Ephesians:1-6
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Paul ,
an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God ,
to the saints which are at Ephesus ,
and to the faithful in Christ Jesus :
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Grace be to you ,
and peace ,
from God our Father ,
and from the Lord Jesus Christ .
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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ :
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According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world ,
that we should be holy and without blame before him in love :
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Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself ,
according to the good pleasure of his will ,
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To the praise of the glory of his grace ,
wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved .
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In whom we have redemption through his blood ,
the forgiveness of sins ,
according to the riches of his grace ;
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Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence ;
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Having made known unto us the mystery of his will ,
according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself :
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That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ ,
both which are in heaven ,
and which are on earth ;
even in him :
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In whom also we have obtained an inheritance ,
being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will :
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That we should be to the praise of his glory ,
who first trusted in Christ .
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In whom ye also trusted ,
after that ye heard the word of truth ,
the gospel of your salvation :
in whom also after that ye believed ,
ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise ,
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Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession ,
unto the praise of his glory .
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Wherefore I also ,
after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus ,
and love unto all the saints ,
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Cease not to give thanks for you ,
making mention of you in my prayers ;
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That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ ,
the Father of glory ,
may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him :
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The eyes of your understanding being enlightened ;
that ye may know what is the hope of his calling ,
and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints ,
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And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe ,
according to the working of his mighty power ,
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Which he wrought in Christ ,
when he raised him from the dead ,
and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places ,
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Far above all principality ,
and power ,
and might ,
and dominion ,
and every name that is named ,
not only in this world ,
but also in that which is to come :
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And hath put all things under his feet ,
and gave him to be the head over all things to the church ,
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Which is his body ,
the fulness of him that filleth all in all .
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And you hath he quickened ,
who were dead in trespasses and sins ;
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Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world ,
according to the prince of the power of the air ,
the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience :
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Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh ,
fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind ;
and were by nature the children of wrath ,
even as others .
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But God ,
who is rich in mercy ,
for his great love wherewith he loved us ,
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Even when we were dead in sins ,
hath quickened us together with Christ , (
by grace ye are saved ;)
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And hath raised us up together ,
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus :
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That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus .
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For by grace are ye saved through faith ;
and that not of yourselves :
it is the gift of God :
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Not of works ,
lest any man should boast .
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For we are his workmanship ,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works ,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them .
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Wherefore remember ,
that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh ,
who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands ;
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That at that time ye were without Christ ,
being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel ,
and strangers from the covenants of promise ,
having no hope ,
and without God in the world :
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But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ .
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For he is our peace ,
who hath made both one ,
and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us ;
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Having abolished in his flesh the enmity ,
even the law of commandments contained in ordinances ;
for to make in himself of twain one new man ,
so making peace ;
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And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross ,
having slain the enmity thereby :
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And came and preached peace to you which were afar off ,
and to them that were nigh .
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For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father .
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Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners ,
but fellowcitizens with the saints ,
and of the household of God ;
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And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets ,
Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone ;
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In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord :
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In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit .
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For this cause I Paul ,
the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles ,
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If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward :
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How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery ; (
as I wrote afore in few words ,
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Whereby ,
when ye read ,
ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ )
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Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men ,
as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit ;
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That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs ,
and of the same body ,
and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel :
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Whereof I was made a minister ,
according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power .
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Unto me ,
who am less than the least of all saints ,
is this grace given ,
that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ ;
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And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery ,
which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God ,
who created all things by Jesus Christ :
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To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God ,
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According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord :
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In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him .
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Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you ,
which is your glory .
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For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ,
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Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named ,
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That he would grant you ,
according to the riches of his glory ,
to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man ;
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That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith ;
that ye ,
being rooted and grounded in love ,
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May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth ,
and length ,
and depth ,
and height ;
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And to know the love of Christ ,
which passeth knowledge ,
that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God .
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Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think ,
according to the power that worketh in us ,
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Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages ,
world without end .
Amen .
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I therefore ,
the prisoner of the Lord ,
beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called ,
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With all lowliness and meekness ,
with longsuffering ,
forbearing one another in love ;
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Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace .
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There is one body ,
and one Spirit ,
even as ye are called in one hope of your calling ;
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One Lord ,
one faith ,
one baptism ,
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One God and Father of all ,
who is above all ,
and through all ,
and in you all .
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But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ .
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Wherefore he saith ,
When he ascended up on high ,
he led captivity captive ,
and gave gifts unto men .
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Now that he ascended ,
what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth ?
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He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens ,
that he might fill all things .)
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And he gave some ,
apostles ;
and some ,
prophets ;
and some ,
evangelists ;
and some ,
pastors and teachers ;
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For the perfecting of the saints ,
for the work of the ministry ,
for the edifying of the body of Christ :
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Till we all come in the unity of the faith ,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God ,
unto a perfect man ,
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ :
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That we henceforth be no more children ,
tossed to and fro ,
and carried about with every wind of doctrine ,
by the sleight of men ,
and cunning craftiness ,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive ;
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But speaking the truth in love ,
may grow up into him in all things ,
which is the head ,
even Christ :
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From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth ,
according to the effectual working in the measure of every part ,
maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love .
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This I say therefore ,
and testify in the Lord ,
that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk ,
in the vanity of their mind ,
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Having the understanding darkened ,
being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them ,
because of the blindness of their heart :
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Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness ,
to work all uncleanness with greediness .
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But ye have not so learned Christ ;
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If so be that ye have heard him ,
and have been taught by him ,
as the truth is in Jesus :
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That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man ,
which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts ;
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And be renewed in the spirit of your mind ;
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And that ye put on the new man ,
which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness .
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Wherefore putting away lying ,
speak every man truth with his neighbour :
for we are members one of another .
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Be ye angry ,
and sin not :
let not the sun go down upon your wrath :
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Neither give place to the devil .
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Let him that stole steal no more :
but rather let him labour ,
working with his hands the thing which is good ,
that he may have to give to him that needeth .
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Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth ,
but that which is good to the use of edifying ,
that it may minister grace unto the hearers .
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And grieve not the holy Spirit of God ,
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption .
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Let all bitterness ,
and wrath ,
and anger ,
and clamour ,
and evil speaking ,
be put away from you ,
with all malice :
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And be ye kind one to another ,
tenderhearted ,
forgiving one another ,
even as God for Christ '
s sake hath forgiven you .
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Be ye therefore followers of God ,
as dear children ;
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And walk in love ,
as Christ also hath loved us ,
and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour .
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But fornication ,
and all uncleanness ,
or covetousness ,
let it not be once named among you ,
as becometh saints ;
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Neither filthiness ,
nor foolish talking ,
nor jesting ,
which are not convenient :
but rather giving of thanks .
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For this ye know ,
that no whoremonger ,
nor unclean person ,
nor covetous man ,
who is an idolater ,
hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God .
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Let no man deceive you with vain words :
for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience .
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Be not ye therefore partakers with them .
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For ye were sometimes darkness ,
but now are ye light in the Lord :
walk as children of light :
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For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth ;)
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Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord .
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And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness ,
but rather reprove them .
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For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret .
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But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light :
for whatsoever doth make manifest is light .
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Wherefore he saith ,
Awake thou that sleepest ,
and arise from the dead ,
and Christ shall give thee light .
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See then that ye walk circumspectly ,
not as fools ,
but as wise ,
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Redeeming the time ,
because the days are evil .
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Wherefore be ye not unwise ,
but understanding what the will of the Lord is .
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And be not drunk with wine ,
wherein is excess ;
but be filled with the Spirit ;
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Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs ,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord ;
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Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ;
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Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God .
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Wives ,
submit yourselves unto your own husbands ,
as unto the Lord .
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For the husband is the head of the wife ,
even as Christ is the head of the church :
and he is the saviour of the body .
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Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ ,
so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing .
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Husbands ,
love your wives ,
even as Christ also loved the church ,
and gave himself for it ;
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That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word ,
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That he might present it to himself a glorious church ,
not having spot ,
or wrinkle ,
or any such thing ;
but that it should be holy and without blemish .
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So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies .
He that loveth his wife loveth himself .
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For no man ever yet hated his own flesh ;
but nourisheth and cherisheth it ,
even as the Lord the church :
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For we are members of his body ,
of his flesh ,
and of his bones .
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For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother ,
and shall be joined unto his wife ,
and they two shall be one flesh .
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This is a great mystery :
but I speak concerning Christ and the church .
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Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself ;
and the wife see that she reverence her husband .
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Children ,
obey your parents in the Lord :
for this is right .
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Honour thy father and mother ; (
which is the first commandment with promise ;)
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That it may be well with thee ,
and thou mayest live long on the earth .
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And ,
ye fathers ,
provoke not your children to wrath :
but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord .
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Servants ,
be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh ,
with fear and trembling ,
in singleness of your heart ,
as unto Christ ;
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Not with eyeservice ,
as menpleasers ;
but as the servants of Christ ,
doing the will of God from the heart ;
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With good will doing service ,
as to the Lord ,
and not to men :
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Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth ,
the same shall he receive of the Lord ,
whether he be bond or free .
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And ,
ye masters ,
do the same things unto them ,
forbearing threatening :
knowing that your Master also is in heaven ;
neither is there respect of persons with him .
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Finally ,
my brethren ,
be strong in the Lord ,
and in the power of his might .
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Put on the whole armour of God ,
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil .
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For we wrestle not against flesh and blood ,
but against principalities ,
against powers ,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world ,
against spiritual wickedness in high places .
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Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God ,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day ,
and having done all ,
to stand .
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Stand therefore ,
having your loins girt about with truth ,
and having on the breastplate of righteousness ;
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And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace ;
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Above all ,
taking the shield of faith ,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked .
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And take the helmet of salvation ,
and the sword of the Spirit ,
which is the word of God :
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Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit ,
and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints ;
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And for me ,
that utterance may be given unto me ,
that I may open my mouth boldly ,
to make known the mystery of the gospel ,
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For which I am an ambassador in bonds :
that therein I may speak boldly ,
as I ought to speak .
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But that ye also may know my affairs ,
and how I do ,
Tychicus ,
a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord ,
shall make known to you all things :
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Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose ,
that ye might know our affairs ,
and that he might comfort your hearts .
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Peace be to the brethren ,
and love with faith ,
from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ .
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Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity .
Amen .
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