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            Ephesians Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Chapter 1

     1From Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.

     To God's people who live in Ephesus and are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. 2I pray that God our Father and

     our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!

     Christ Brings Spiritual Blessings

     3Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual blessings that Christ has brought us from

     heaven! 4Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and

     innocent and loving people. 5God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God's own adopted

     children. 6God was very kind to us because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God.

     7-8Christ sacrificed his life's blood to set us free, which means that our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this

     because God was so kind to us. God has great wisdom and understanding, 9and by what Christ has done, God

     has shown us his own mysterious ways. 10Then when the time is right, God will do all that he has planned,

     and Christ will bring together everything in heaven and on earth.

     11God always does what he plans, and that's why he appointed Christ to choose us. 12He did this so that we

     Jews would bring honor to him and be the first ones to have hope because of him. 13Christ also brought you

     the truth, which is the good news about how you can be saved. You put your faith in Christ and were given

     the promised Holy Spirit to show that you belong to God. 14The Spirit also makes us sure that we will be

     given what God has stored up for his people. Then we will be set free, and God will be honored and praised.

     Paul's Prayer

     15I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God's people. 16So I never stop

     being grateful for you, as I mention you in my prayers. 17I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus

     Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God.

     18My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you

     when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God's

     people.

     19I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same

     wonderful power he used 20when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven.

     21There Christ rules over all forces, authorities, powers, and rulers. He rules over all beings in this world and

     will rule in the future world as well. 22God has put all things under the power of Christ, and for the good of

     the church he has made him the head of everything. 23The church is Christ's body and is filled with Christ

     who completely fills everything.

Chapter 2

     From Death to Life

     1In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. 2You followed the ways of this

     world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God.

     3Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we

     were going to be punished like everyone else.

     4-5But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive

     with Christ, and God's wonderful kindness is what saves you. 6God raised us from death to life with Christ

     Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven. 7God did this so that in the future world he could

     show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. 8You were saved by faith in

     God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done

     on your own. 9It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about. 10God planned for

     us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Christ to make us

     what we are.

     United by Christ

     11Don't forget that you are Gentiles. In fact, you used to be called "uncircumcised" by those who take pride

     in being circumcised. 12At that time you did not know about Christ. You were foreigners to the people of

     Israel, and you had no part in the promises that God had made to them. You were living in this world without

     hope and without God, 13and you were far from God. But Christ offered his life's blood as a sacrifice and

     brought you near God.

     14Christ has made peace between Jews and Gentiles, and he has united us by breaking down the wall of

     hatred that separated us. Christ gave his own body 15to destroy the Law of Moses with all its rules and

     commands. He even brought Jews and Gentiles together as though we were only one person, when he united

     us in peace. 16On the cross Christ did away with our hatred for each other. He also made peace between us

     and God by uniting Jews and Gentiles in one body. 17Christ came and preached peace to you Gentiles, who

     were far from God, and peace to us Jews, who were near God. 18And because of Christ, all of us can come to

     the Father by the same Spirit. 19You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens with

     everyone else who belongs to the family of God. 20You are like a building with the apostles and prophets as

     the foundation and with Christ as the most important stone. 21Christ is the one who holds the building

     together and makes it grow into a holy temple for the Lord. 22And you are part of that building Christ has

     built as a place for God's own Spirit to live.

Chapter 3

     Paul's Mission to the Gentiles

     1Christ Jesus made me his prisoner, so that I could help you Gentiles. 2You have surely heard about God's

     kindness in choosing me to help you. 3In fact, this letter tells you a little about how God has shown me his

     mysterious ways. 4As you read the letter, you will also find out how well I really do understand the mystery

     about Christ. 5No one knew about this mystery until God's Spirit told it to his holy apostles and prophets.

     6And the mystery is this: Because of Christ Jesus, the good news has given the Gentiles a share in the

     promises that God gave to the Jews. God has also let the Gentiles be part of the same body.

     7God treated me with kindness. His power worked in me, and it became my job to spread the good news. 8I

     am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because

     of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured. 9God, who created everything, wanted me to help

     everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind. 10Then God would use the

     church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom.

     11God did this according to his eternal plan. And he was able to do what he had planned because of all that

     Christ Jesus our Lord had done. 12Christ now gives us courage and confidence, so that we can come to God

     by faith. 13That's why you should not be discouraged when I suffer for you. After all, it will bring honor to

     you.

     Christ's Love for Us

     14I kneel in prayer to the Father. 15All beings in heaven and on earth receive their life from him. 16God is

     wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers 17and that Christ will live

     in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love. 18I pray that you and all of

     God's people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep. 19I want you to know all about

     Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.

     20-21I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do

     far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen.

Chapter 4

     Unity with Christ

     1As a prisoner of the Lord, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his

     own. 2Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. 3Try your best to

     let God's Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace. 4All of you are part of the same body.

     There is only one Spirit of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God's people.

     5We have only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. 6There is one God who is the Father of all people. Not

     only is God above all others, but he works by using all of us, and he lives in all of us.

     7Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us. 8As the Scriptures say,

     "When he went up

     to the highest place,

     he led away many prisoners

     and gave gifts to people."

     9When it says, "he went up," it means that Christ had been deep in the earth. 10This also means that the

     one who went deep into the earth is the same one who went into the highest heaven, so that he would fill

     the whole universe.

     11Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, 12so that his people

     would learn to serve and his body would grow strong. 13This will continue until we are united by our faith and

     by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely

     like him. 14We must stop acting like children. We must not let deceitful people trick us by their false

     teachings, which are like winds that toss us around from place to place. 15Love should always make us tell

     the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head 16of the body. Christ holds it

     together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love.

     The Old Life and the New Life

     17As a follower of the Lord, I order you to stop living like stupid, godless people. 18Their minds are in the

     dark, and they are stubborn and ignorant and have missed out on the life that comes from God. They no

     longer have any feelings about what is right, 19and they are so greedy that they do all kinds of indecent

     things.

     20-21But that isn't what you were taught about Jesus Christ. He is the truth, and you heard about him and

     learned about him. 22You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your

     old way of life with all its bad habits. 23Let the Spirit change your way of thinking 24and make you into a new

     person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy.

     Rules for the New Life

     25We are part of the same body. Stop lying and start telling each other the truth. 26Don't get so angry that

     you sin. Don't go to bed angry 27and don't give the devil a chance.

     28If you are a thief, quit stealing. Be honest and work hard, so you will have something to give to people in

     need.

     29Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.

     30Don't make God's Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins.

     31Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be

     rude. 32Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.

Chapter 5

     1Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. 2Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his

     life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God. 3You are God's people, so don't let it be said that any of you are

     immoral or indecent or greedy. 4Don't use dirty or foolish or filthy words. Instead, say how thankful you are.

     5Being greedy, indecent, or immoral is just another way of worshiping idols. You can be sure that people who

     behave in this way will never be part of the kingdom that belongs to Christ and to God.

     Living as People of Light

     6Don't let anyone trick you with foolish talk. God punishes everyone who disobeys him and says foolish things.

     7So don't have anything to do with anyone like that. 8You used to be like people living in the dark, but now

     you are people of the light because you belong to the Lord. So act like people of the light 9and make your

     light shine. Be good and honest and truthful, 10as you try to please the Lord. 11Don't take part in doing

     those worthless things that are done in the dark. Instead, show how wrong they are. 12It is disgusting even

     to talk about what is done in the dark. 13But the light will show what these things are really like. 14Light

     shows up everything, just as the Scriptures say, "Wake up from your sleep

     and rise from death.

     Then Christ will shine on you."

     15Act like people with good sense and not like fools. 16These are evil times, so make every minute count.

     17Don't be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do. 18Don't destroy yourself by getting

     drunk, but let the Spirit fill your life. 19When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as

     you praise the Lord with all your heart. 20Always use the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to thank God the

     Father for everything.

     Wives and Husbands

     21Honor Christ and put others first. 22A wife should put her husband first, as she does the Lord. 23A husband

     is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and the Savior of the church, which is his own body. 24Wives

     should always put their husbands first, as the church puts Christ first.

     25A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. 26He made the

     church holy by the power of his word, and he made it pure by washing it with water. 27Christ did this, so that

     he would have a glorious and holy church, without faults or spots or wrinkles or any other flaws.

     28In the same way, a husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself. A husband who loves his wife

     shows that he loves himself. 29None of us hate our own bodies. We provide for them and take good care of

     them, just as Christ does for the church, 30because we are each part of his body. 31As the Scriptures say,

     "A man leaves his father and mother to get married, and he becomes like one person with his wife." 32This is

     a great mystery, but I understand it to mean Christ and his church. 33So each husband should love his wife

     as much as he loves himself, and each wife should respect her husband.

Chapter 6

     Children and Parents

     1Children, you belong to the Lord, and you do the right thing when you obey your parents. The first

     commandment with a promise says, 2"Obey your father and your mother, 3and you will have a long and happy

     life."

     4Parents, don't be hard on your children. Raise them properly. Teach them and instruct them about the Lord.

     Slaves and Masters

     5Slaves, you must obey your earthly masters. Show them great respect and be as loyal to them as you are

     to Christ. 6Try to please them at all times, and not just when you think they are watching. You are slaves of

     Christ, so with your whole heart you must do what God wants you to do. 7Gladly serve your masters, as

     though they were the Lord himself, and not simply people. 8You know that you will be rewarded for any good

     things you do, whether you are slaves or free.

     9Slave owners, you must treat your slaves with this same respect. Don't threaten them. They have the same

     Master in heaven that you do, and he doesn't have any favorites.

     The Fight against Evil

     10Finally, let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. 11Put on all the armor that God gives, so you

     can defend yourself against the devil's tricks. 12We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against

     forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. 13So put on all the

     armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the

     battle is over, you will still be standing firm. 14Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist, and let

     God's justice protect you like armor. 15Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on

     your feet. 16Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

     17Let God's saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God's message that comes from the Spirit.

     18Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep

     praying for God's people. 19Pray that I will be given the message to speak and that I may fearlessly explain

     the mystery about the good news. 20I was sent to do this work, and that's the reason I am in jail. So pray

     that I will be brave and will speak as I should.

     Final Greetings

     21-22I want you to know how I am getting along and what I am doing. That's why I am sending Tychicus to

     you. He is a dear friend, as well as a faithful servant of the Lord. He will tell you how I am doing, and he will

     cheer you up.

     23I pray that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will give peace, love, and faith to every follower!

     24May God be kind to everyone who keeps on loving our Lord Jesus Christ.