Ephesians:1-3
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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 ,