Biblical Places Spiritual Spaces Ephesus

Into the heart of Paganism

 

Ephesus: The Scriptures & The Power of God

 

Ephesus Theater

 

After the ground-breaking ministry in Europe, where five congregations were established, Paul sails from the Aegean side of the Corinth isthmus, Cenchrea, back to Jerusalem and Antioch, with a stop in Ephesus, where apparently, he leaves Pricilla and Aquila. This second mission trip finishes with a set up for the next Road Trip which will focus on Ephesus, the center of cultic worship to the goddess Diana.

 

 

A model of the Artemis/Diana Temple in the Ephesus Museum

 

 

 

 

The site of the ancient temple

 

 

 

 

Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow.

Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him.

They stopped first at the port of Ephesus, where Paul left the others behind. While he was there, he went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews.  They asked him to stay longer, but he declined.  As he left, however, he said, “I will come back later, God willing.”

Then he set sail from Ephesus.  The next stop was at the port of Caesarea. From there he went up and visited the church at Jerusalem and then went back to Antioch.  After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers. Acts 18:18-23

 

The Ephesian Cardo

 

Bringing the Gospel to Ephesus would be like travelling to Mecca and proclaiming, “Jesus is Lord.” Ephesus was a very spiritually charged environment. The entire economy and culture of Ephesus was centered around one of the largest temples of the ancient world that worshipped the huntress goddess Diana / Artemis, who was also the goddess of childbirth, wildlife, the night and the Moon. It took a lot of courage for anyone to challenge the demonic powers that controlled that region.

 

Upper Cardo Ephesus

Enter Apollo, a follower of Jesus from Alexandria.

Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.

Apollos had been thinking about going to Achaia, and the brothers and sisters in Ephesus encouraged him to go. They wrote to the believers in Achaia, asking them to welcome him. When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God’s grace, had believed.  He refuted the Jews with powerful arguments in public debate. Using the Scriptures, he explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah.  Acts 18:24-28                                                                  

Apollo was a gifted teacher, but he didn’t have the complete message. He only knew about John’s baptism for repentance, and was unaware of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1 & 2). He was missing an important part of his arsenal as a minister of the Gospel. Two mature disciples, Pricilla and Aquila, quietly took him aside and told him what Jesus said about the necessity of experiencing the Holy Spirit in a very personal way.

 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Power. The Greek word is ‘dynamis’ which is same word we get dynamite from; Supernatural abilities that enable you to accomplish much more that you could yourself.

 Apollo needed the infilling of the Holy Spirit if he was going to accomplish all that God has planned for him. We all do. Apparently, Apollo was not the only believer who had not heard the complete Gospel.

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them.

“No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

“Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked.

And they replied, “The baptism of John.”

Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”

 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.   Acts 19:1-7

It is important not to assume anything with you meet another ‘believer’. There are many who claim to know Jesus, but are unaware of the Truth of the Bible, and often live their spiritual lives according to the dictates of their own culture. Our opportunity when we meet these who don’t have the complete picture is to befriend them and listen to their story. They are on a path to God, even if it is a winding road. We must help them get on the right path and understand Biblical truth.  This is part of ‘Making Disciples’.

 

 

 

The Ephesian Theater, and below me in the red shirt where I took the photo from.

 

 

When I meet a ‘Christian’ who believes that taking the life of an unborn child is okay, I realize that they have been poorly taught. If I encounter a brother who holds racial prejudice, I realize his cultural upbringing is probably dictating his beliefs. When I encounter one who is engaged in sexual promiscuity, I know that they do not understand God’s plan for familial relationships, or why sex should be enjoyed only within the confines of marriage.

Principle: If a disciple of Jesus understands God’s will in specific areas of life, they often need encouragement to live a life that is pleasing to God (Colossians 1:9-12).

 I often need this encouragement as well. We all do.

Thus, I am given the opportunity to gently nudge these believers toward the Truth of the Bible, which expresses God’s moral values and His plans for humanity. I have learned the value of asking many questions and pointing to Scripture to give God’s answers to the issues of life, rather than my own. It is often a slow and tedious process, as many have deep roots in their own culture and beliefs. Friendship, practical displays of love, and the application of large quantities of grace are often the prescription to straighten out those winding roads.

Principle: Discipleship is often patient persistence to help others straighten out their winding roads, by speaking the truth in love at the appropriate moment.

 

 

The famous Ephesian Library with Michael and Pierre reflecting on the steps.

 

 

Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God.  But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.

God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.                                                        Acts 19:8-12

 For two years, Paul held “daily discussions” in the Hall of Tyrannus.

What do you think these discussions were about? All Luke tells us is that they “heard the word of the Lord”.

Perhaps Paul spoke about the Biblical account of the Creation of the Earth. Surely, he taught about how sin entered mankind through the deception of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and the murder of Abel. Undoubtedly, he taught about God’s plan for the family to be the foundation of human society and the roles the husband/father, the wife/mother, and the children were to play.

He must have covered how humans are to interact with one another and how God’s design for us to be “others-centered” benefits our neighbors, our community, and ultimately ourselves.

He must have shared how God gave mankind his commandments at Mt Sinai, how the character of God was revealed, and what God intends our relationship with Him to be.

He probably told the stories of Abraham, Issac, Jacob and Esau, Joseph, Judah and Tamar, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Boaz and Ruth (ancestors of King David), Saul, David, and all the kings of Israel and Judah, as well as all God’s prophets who spoke His words to their communities so that the Ephesians would understand how men and women have related to God and each other.

I’m sure that he focused much of his teaching on the prophecies of the Messiah, and the life and words of Jesus, explaining his atoning sacrifice on the cross and his coming return to set up his Kingdom rule on Earth.

Along with that, he must have spent many of those days and weeks focusing on the role we play in the Kingdom of God, our mission, and how to best live successful lives here on Earth not according to our culture’s standards but God’s desires, living in a spiritual world filled with angels and demons with whom we interact on a regular basis.

These are some of the basics of Discipleship.

 

Sophia- "Wisdom" at the Ephesian Library

 

"God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles."

During this time of teaching the word of the Lord, God was performing “unusual” miracles through Paul. This causes us to wonder what a “normal” miracle is.

Principle: Normal miracles are considered to be a normal part of the ministry and lives of the disciples.

Many of us two millennium later can attest to this concept as a reality of the Christian life.

Paul’s teaching the Word and performing miracles are the complete package of evangelism and discipleship. His descriptions of supernatural empowerments in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 are clearly for all disciples.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;  to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of  miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the  distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

 

The Theater and road to the harbor

 

 In Romans 12, Paul points out other empowerments of the Holy Spirit

 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;  if  service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;  or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with  liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.                                           Romans 12:4-8

These must be the “normal miracles” that we should be experiencing on a regular basis in our lives as spirit filled followers of Jesus. As we walk in these supernatural empowerments, unusual miracles often follow.

Principle: These normal ‘miracles’ are an essential part of our evangelism and discipleship.

What is the other part?

 

 

Laura and the goddess Nike - "Victory"

 

When Jesus was asked a ridiculous question about marriage in Heaven by some Sadducees, who didn’t believe in an afterlife, his response identifies the two crucial elements to our ministry and our own spiritual lives.

So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.”

Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.                                                         Matthew 22:28-29

Jesus identified the two essential elements of every effective ministry:

The Scriptures and The Power of God.

Paul dug into to the ministry in Ephesus, teaching the Scripture in the Hall of Tyrannus for two years, while exercising the Power of God through his prayers for healing and expelling evil spirits.

Principle: These two elements, the Scriptures and the Power of God, are necessary for healthy, balanced ministry.

There is a tendency for us to sometimes focus on one or the other. When that happens, we are liable to become either legalistic and argumentative, or super spiritual and judgmental, and we lose our effectiveness in making disciples who can reach their own communities.

 

 

Entrance to a home in Ephesus with Medusa over the door

 

 

During Paul’s time in Ephesus there were some travelling Jews who were also attempting to harness the power of God and cast out evil spirits.

A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this.

But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.

The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored.  Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars.  So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.                                                             Acts 19:13-20

The seven sons of Sceva were lacking something when it came to encounters with demonic spirits: Jesus’ authority. As a result, they were overpowered and beaten up by a demon possessed man.

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.  Matthew 10:1                                       

Principle: Jesus has given His disciples authority over the rebellious angels.

 Authority is defined as “the power or right to give commands, enforce obedience, take actions, or make final decisions” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4^th ed.).

 

 

When Jesus’ disciples exercised this authority in their ministry, Luke reports that:

The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”    Luke 10:17-20

 As a pilot in the United States Navy, I was given authority by President Gerald Ford and later President Jimmy Carter (via the chain of command) to enforce the laws and policies of the United States in my role as a carrier attack pilot flying an A-6 Intruder, defending the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This meant I could use any of a variety of missiles, rockets, bombs, and even nuclear weapons to carry out United States laws and policies when ordered by my squadron commander.

Using the authority was a different matter. Even though I may have the orders from above to use it, I always had the ultimate choice whether I would use that authority. It took a conscious decision and action on our part to press the bomb release button on the stick or pull the trigger. We often joked that in the event of a nuclear war, we pilots would suddenly have stuffed sinuses and runny noses and be medically unfit for flight rather than go flying to drop ‘the big one.’

Principle: In spiritual matters, it is the same. When you realize you are in a spiritual battle, showing your ‘badge of authority’ is the first step in seeing the enemy back off.

Sometimes, for whatever reason, we don’t do that and deal with the situation through our own strength and resources. This is a formula for a protracted struggle and ultimate defeat.

The disciples Jesus sent out saw results, and Jesus cautioned them to remember the reality:

It all comes from Him.

Without His authority, we are nothing. With it, and Him, we are formidable in spiritual battles.

 

 

From the top seats in the Ephesian Theater 2021

 

Ephesian Cardo  2008

 

The ministry thrived in Ephesus, and it became a center for the Jesus Movement.

When we were there a few years ago, we noticed this symbol carved into the pavement close to the ancient seaport. It was a sign to all arriving that there were Christians in this city.

 

 

 The 'Pie" symbol located near the harbor indicating that there are disciples of Jesus in this city.

 

 It was now that Paul received his next marching orders:

 Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said, “I must go on to Rome!”  Acts 19:21

He does go to Rome, but not in a manner that he would choose.

 Luke records that ^“the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.” So much so that it began to affect the local economy, which was based on the tourism to the Temple of Artemis.                                       

About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. ²⁴ For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; ²⁵ these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. ²⁶ You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of  Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that  gods made with hands are no gods at all. ²⁷ Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of  Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”
²⁸ When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹ The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.

 ³⁰ And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him. ³¹ Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater. ³²  So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.

Luke’s Greek readers would probably smile as they read this, as many of the Greek comedies focused on the people’s stupidity. The reality that this “assembly” had become a mob.

 ³³ Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly. ³⁴ But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

 ³⁵ After quieting the crowd, the town clerk *said, “Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven? ³⁶ So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. ³⁷ For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.

Luke wants us to know that what Paul has been preaching is not against Rome, and not illegal according to Roman Law. The town scribe continues:

³⁸ So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and  proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. ³⁹ But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly. ⁴⁰ For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.” ⁴¹ After saying this he dismissed the assembly. Acts 19:23-41

Effective preaching, teaching, prayer, miracles, and simply living the Christian life will often provoke a response in the lives of those around us.

There will be many positive responses among many of our friends and neighbors. There will also be often violent pushbacks against us by those who are opposed to our efforts to positively influence our culture.

Do we allow these often-illegal activities to silence us? Intimidate us?

What do we do when society demands that our religious beliefs remain private and never allow them to enter into the public sector, that our morality remains upstairs in the privacy of our homes and never affects or influences our thoughts and behavior in the public marketplace and government halls?

 

 

Such was the case when Notre Dame Law Professor Amy Coney Barret was before a Senate committee during her 2017 confirmation hearings for a federal appeals judgeship. California Senator Diane Feinstein expressed her concerns that if confirmed, Professor Barret would inject her religious beliefs into her judicial decisions:

“Dogma and law are two different things,” Feinstein said. “And I think whatever a religion is, it has its own dogma. The law is totally different. And I think in your case, professor, when you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you, and that’s of concern when it comes to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for in this country.”

In response, Professor Barrett pointed out that there were many sitting federal and state judges who held religious beliefs and who were competent in their roles as judges.

Nancy Ammerman, professor emeritus of sociology of religion at Boston University, said that Americans are very protective of the separation of church and state, but that the principle is often misunderstood. Ammerman said.

“We invoke this notion of the separation of church and state, which has to do with using the power of the state to limit the free exercise of religion of the individual. But that’s not what people worry about. Most people worry that religion isn’t supposed to have an impact on politics, that you’re supposed to keep them separate. The reality of the matter is that there are all kinds of ways in which people’s religious faith influences how they think about political issues,”

Lets take a lesson from history: throughout the past two millennium when Christians have been pressed by their cultures into silence, many have responded with bold preaching and teaching, allowing God to do miracles through them, and cultivating relationships of love and service to their communities. Historically these moves of God has seen societies turn to God in significant numbers.

What will our legacy be?

 

 

 

^{Years later, while imprisoned in Roma awaiting trial, Paul wrote a letter to his frends in Ephesus.}

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus  by the will of God,
To the  saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: ²  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
³  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.

In love ⁵  He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, ⁶  to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

⁷  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace ⁸ which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight ⁹ He  made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him ¹⁰ with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him ¹¹  also we  have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, ¹² to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

¹³ In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is  given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
¹⁵ For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶  do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might ²⁰ which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Chapter 2

 

¹ And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, ² in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. ³ Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

 ⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

 ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

¹¹ Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separate from Christ,  excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near  by the blood of Christ.

¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, ¹⁵  by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might  make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. ¹⁷ AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; ¹⁸ for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, ²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, ²¹  in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Chapter 3

 

¹ For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— ² if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; ³  that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.

⁴  By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; ⁶ to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, ⁷  of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.

⁸ To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; ¹⁰ so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.

¹¹ This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and  confident access through faith in Him. ¹³ Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

²⁰  Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, ²¹  to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Chapter 4

¹ Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, ³ being diligent to preserve 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  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore it says,
“WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH,
HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES,
AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.”

⁹ (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)

 ¹¹ And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, ¹²  for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the  knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

¹⁴  As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; ¹⁵ but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

¹⁷  So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, ¹⁸ being darkened in their understanding,  excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; ¹⁹ and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

²⁰ But you did not learn Christ in this way, ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, ²² that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, ²³ and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and put on the new self, which  in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

 

²⁵ Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.

²⁶  BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and do not give the devil an opportunity.

²⁸ He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

²⁹ Let no  unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

 ³⁰  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

³¹  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

³²  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Chapter 5

¹  Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; ² and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
³ But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; ⁴ and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. ⁵ For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an 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 comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not be partakers with them; ⁸ for you were formerly 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 and righteousness and truth), ¹⁰   trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

 ¹¹  Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even  expose them; ¹² for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. ¹³ But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

¹⁴ For this reason it says,
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”
¹⁵ Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, ¹⁶   making the most of your time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

¹⁸ And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; ²⁰  always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to  God, even the Father; ²¹   and be subject to one another in the  fear of Christ.

²²  Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. ²⁴ But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

²⁵  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also 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 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

²⁸ So husbands ought also 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 cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, ³⁰ because we are members of His body. ³¹  FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.

³² This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

³³ Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

Chapter 6

¹  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ²  HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), ³ SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.

⁴  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

⁵  Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; ⁶  not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. ⁷ With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, ⁸  knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

⁹ And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that 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 full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

¹² For our struggle is not against  flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

 ¹³ Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, ¹⁵ and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; ¹⁶  in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish 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 all prayer and petition  pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view,  be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, ¹⁹ and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

²¹  But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. ²²   I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.

²³  Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.