Ephesians 1 - RWB Paraphrase (23 V)
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1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints at Ephesus who are faithful in Christ Jesus. 2 Grace and peace to you 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 heavenly places through Christ, 4 just as He chose us before the foundation of the world, intending that we be holy and blameless before Him. It was in love that, 5 he intended for us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, 6 to the praise and glory of His grace which He has bestowed on us. 7 In Him we have redemption through Christ's blood, and the forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of His grace, 8 which He has lavished on us. In His wisdom and insight, 9 he has made known to us the mystery of His plan which He has proposed, 10 with a view of how He will do things in the fullness of time, when Christ will finish every question about sin, both in heaven and earth. 11 Through Jesus we have obtained an inheritance, according to the purpose He has worked out according to the counsel of His will, 12 so that we who first trusted in Christ will be the praise of His glory. 13 You have also trusted in Him, having heard the truth in the gospel pointing you to salvation. And believing in Him, you have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of His purchase in us becomes the praise of His glory. 15 I have heard of your faith in the LORD Jesus, and your love for all the saints. 16 I always give thanks to God for you when I pray. 17 I ask the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Father of glory, to give you the spirit of wisdom and a revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that your understanding will be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to His mighty power. 20 This He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and set Him at His right hand in heavenly places. 21 His rule is so far above every authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named in this world and the one to come. 22 He has placed everything in subjection under His feet and has made Him head of the church, 23 which is His body, and is the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 2 - RWB Paraphrase (22 V)
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1 You were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked as the world walks, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the children of disobedience. 3 We too used to live in the lusts of our flesh, indulging in its desires in the flesh and in the mind. And we too were children of wrath. 4 But God who is rich in mercy loved us with His great love, 5 even while we were dead in our trespasses. He made us alive together with Christ, for it is by grace that you have been saved. 6 He raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace and kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith. This is not of your own doing. It is the gift of God. 9 It is not the result of our works, so that none of us may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. God prepared this beforehand so that we should walk in them. 11 So remember that while you were formerly Gentiles in the flesh and called the Uncircumcision by those who call themselves the Circumcision, which is performed in the flesh by human hands, 12 you were at that time separated from Christ and not part of the commonwealth of Israel. You were strangers to the covenants of promise. You had no hope and were in the world without God. 13 But now, though formerly far off, you have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He is our peace. He has made both groups into one having broken down the dividing wall. 15 He has abolished in His flesh the law of ordinances, so that in Himself He might make one new man from the two and thus establish peace. 16 It was His purpose to reconcile both into one body to God through the cross, having put enmity to death. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far off, as well as to those who were near.
COMMENT: Isaiah 57:19 "creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near, " says the LORD."I will heal them."
18 Through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So you are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with the saints and part of God's household.
20 You have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and Jesus Christ is the cornerstone.
COMMENT: Psalms 118:22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone.
21 It is because of Him that the whole building is being fit together as it grows into a holy temple in the LORD.
22 It is in Him that you are being built together into a dwelling of God through the Spirit.
COMMENT: You and I can be part of the church which will witness through eternal ages to worlds as to what God has done to save us and do away with sin forever.
11 This was part of God's eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 In Him we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
COMMENT: As we look steadfastly to Jesus, we may be confident in the salvation He offers to us.
13 Therefore I ask that you not lose heart at my tribulation on your behalf, for this is for your glory.
14 This is why I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
16 that He would grant you, according to His riches in glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints the breadth, length and height,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, so that you may be completely filled with the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to His power working in us,
21 unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
COMMENT: Psalms 68:18 You have ascended on high, led captive Your captives, and received gifts among men. Even the rebellious recognize You as the LORD God.
9 The expression, he ascended means that He also descended when He came to earth.
10 The same One who descended is the One who ascended above all heaven so that He might fulfill all things.
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, others as evangelists and still others as pastors and teachers.
12 He did this for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry and the edifying 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, unto a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
14 This means that we are no longer to be as children, tossed to and fro, carried about by every wind of doctrine promoted by those who are scheming and deceitful.
15 We must speak the truth in love, growing up in every way to be like Christ, who is the head.
16 By Him the whole body is fitted together and working for the good of each individual part, so that the body grows in love.
17 I say, and affirm together with the LORD, that you no longer walk in the futility of their mind as other Gentiles walk.
18 For their understanding is darkened, excluding them from the life of God. This is because of their ignorance and hard hearts.
19 They have become calloused, having given themselves over to sensuality, practicing every kind of impurity and greed.
20 But you have learned differently from Christ,
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by the truth as it is in Jesus,
22 if you have laid aside your former life, and the old self, which was corrupted by lust and deceit,
23 so that you might be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and put on the new man which God recreates in righteousness and true holiness.
25 For this reason do not lie. Let every man speak truthfully with his neighbor, for we are members of one family.
26 Be angry but do not sin in your anger. And do not let the sun go down on your anger.
27 Do not give any opportunity to the devil.
28 He who steals must steal no longer. Instead let him labor with his hands doing what is good so that he may even share with others in their need.
29 Let no unwholesome word come from your mouth. Speak only what edifies according the need of the moment so that grace may be ministered to those who hear.
30 Do not grieve God's Holy Spirit, by whom you are sealed for the day of redemption.
COMMENT: The Holy Spirit can be grieved away.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and malice be put away from you.
32 Be kind to each other, tenderhearted and forgiving, just as God in Christ has forgiven you.
COMMENT: Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive the transgressions of others, your Father in heaven will forgive you." [15] "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions."
COMMENT: These sins will not lead to heaven.
6 Do not be deceived for these things will cause the wrath of God to come upon the sons of disobedience.
7 So do not partake in them,
8 for you used to be in darkness but you are now in the LORD's light. So walk as children of the Light,
Ephesians 3 - RWB Paraphrase (21 V)
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1 For this reason, I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of the Gentiles,
2 if indeed you have heard of God's grace committed to me for your sake,
3 that by the revelation made known to me of the mystery, as I previously wrote of in brief.
4 As you read this you may understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.
5 Previous generations were not aware of what the Spirit has now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets.
6 This revelation is that the Gentiles are to be fellow heirs and members of this body and partakers of the promise of Christ by the gospel.
7 This is why I have been made a minister according to the gift of God's grace given so that I may effectively work with His power.
8 I am the least of all saints and have been given this grace, so that I may preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,
9 and bring to light the administration of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hidden in God, who created everything by Jesus Christ,
10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to rulers and authorities in heavenly places.
Ephesians 4 - RWB Paraphrase (32 V)
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1 Therefore, as a prisoner of the LORD, I implore you to walk in a manner worthy of your calling.
2 Walk with all humility and gentleness, patiently showing tolerance for one another in love.
3 Diligently preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope.
5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 and one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all and in all.
7 But to each of us has been given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift.
8 Therefore, He says, when He ascended on high, "He led captive a host of captives and He gave gifts to men."
Ephesians 5 - RWB Paraphrase (33 V)
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1 Follow God and imitate Him, as His dear children.
2 Walk in love just as Christ has loved us and given Himself for us as a sweet smelling offering to God.
3 Immorality, impurity and greed must not be found among you, for it is not proper among saints.
4 There must be no filthiness, silly talk or course jesting. These are not fitting. Instead give thanks.
5 You may know for a certainty that no immoral, impure, covetous man, nor an idolater, will inherit the kingdom of Christ and God.