Modern Literal Version
[Ephesians 1]
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, to the holy-ones who are in Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus: 1:2 grace to you* and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:3 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is gracious*, who blessed us in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 1:4 just-as he chose us in him before the conception of the world, for us to be holy and unblemished in his sight in love*. 1:5 Having determined beforehand us to the sonship through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the delight of his will, 1:6 to the praise of the glory of his favor {'favor' and 'grace' are from the same Greek word in the MLV}, in which he favored us in the beloved, 1:7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace. 1:8 His grace which abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 1:9 having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his delight which he purposed in him, 1:10 to a stewardship of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in the Christ, the things upon the heavens and the things upon the earth. 1:11 In him, in whom also we were made an inheritance, having been determined beforehand according to the purpose of the one who is working all things after the plan of his will. 1:12 *That* we should be for the praise of his glory, we who have hoped before in the Christ, 1:13 in whom you* also, having heard the word of the truth, the good-news of your* salvation, in whom, having also believed, you* were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 1:14 which is a down-payment of our inheritance, to the redemption of the ownership of God to the praise of his glory.
1:15 Because of this, I, also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is in you* and the love* which you* have toward all the holy-ones, 1:16 am not ceasing giving-thanks on your* behalf, making* a remembrance of you* in my prayers; 1:17 in order that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you* a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of him, 1:18 the eyes of your* heart having been enlightened, *that* you* may know what is the hope of his calling and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance among the holy-ones, 1:19 and what is the surpassing greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of the dominion of his strength, 1:20 which he worked in the Christ, having raised him up from the dead and seated him by his right hand in the heavenly places, 1:21 up above all rule and authority and power and lordship and every name that is being named, not only in this age, but also in the future age. 1:22 And he subjected all things under his feet and gave him to be head above all things to the congregation* of believers, 1:23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all in all.
2:1 Even you* being dead in your* trespasses and sins, 2:2 in which you* previously walked according to the age of this world {i.e. current things of this world}, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, of the spirit which now is working in the sons of disobedience; 2:3 among whom we also all conducted ourselves previously in the lusts of our flesh, practicing the wills of the flesh and of the perceptions and we were children of wrath by nature, even as the rest. 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his much love* with which he loved* us, 2:5 even us being dead through our trespasses, he made* us alive together with the Christ; you* are saved in his grace. 2:6 And God raised us up together with him and seated us together with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus; 2:7 in order that in the coming ages, he might show the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. 2:8 For* you* are saved by the grace through the faith, and this thing, the gift of God, is not from you; 2:9 not from works, in order that not anyone should boast. 2:10 For* we are his product, having been created in Christ Jesus upon good works, in which God prepared beforehand in order that we should walk in them.
2:11 Hence remember*, that previously you*, (the Gentiles in the flesh), who are called* uncircumcision by what is called* circumcision, made by hands in the flesh; 2:12 that you* were separate from Christ at the time, having been alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers from the covenants* of the promise, having no hope and were godless in the world. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you* who are previously from afar became near to him in the blood of the Christ. 2:14 For* he is our peace, who made* us both one and having torn-down the middle wall of the fence, 2:15 having done-away-with the hostility in his flesh, which is the Law of commandments in decrees; in order that he might create in himself the two into one new man, thus making* peace; 2:16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility in himself. 2:17 And after he came, he proclaimed the good-news of peace to you* who were from afar and peace to those who were near; 2:18 because through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 2:19 Therefore consequently*, you* are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you* are fellow citizens of the holy-ones and members of the household of God, 2:20 having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ himself being the cornerstone; 2:21 in whom all the building, fitly framed together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; 2:22 in whom you* are also built together into a residence of God in the Spirit.
3:1 Because of this, I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you* Gentiles, 3:2 if actually you* have heard of the stewardship of the grace of God which was given to me *for you*; 3:3 that he made known the mystery to me according to revelation, just-as I wrote before in few words, 3:4 to which, you* are able, by reading it, to perceive my understanding in the mystery of the Christ; 3:5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations, as it now was revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit. 3:6 The mystery is that the Gentiles are to be joint heirs and a joint body and joint partakers of his promise in the Christ through the good-news, 3:7 of which I became a servant, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power. 3:8 This grace was given to me the least of all the holy-ones, to proclaim the good-news of the untraceable riches of Christ among the Gentiles; 3:9 and to enlighten all with what the stewardship of the mystery is, of which has been hidden from the ages, in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 3:10 in order that now the multifaceted wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the authorities in the heavenly places through the congregation* of believers. 3:11 This was according to the purpose of the ages, which he made* in Christ Jesus our Lord; 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through his faith. 3:13 Hence I am asking you* not to be depressed at my afflictions on your* behalf, which are your* glory.
3:14 Because of this, I am bowing my knees to the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 3:15 from whom every family in the heavens and upon the earth is named, 3:16 in order that he may give to you*, according to the riches of his glory, to be powerful with his power, through his Spirit in the inward man; 3:17 for the Christ to dwell in your* hearts through the faith, 3:18 having been rooted and having been founded in love*, in order that you may have strength to grab, together with all the holy-ones, of what is the width and length and depth and height, 3:19 and to know the love* of the Christ which surpasses knowledge, in order that you* may be filled to all the fullness of God.
3:20 Now to the one who is able to do*, exceptionally beyond all things, what we are asking or are perceiving, according to the power which is working in us, 3:21 the glory is to him in the congregation* in Christ Jesus to all generations forevermore. Amen.
4:1 Therefore, I, the prisoner in the Lord, am encouraging you* to walk worthily of the calling in which you* were called, 4:2 with all humility and meekness, with patience tolerating one another in love*. 4:3 Be diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just-as you* were also called in one hope of your* calling; 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one immersion*, 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in us all.
4:7 Now the grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the gift of the Christ. 4:8 Hence he says, 'After he ascended onto high, he captured captivity and gave presents to men.' {Psa 68:18} 4:9 Now this saying, He ascended, (what is it saying?) except that he also descended into the downward parts of the earth first? 4:10 He who descended is also the same as he who ascended above all the heavens, in order that he might fill all things.
4:11 And he gave some to be: the apostles, and the prophets, and the evangelists, and the shepherds and teachers, 4:12 toward the equipping of the holy-ones, into the work of the service, into the building up of the body of the Christ, 4:13 till we all might achieve into the unity of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, into a mature man, into the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ, 4:14 in order that we may no longer be infants, bobbing on the waves and being carried around in every wind of teaching, in the trickery of men, in craftiness, toward the scheme of error. 4:15 But declaring the truth in love*, that we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, the Christ; 4:16 from whom all the body, (being fitly framed and knitted together through every supplying joint, according to the working in measure of each one part) is making* the growth of the body to the building up of itself in love*.
4:17 Therefore I am saying and testifying this in the Lord: you* are to walk no longer as the rest of the Gentiles are also walking, in the futility of their mind, 4:18 having been darkened in their mind, were being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance which is in them, because of the hardening of their heart, 4:19 who are apathetic, gave themselves up to unbridled-lust, *for the working of all uncleanness in greed.
4:20 But you* did not so learn the Christ; 4:21 if you* actually heard him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus; 4:22 to place away from yourselves the old man, according to your* former conduct, the one who is corrupted according to the lusts of deception; 4:23 and to be young again in the spirit of your* mind, 4:24 and to have clothed yourselves* with the new man, who was created according to God, in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
4:25 Hence, placing all the lying away from yourselves, speak*, each one the truth with his neighbor, because we are members of one another. 4:26 'Be* angry and do* not sin.' {Psa 4:4} Do not let the sun set upon your* anger, 4:27 nor give* a chance to the devil. 4:28 Let the one who steals, steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working at what is the good thing with his hands, in order that he may have something to give to the one who has need. 4:29 Do not let any rotten speech travel from your* mouth. But if something is good for the building up of a need, do this in order that it may give a favor to those who are hearing. 4:30 And do* not make the Holy Spirit of God sorrowful, in whom you* were sealed to the day of redemption. 4:31 Let all bitterness and fury and anger and outcrying and blasphemy, together with all malice, be taken away from you*; 4:32 and become* kind to one another, affectionate, forgiving* others in yourselves, just-as God also forgave* us in Christ.
5:1 Therefore become* imitators of God, as beloved children, 5:2 and walk* in love*, just-as the Christ also loved* us and gave himself up on our behalf as an offering and a sacrifice to God *for an aroma of a sweet-fragrance.
5:3 But do not let fornication and all uncleanness or greed even be named among you*, as is suitable to holy-ones; 5:4 and do not let obscenity, and foolish-talk or petty jesting, which are not proper, but rather thanksgiving. 5:5 For* this you* are knowing, that every fornicator, or unclean person, or greedy person, who is an idolater, has no inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and God. 5:6 Let no one deceive you* with empty words; for* because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. 5:7 Therefore do* not become joint partakers with them. 5:8 For* you* were previously in darkness, but now you* are light in the Lord. Walk* as children of light 5:9 (for* the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 5:10 testing what is well pleasing to the Lord. 5:11 And have* no fellowship together with the unfruitful works of darkness, but also rather reprove* them; 5:12 for* it is shameful even to speak of the things happening by them covertly. 5:13 But all things which are reproved, are manifested by the light; for* everything which is manifested is light. 5:14 Hence he says, Arise, you who are sleeping and rise* up from the dead and the Christ will appear upon you.
5:15 Therefore beware*, how accurately you* are walking, not as unwise, but as wise; 5:16 buying up the time, because the days are evil. 5:17 Because of this, do* not become foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 5:18 And do* not be drunken with wine, in which there is riotousness, but be* filled in the Spirit; 5:19 speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and singing-praise in your* heart to the Lord; 5:20 giving-thanks always on behalf of all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God and Father; 5:21 being subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
5:22 The wives be* subject to your* own husbands, as to the Lord. 5:23 Because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is also the head of the congregation* of believers, he is the savior of the body. 5:24 But just-like the congregation* is subject to the Christ, so let the wives also be subject to their own husbands in all things.
5:25 The husbands, love** your* own wives, just-as the Christ also loved* the congregation* and gave himself up on her behalf; 5:26 in order that he might make her holy, having cleansed her in the full-washing of the water in the word, 5:27 in order that he might present her to himself, the glorious congregation*, not having stain or wrinkle or any such things, but in order that she should be holy and unblemished. 5:28 So the husbands also ought to love* their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves* his own wife loves* himself. 5:29 For* no one ever hated his own flesh, but is nourishing and cherishing it, just-as the Lord also does the congregation* of believers; 5:30 because we are members of his body, out of his flesh and out of his bones. 5:31 Because of this, a man will be leaving his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. {Gen 2:24} 5:32 This mystery is great, but I am speaking in regard to Christ and in regard to the congregation* of believers. 5:33 However to you* also, let each, one to one, thus love* his own wife like himself, and let the wife see that* she should fear {i.e. respect} her husband.
6:1 The children, obey** your* parents in the Lord; for* this is righteous. 6:2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment in promise), {Exo 20:12} 6:3 in order that it may become well with you, and you may be upon the earth a long time. 6:4 And the fathers, do* not rouse your* children to anger, but rear* them in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.
6:5 The bondservants, be* obedient* to your* lords according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in clarity of your* heart, as to the Christ; 6:6 not according to eye-service, like men-pleasers, but like bondservants of the Christ, practicing the will of God from your* soul; 6:7 serving* with benevolence as to the Lord and not to men. 6:8 Each one knowing that whatever good thing someone may practice, he will be getting this from the Lord, whether bondservant or free man. 6:9 And the lords, do** the same things toward them and be lax with the threatening; knowing that your* own Lord is also in the heavens and there is no favoritism from him.
6:10 Furthermore, my brethren, be* empowered in the Lord and in the dominion of his strength. 6:11 Clothe* yourselves with the full-armor of God, in order to be able to stand up to the schemes of the devil. 6:12 Because the wrestling in us is not with blood and flesh, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world dominions of the darkness of this age, with the spiritual ones of wickedness in the heavenly places. 6:13 Because of this, take* up the full-armor of God, in order that you* may be able to stand against the devil in the evil day, and to stand straight, having worked against all things. 6:14 Therefore stand*, having girded your* loin in truth and having clothed yourselves with the breastplate of righteousness, 6:15 and having tied the feet with* the readiness of the good-news of peace. 6:16 Over all these things, after you took up the shield of the faith, in which you* will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one; 6:17 also able to accept the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 6:18 through all prayer and supplication praying in every season in the Spirit and watching in this same thing in all perseverance and supplication concerning all the holy-ones. 6:19 And pray on my behalf, in order that the word may be given to me, in opening my mouth to make known the mystery of the good-news in boldness, 6:20 on behalf of which, I am an emissary in a chain; in order that I should speak boldly in it, as it is essential for me to speak.
6:21 But in order that you* may also know the things in regard to me, what I am doing*; I will make known to you* all things. Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, 6:22 whom I sent to you* *for this same thing, in order that you* might know the things concerning us, and in order that he might encourage your* hearts.
6:23 Peace to the brethren and love* with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 6:24 Grace is with all those who love* our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption. Amen.
{{ Introduction to Philippians 62-64 AD
Paul, still in prison, writes a long, encouraging letter that has very few sentences dealing with problems or possible problems, one is two women who are making some kind of disturbance. Paul tells them to be of the same mind a commandment he tells all the Christians in all his letters. All Christians should strive to be the congregation, which obeys the commands of Jesus and not the traditions of men, fulfill Jesus' prayer for unity, (Joh 17). He speaks about his evangelism of all the palace guard. You might say he had a 'captive audience' with 'the whole palace guard and to all the rest.' You get to see a lot of Paul's human side, his emotions, and concern for all the congregations and his desire to make sure someone is sent to them in his place. Paul does a rebuke to the 'mutilation,' i.e., the Jewish Christian false teachers in chapter 3. Some of the best advice that could be given to a Christian, 'forgetting the things which are behind me and stretching forth to the things which are before me.' He ends with the usual greeting and encouragements.}}
Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1999, 2014 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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