THE
EPISTLE
OF
PAUL THE APOSTLE,
TO
THE EPHESIANS.

WRITTEN FROM ROME, A. D. 61.

I. PAUL, by the will of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the saints who are in Ephesus and to the believers in Christ Jesus. Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, through Christ; according as he hath elected us through him before the foundation of the world, that we might be holy, and unblameable in his sight through love. Having beforehand determinately pointed out for an adoption into the number of children by Jesus Christ for himself according to the good pleasure of his will.*[App. No. LXXX.] To the praise of the glory of his favour, whereby he hath highly favoured us on account of the beloved; in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his favour: the knowledge of which he hath made to abound in us, with all wisdom and prudence. Who hath made known to us the secret of his will, according to his own benevolence, which he purposed in himself; in the dispensation of the fulness of the times, to gather together all things under Christ, both things in the heavens, and things upon the earth, even under him. By whom even we have inherited, (having been previously marked out in a determinate manner,) according to the purpose of him, who effectually worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will; that we should be to the praise of his glory, who before hoped in the Christ. By whom ye also have inherited, (having believed the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation;) by whom also, after ye believed, ye were sealed with the spirit of promise, the Holy Spirit; who is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased people, to the praise of his glory. For this reason, I also having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus, which is among you, and of the love which is to all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, would give you the spirit oif wisdom and revelation, for the acknowledgment of him; also the eyes of your understanding enlightened, in order that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance, prepared for the saints; and what the exceeding greatness of his power, with relation to us who believe, according to the inworking of the strength of his force; which he inwrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly palces, far above all government, and power, and might, and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; and subjected all things under his feet, and appointed him head over all things for the congregation, which is his body, and the fulness of him who filleth all with all. Even you [he hath filled,] who were dead in trespasses and sins; (in which formerly ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, and of the spirit which now inwardly worketh in the children of disobedience; with whom also we all had our conversation formerly, in the lusts of our flesh, doing the inclinations of the flesh, and of the imaginations, and were by nature chidlren of wrath even as others. But God being rich in mercy, through his great love with which he loved us,) even us who were dead in trespasses, he hath made alive together by Christ; (by favour ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and hath set us down together in the heavenly places, by Christ Jesus; that he might show to the ages which are to come, the exceeding riches of his favour, by his goodness towards us, through Christ Jesus. For by favour ye are saved through faith; and this affair is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not byworks, so that no one can boast. Yet we are his workmanship, created through Christ Jesus unto good works, for which God before prepared us, that we should walk in them. Wherefore, remember that ye were formerly Gentiles by the flesh, (who are called uncircumcision, by that which is called circumcision made with hands on the flesh,) and that ye were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, not having hope, and without God in the world; but now in Christ Jesus, ye who formerly were far off, are brought nigh through the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken downt he middle wall of separation; and hath abolished by his flesh the enmity, even the law of the commandments concerning ordinances, that the two he might create under himself, into one man, making peace: and might reconcile both in one body to God, through the cross, having slain the enmity by it. And coming he brought good tidings of peace to the far off, and to us the nigh. Therefore, through him, we have introduction both of us by one Spirit to the Father. Well then, ye are not now strangers and sojourners, but joint citizens with the saints, and belonging to the house of God; being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the bottom corner stone; by which the whole building being aptly joined together, groweth into a holy temple for the Lord: in which ye also are builded together with the Gentiles, for an habitation of God by the Spirit. For the sake of this, I Paul am a prisoner belonging to Christ Jesus on account of you Gentiles. Seeing ye have heard of the dispensation of the favour of God, which was given me on your account: that by relevation he made known to me the secret (as I wrote before in few words. By which when ye read, ye may perceive my knowledge of the secret of Christ,) which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets, by the Spirit: that the Gentiles should be joint heirs, and a joint body, and joint partakers of his promise concerning Christ, through the gospel; of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of the favour of God which was given to me, and according to the inworking of his power. Unto me, I say, who am less than the least of all the saints, was this favour given, to publish to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what the fellowship is of the secret, which was hid from the ages by God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. That now to the governments and to the powers in the heavenly regions, the manifold wisdom of God may be made known through the congregation, according to the dispensation of the ages which he made for Christ Jesus our Lord; by whom we have liberty of speech, and introduction with confidence through the faith of him. Wherefore, I request that ye faint not at my afflictions for you, which are your glory. For the sake of this, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven, and upon earth is named, praying that, according to the riches of his glory,he would grant you, to be mightily strengthened through his Spirit in the inward man: that Christ may dwell through faith in your hearts; and being rooted and founded in love, that ye may be thoroughly able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which surpasseth knowledge; also that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God. Now, to him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or conceive, according to the power which strongly worketh in us, to him be glory by the congregation for Christ Jesus, throughout all the endless successions of ages. Amen.

IV. Now I, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling by which ye are called, with all humbleness of mind, and meekness, and with long suffering, support one another in love. Carefully endeavor to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the bond of peace. There is one body, and one spirit, as also ye have been called to one hope of your calling: one Lord, one faith, one immersion, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and with all, and in you all. But to every one of us is given favour, according to the measure of the gift of Christ. For he saith, "He ascended on high, he took captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." Now, this expression, "He ascended," what is it, unless that also he had descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all.) And he appointed some, indeed, apoostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the sake of fitting the saints for the work of the ministry, in order to the building of the body of Christ: till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, even to the measure of the stature of the fulness o Christ: that we may no longer be children, tossed and whirled about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and by craftiness, formed into a subtle method of deceit: but that, speaking the truth in love, we may make all the members grow in him who is the head, even Christ. By whom the whole body being aptly joined together, and compacted through the service of every joint, he maketh increase of the body in measure according to the inworking of each particular part, to the building of himself by love. Wherefore, this I commmand and testify of the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the other Gentiles walk in the foolishness of their mind. Being darkened in the understanding, they are alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance which is in them, and through the blindness of their heart: who being without feeling, have given themselves up by lasciviousness to the working of all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; since, ye have heard him, and have been taught concerning him, as the truth is in Jesus. Also I command with respect to the former conversation, that ye put off the old man, which is corrupted by the deceitful lusts; and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore, putting off lying, speak the truth every one to his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Are you excited to anger? Do not therefore sin.*[App. No. LXXXI.] Let not the sun go down on your wrath. Neither give space to the devil. Let him that stole, steal no more; but rather let him labour, working with his hands that which is good, that he may have to distribute to him who hath need. Let no corrupt discourse come out of your mouth; but if any speech be good for the use of edification, speak it, that it may minister pleasure to the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, with whom ye are sealed until the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and anger, and wrath, and clamour, and detraction, be taken away from among you, with all malice. But be ye to one another kind, tender hearted, forgiving each other, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

V. Be ye, therefore, imitators of God, as children beloved; and walk in love, even as Christ loved us, and gave himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet smelling savour. But whoredom and all uncleanness, and inordinate desire, let them not even be named among you, as it becometh saints. All obscenity, and foolish talking, and double meanings, are things not proper; but thanksgiving rather is proper. For t his ye know, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor lascivious man, who is an idolater, hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, and of God. Let no one deceive you with false speeches; for on account of these things, the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience. Wherefore, be not joint partakers with them. For ye were formerly darkness, but now ye are light in the Lord; walk as children of light. (Now, the fruit of the Spirit*[Light.--Griesbach.] consists in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth. Approve what is well pleasing to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them. For the things which are secretly done by them, it is base even to mention. Now all things to be reproved are made manifest by light; and every thing which maketh manifest is light. Wherefore it saith, 'Awake thou who sleepest, and arise from the dead,' and Christ will shine upon thee. See then that ye walk accurately, not as unwise, but as wise men: gaining time, because the days are evil. For this, do not become mad men; but understand ye what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine by which cometh dissoluteness; but be ye filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Give thanks at all times for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father. Be subject to one another in the fear of God. Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the congregation; because he is the saviour of the body. Therefore, as the congregation is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your own wives, even as Christ also loved the congregation, and gave himself for her; that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her with a bath of water, and with the word. That he might present her to himself, glorious, a congregation not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that she might be holy, and without blemish. So ought husbands to love their own wives, as their own bodies: he who loveth his own wife, loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as even the Lord the congregation: because ye are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this reason shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall adhere to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This secret*[App. No. LXVI.] is great, but I speak concerning Christ, and concerning the congregation. Therefore, also, let every one of you in particular, so love his own wife as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

VI. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is just. Honour thy father and mother, (which is the first commandment with a promise,)--that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest be long lived in the land. Now, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; but bring them up in the correction and instruction of the Lord.

5. Servants, obey your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the integrity of your heart, as to Christ. Not with

eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, do the will of God from the soul; with good will, acting as servants to the Lord and not to men only. KNowing that whatever good work any one doth, for that he shall receive of the Lord, whether he be a slave or a freeman. And masters, do the same things to them, moderating threatening, knowing that the master even of you yourselves is in heaven, and respect of persons is not with him. Finally, my brethren, be strong through the Lord, and through the power of his might. Put on the complete armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the crafty ways of the devil. For we wrestle not with flesh and blood only; but with governments, with powers, with the rulers of the darkness of this world, and with the wicked spirits in the heavenly regions.*[i. e. In the air.] For this reason, take up the complete armour of God, that ye may be able to resist in the evil day, and [they] having fully wrought every thing, to stand. Stand, then, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. And having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Over all, take up the shield of faith, with which ye will be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all supplication and deprecation, pray at all seasons in spirit, and for this very purpose watch with all perseverance and prayer for all the saints. Especially for me, that eloquence may be given me in the opening of my mouth with boldness, to make known the secret of the gospel; for which I execute the office of an ambassador in a chain, that I may speak boldly concerning it, as it becometh me to speak. Now that ye also may know the things relating to me, and what I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother, and faithful minister in the Lord, will make known to you all things. Whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that ye may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts. Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Favour be with all them who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

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