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EPHESIANS
Ephesians 1:1-2
I am writing this to you people of God in Ephesus, asking that God will bless you.
Weshould praise Godfor having chosen and redeemed us, having revealed his plan to unite all things under Christ, and causing Christto rule over all his people.
I thank Godforyourfaith, and pray thatyouwill understand more about how powerfully he works onour behalf, justlikehedidwhenhe caused Christto become alive againand made him ruler over everything.
Formerly we were all spiritually dead and were certain to be punished by God, but he acted very kindly toward us and saved us freely as a result of our faith in Christ.
God brought you Gentiles intohis family sothatnowyouand Jewish believers both share thesame blessings and form one group; younowhave peace with each otherand can cometoGodin prayer withthe help ofthe Holy Spirit.
I am in prison because God appointed me to tell non-Jews that Christ is the source of great spiritual blessings for them.
Ipraythat God's Spirit will empower you, thatyoumay experience how much Christ loves you, andthat God maymakeyouallthathe intends foryoutobe.
Conduct your lives in a way that shows that you are God's people; do all that you can to keep all the believers united; and remember that Christ has given various abilities to each of his people, in order that you all may be united and grow spiritually and become like Christ.
Youshould conduct yourselvesinawaythat matches your new life; so stop doingthe harmful thingsthat unbelievers do, anddo good thingstooneanother.
Imitate God, do everything in a way that shows love, and do not let anyone persuade you to live immorally, because God will punish those who disobey him.
Live righteously, and expose the evil deeds that evil peopledo, becausewhenyoudothat, thosepeoplewhodothose evil thingswillcometo know the truth.
Instructions about how wives and husbands, children and parents, and slaves and masters should behave towardeachother.
Asyou always rely ontheLordto strengthen you, make use of every spiritual resource thatGod provides to resist the devil andallhis powerful evil spirits.
Iam sending Tychicus totellyouwhatis happening hereandto encourage you. IpraythatGodwill give you peace and love for each other, andthathewill continue to act kindly towardyou all.

Note: The Old Testament in this translation is still being worked on, and is in draft form. Updates will be posted at eBible.org/t4t/.

© 2008-2017 Ellis W. Deibler, Jr.