this: The law, which came 430 years afterward, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God, to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, then it no longer comes by promise. But God freely gave it to Abraham by a promise. 19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the descendant of Abraham would come to whom the promise had been made. The law was ordained through angels by the hand of an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one person. But God is one. 21 So is the law against the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But the scripture imprisoned everything under sin so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until faith should be revealed. 24 So then the law became our guardian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 Then if you are Christ's, you are Abraham's descendants, and heirs according to promise.
1 I am saying that the heir, for whatever time he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is owner of the entire estate. 2 But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 So also, when we were children, we were enslaved to the elemental principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law 5 so that he might redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who cries out, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then you are also an heir through God.
8 But at that time, when you did not know God, you were made to be slaves to those who are, by their natural powers, not gods at all. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather that you are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to the weak and worthless elemental principles? Do you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and new moons and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid for you that somehow my labor with you may have been for nothing.
12 I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I also have become like you. You did me no wrong. 13 But you know that it was because of a disease of the flesh that I proclaimed the gospel to you the first time, 14 and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where then is your blessing now? For I testify to you that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 So then, have I become your enemy because I am telling you the truth? 17 They are zealous to win you over, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out so you may be zealous for them. 18 It is always good to be zealous for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, again I am suffering the pains of childbirth for you until Christ is formed in you. 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
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, one by the slave girl and one by the free woman. 23 One was born by the slave girl according to the flesh, but the other was born by the free woman through promise. 24 These things may be interpreted as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. One of them is from Mount Sinai and she bears children into slavery. This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia; and she represents the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
"Rejoice, you barren one who does not give birth;
cry out and shout for joy,
you who are not suffering the pains of childbirth;
because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous
than those of the woman who has a husband."
28 But you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the one who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does the scripture say? "Send away the slave girl and her son. For the son of the slave girl will not share in the inheritance with the son of the free woman." 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of a slave girl, but of the free woman.
1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not again be subject to a yoke of slavery.
2 Look, I, Paul, say to you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will not benefit you in any way. 3 I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You are cut off from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you no longer experience grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has value, but only faith working through love. 7 You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from him who calls you! 9 A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will think nothing different. The one who is troubling you will suffer the judgment, whoever he is. 11 Brothers, if I still proclaim circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the stumbling block of the cross has been removed. 12 As for those who are disturbing you, I wish they would cut themselves off!
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. But do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You must love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh. For these oppose each other, so that you cannot do the things you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, rivalry, dissension, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, drunken celebrations, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, provoking one another, envying one another.
1 Brothers, if someone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Be concerned about yourself, so you also may not be tempted. 2 Carry one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should examine his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in someone else. 5 For each one will carry his own burden.
6 The one who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man plants, that he will also reap. 8 For he who plants seed to his own flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction. The one who plants seed to the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the household of faith.
11 See what large letters I write to you with my own hand. 12 Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They do this only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who circumcised themselves keep the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. 14 But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but what counts is a new creation. 16 To all who walk according to this standard, peace and mercy be upon them, even upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I carry on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to God's holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful in Christ Jesus: [1]
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be praised, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. 4 God chose us in him from the foundation of the world, that we may be holy and blameless in his sight in love. 5 God predestined us [2] for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will. 6 Our adoption results in the praise of his glorious grace that he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In Jesus Christ we have redemption through his blood and the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. 8 He multiplied this grace to us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 God made known to us the mystery of his will, according to what pleased him, and which he demonstrated in Christ, 10 with a view to a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things together—all things in heaven and on earth—under one head, even Christ. 11 In Christ we were given an inheritance, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything according to the purpose of his will. 12 God appointed us as heirs so that we, who are the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of his glory. 13 In Christ, you also—when you had heard the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation, believed in him and were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's holy people, 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you as I mention you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, that you may know the hope to which he has called you and the riches of his glorious inheritance among all God's holy people. 19 In my prayers I ask that you may know the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of the strength of his might. 20 This is the same power that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. 21 He seated Christ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named. Christ will rule, not only in this age, but also in the age to come. 22 God subjected all things under Christ's feet and gave him to the church as head over all things. 23 The church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
1 And as for you, you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked, according to the ways of this world. You were living according to the ruler of the authorities of the air, the spirit that is working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Once we all lived among these people, fulfilling the evil desires of our flesh, and carrying out the desires of the flesh and of the mind. We were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of humanity. 4 But God is rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us. 5 While we were dead in trespasses, he made us alive together in Christ—by grace you have been saved. 6 God raised us up together with Christ, and God made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come he might show to us the immeasurably great riches of his grace expressed in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this did not come from you; it is the gift of God, 9 not from works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good deeds that God planned long ago for us, so that we would walk in them.
11 Therefore, remember that once you were Gentiles in the flesh. You are called "uncircumcision" by what is called the "circumcision" in the flesh made by human hands. 12 For at that time you were separated from Christ, foreigners to citizenship in Israel, strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away from God have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, because he made us both one. By his flesh he broke down the dividing wall of hostility. 15 He set aside the law with its commands and ordinances so that he might create in himself one new man out of two, so making peace. 16 Christ reconciles both peoples into one body to God through the cross, putting to death the hostility. 17 Jesus came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Jesus we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then, now you Gentiles are no longer foreigners and strangers. Rather, you are fellow citizens with God's holy people and members of the household of God. 20 You have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building fits together and grows as a holy temple in the Lord. 22 It is in him that you also are being built together as a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 I assume that you have heard of the stewardship of the grace of God that was given to me for you. 3 The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read about this, you will be able to understand my insight into this mystery about Christ. 5 In other generations this mystery was not made known to the sons of men. But now it has been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 This hidden truth is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and they share the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 For I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given to me through the working of his power. 8 To me—although I am the least of all God's holy people—this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ 9 and to bring to light for everyone the plan—the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things. 10 This plan was made known through the church so the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places would come to know the many-sided nature of the wisdom of God. 11 This happened according to the eternal plan that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 For in Christ we have boldness and access with confidence because of our faith in him. 13 Therefore, I ask you not to be discouraged because of my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For this reason I bend my knees to the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his Spirit, who is in your inner person. 17 I pray that Christ may live in your hearts through faith and that you may be rooted and founded in his love, 18 in order that you might be able to understand, along with all God's holy people, what is the width, the length, the height, and the depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ, which goes beyond knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, according to his power that works in us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
1 I, therefore, as the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthily of the calling by which you were called. 2 I urge you to live with great humility and gentleness and patience, bearing with one another in love. 3 Do your best to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling. 5 And there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 To each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 It is as scripture says:
"When he ascended on high,
he led the captives into captivity,
and he gave gifts to the people."
9 What is the meaning of "he ascended," except that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same person who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. 11 Christ gave some to be apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers 12 to equip God's holy people for the work of service, for the building up of the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, so that we become mature and reach the measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Christ builds us up so that we should no longer be children who are tossed back and forth by the waves, carried away by every wind of doctrine and by the trickery of people in their deceitful schemes. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 Christ builds the whole body, and it is joined and held together by every supporting ligament, and when each part works together, that makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
17 Therefore, I say and insist on this in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their hearts. 19 They have become shameless and have committed themselves to sensuality, and they practice every kind of uncleanness with greed. 20 But that is not how you learned about Christ. 21 I assume that you have heard about him, and that you were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus. 22 You were taught to put off what belongs to your former manner of life, to put off the old man. It is the old man that is corrupt because of its deceitful desires. 23 You were taught to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new man that is created in the image of God—in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, get rid of lies, and let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger. 27 Do not give an opportunity to the devil. 28 The one who had been stealing must steal no longer. Instead, he must labor, working at what is good with his hands, so that he may have something to share with those who are in need. 29 Do not let any harmful talk come out of your mouth. Use only words that are good for the edification of those who need it, so that your words give grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, for it is by him that you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Put away all bitterness, rage, anger, quarreling, and insults, along with every kind of evil. 32 Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as also Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But sexual immorality or any kind of uncleanness or of greed must not even be named among you, for these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Let there be no filthiness, no foolish talk, and no crude jokes—all of which are improper. Instead, there should be thanksgiving. 5 For you know and are certain that no sexually immoral, impure, or greedy person—that is, an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore, do not join in with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 and test and approve what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not associate with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is disgraceful even to mention the things they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible. 14 For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
"Awake, you sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
15 Look carefully how you walk—not as unwise but as wise. 16 Redeem the time because the days are evil. 17 Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that leads to reckless behavior. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, 20 always giving thanks for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father, 21 being subject to one another in reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit to your husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ also is the head of the church, himself the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 so that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself as glorious, without stain or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and blameless. 28 In the same way husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and treats it with care, just as Christ nourishes and treats the church with care, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This hidden truth is great—but I am speaking about Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each of you also must love his own wife as himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is proper. 2 "Honor your father and mother" (which is the first commandment with promise), 3 "so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger. Instead, raise them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5 Slaves, be obedient to your masters according to the flesh with deep respect and trembling, in the honesty of your heart. Be obedient to them as you would be obedient to Christ. 6 Be obedient not only when your masters are watching, in order to please them. Instead, be obedient as slaves of Christ, who do the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve with all your heart, as though you were serving the Lord and not people, 8 because we know that for whatever good deed each person does, he will receive a reward from the Lord, whether he is slave or free.
9 Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them. You know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the scheming plans of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and after you have done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, by which you will be able to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit. To this end, always be watching with all perseverance as you offer prayers for all God's holy people. 19 And pray for me, that a message might be given to me when I open my mouth. Pray that I might make known with boldness the hidden truth about the gospel. 20 It is for the gospel that I am an ambassador who is kept in chains, so that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you may know how I am doing. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are, and so that he may encourage your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be to all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an incorruptible love.