Modern Literal Version
[Ephesians 1]
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, to the holy-ones who are in Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus: 1:2 grace to you* and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:3 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is gracious*, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 1:4 just-as he chose us in him before the conception of the world, that we should be holy and unblemished in the sight of him in love*. 1:5 Having predetermined us to the sonship through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the delight of his will, 1:6 to the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he has favored us in the beloved, 1:7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace. 1:8 The grace which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 1:9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his delight which he purposed in him, 1:10 to a stewardship of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth; in him. 1:11 In whom, we were also made an inheritance, having been predetermined according to the purpose of him who is working all things after the counsel of his will. 1:12 *That* we should be holy to the praise of his glory, we who had hoped before in Christ, 1:13 in whom you* also having heard the word of the truth, the good-news of your* salvation, in whom, having also believed, you* were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 1:14 which is a down-payment of our inheritance, to the redemption of God's ownership, to the praise of his glory.
1:15 Because of this, I, also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is in you* and the love* which you* have toward all the holy-ones, 1:16 do not cease giving-thanks on behalf of you*, making* mention of you* in my prayers; 1:17 that* the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you* a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of him. 1:18 The eyes of your* heart are being enlightened, *that* you* may know what is the hope of his calling and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance among the holy-ones, 1:19 And what is the surpassing greatness is of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of the dominion of his power, 1:20 which he worked in Christ, when he lifted him up from the dead and seated him by his right hand in the heavenly places, 1:21 up above all rule and authority and power and lordship and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the future age. 1:22 And he subjected all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the congregation, 1:23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
[Ephesians 2]
2:1 And you* were dead in trespasses and sins, 2:2 in which you* previously walked according to the {F} age of this world, according to the ruler of the authorities of the air, of the spirit who now is working in the sons of disobedience; 2:3 among whom we also all conducted ourselves previously in the lusts of our flesh, practicing the wills of the flesh and of the mind and we were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love* with which he loved* us, 2:5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, he made* us alive together with Christ; by grace you* have been saved. 2:6 And God lifted us up together with him and seated us together with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus; 2:7 that* in the ages to come he might show the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 2:8 For* by grace you* have been saved, through the faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 2:9 not from works, that* no one should boast. 2:10 For* we are his product, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that* we should walk in them.
2:11 Hence remember, that previously you* were the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by what is called circumcision, made by hands in the flesh; 2:12 that you* were in that time separate from Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers from the covenants* of the promise, having no hope and godless in the world. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you* who were previously from afar have become near to him in the blood of Christ. 2:14 For* he is our peace, who made* us both one and tore-down the middle wall of the fence, 2:15 having done-away-with the enmity in his flesh, which is the Law of commandments in decrees; that* he might create in himself from the two one new man, thus making* peace; 2:16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the enmity in it. 2:17 And he came and proclaimed peace to you* who were from afar and peace to those who were near; 2:18 because through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 2:19 Then* consequently, you* are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you* are fellow citizens with the holy-ones and members of the household of God, 2:20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ himself is the cornerstone; 2:21 in whom all the building, fitly framed together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; 2:22 in whom you* are also built together into a residence of God in the Spirit.
{Footnotes: Eph 2:2- i.e. current things of this world. Please read the Preface-Appendix II. * is our universal footnoting for words contained in the Appendix. These words are NOT the same Greek word as the non-asterisk form; i.e. *for is different from for* is different from for.}
[Ephesians 3]
3:1 Because of this, I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you* Gentiles, 3:2 if indeed you* have heard of the stewardship of the grace of God which was given to me *for you*; 3:3 that he made known the mystery to me according to revelation, just-as I wrote before in few words, 3:4 to which, you* are able, by reading it, to perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; 3:5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations, as it now was revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit. 3:6 The mystery is that the Gentiles are joint heirs and a joint body and joint partakers of his promise in Christ through the good-news, 3:7 of which I became a servant, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power. 3:8 This grace was given to me the least of all the holy-ones, to proclaim the untraceable riches of Christ among the Gentiles; 3:9 and to enlighten all with what the stewardship of the mystery is, which has been hidden from the ages, in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 3:10 in order that now the multifaceted wisdom of God might be made known through the congregation to the principalities and the authorities in the heavenly places. 3:11 This was according to the eternal purpose which he made* in Christ Jesus our Lord; 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through his faith. 3:13 Hence I ask you* not to be depressed at my afflictions on behalf of you*, which are your* glory.
3:14 Because of this, I am bowing my knees to the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 3:15 from whom every family in the heavens and upon the earth is named, 3:16 that* he may give you*, according to the riches of his glory, to be powerful with his power, through his Spirit in the inward man; 3:17 for the Christ to dwell in your* hearts through the faith, being rooted and having been founded in love, 3:18 that* you may have strength to grab, with all the holy-ones, of what is the width and length and depth and height, 3:19 and to know the love* of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that* you* may be filled to all the fullness of God.
3:20 Now to him who is able to do, superabundantly beyond all things, what we are asking or are perceiving, according to the power that is working in us, 3:21 to him is the glory in the congregation in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
[Ephesians 4]
4:1 Therefore, I, the prisoner in the Lord, am encouraging you* to walk worthily of the calling in which you* were called, 4:2 with all humility and meekness, with patience tolerating one another in love*. 4:3 Be diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just-as you* were also called in one hope of your* calling; 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one immersion*, 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in us all. 4:7 Now the grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
4:8 Hence he says, ‘When he ascended onto high, he captured captivity and gave presents to men.’ {Ps 68:18} 4:9 Now this saying, He ascended, (what is it saying?) except that he also came down into the downward parts of the earth first? 4:10 He who came down is also the same as he who ascended up above all the heavens, that* he might fulfill all things. 4:11 And he gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be shepherds and teachers. 4:12 He did this *for the equipping of the holy-ones, *for the work of the service, *for the building up of the body of Christ, 4:13 till we all might achieve to the unity of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 4:14 in order that we may no longer be infants, bobbing on the waves and being carried about by every wind of teaching, by the trickery of men, by craftiness, with the schemes of error. 4:15 But telling the truth in love*, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, the Christ; 4:16 from whom all the body is fitly framed and knitted together, through every supplying joint, according to the working in measure of each part, that makes* the growth of the body to the building up of itself in love*.
4:17 Therefore I am saying and testifying this in the Lord: you* are to walk no longer as the rest of the Gentiles are also walking, in the futility of their mind, 4:18 being darkened in their mind, having been alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; 4:19 who are apathetic, they gave themselves up to unbridled-lusts, *for the working of all uncleanness with greed.
4:20 But you* did not so learn Christ; 4:21 if indeed you* heard him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus; 4:22 to have placed away from yourselves the old man, according to your* former conduct, which is corrupt according to the lusts of deception; 4:23 and to be young again in the spirit of your* mind, 4:24 and to be clothed with the new man, which has been created according to God, in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
4:25 Hence, placing all lying away from yourselves, let each speak the truth with his neighbor, because we are members of one another. 4:26 ‘Be angry and do not sin.’ {Ps. 4:4} Do not let the sun set upon your* anger, 4:27 nor give a chance to the Slanderer. 4:28 Let the one who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, working at what is good with his hands, in order that he may have something to give to the one who has need. 4:29 Let no rotten speech go out from your* mouth. But if any speech is good for the building up of a need, do this that* it may give grace to those who are hearing. 4:30 And do not make the Holy Spirit of God sorrowful, in whom you* were sealed to the day of redemption. 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and outcrying and blasphemy, be taken away from you*, along with all malice; 4:32 and become kind to one another, affectionate, forgiving* each other, just-as God in Christ also forgave* us.
[Ephesians 5]
5:1 Therefore become imitators of God, as beloved children, 5:2 and walk in love*, just-as Christ also loved* us and gave himself up on our behalf as an offering and a sacrifice to God *for an aroma of a sweet-fragrance.
5:3 But do not let fornication and all uncleanness or greed be even named among you*, as is suitable to holy-ones; 5:4 nor obscenity, nor foolish talk or petty jesting, which are not proper; but rather the giving of thanks. 5:5 For* this you* know, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor greedy person, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 5:6 Let no one deceive you* with empty words; for* because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. 5:7 Therefore do not become joint partakers with them. 5:8 For* you* were previously in darkness, but now you* are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 5:9 (for* the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 5:10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord. 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but also rather reprove them; 5:12 for* it is shameful even to speak of the things being done by them covertly. 5:13 But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light; for* everything that is made manifest is light. 5:14 Hence he says, Awake, you who are sleeping and rise* up from the dead and Christ will appear upon you. {Is. 60:1? Maybe an early hymn?}
5:15 Therefore beware how accurately you* are walking, not as unwise, but as wise; 5:16 buying up the time, because the days are evil. 5:17 Because of this, do not become foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 5:18 And do not be drunken with wine, in which there is riotousness, but be filled with the Spirit; 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and singing-praise in your* heart to the Lord; 5:20 giving-thanks always on behalf of all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 5:21 subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.
5:22 Wives be subject to your* own husbands, as to the Lord. 5:23 Because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is also the head of the congregation, he is the savior of the body. 5:24 But as the congregation is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be subject to their own husbands in everything.
5:25 Husbands, love* your* wives, just-as Christ also loved* the congregation and gave himself up on behalf of her; 5:26 in order that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her in the bath of water by the word, 5:27 that* he might present the congregation to himself a glorious congregation, not having stain or wrinkle or any such thing; but that* she should be holy and unblemished. 5:28 So husbands also ought to love* their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves* his own wife loves* himself. 5:29 For* no one ever hated his own flesh; but is nourishing and cherishing it, just-as the Lord also does the congregation; 5:30 because we are members of his body, out of his flesh and out of his bones. 5:31 Because of this, a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. 5:32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking in regard to Christ and the congregation. 5:33 However let each one of you* individually love* his own wife like himself, and let the wife see that* she should fear her husband.
[Ephesians 6]
6:1 Children, obey* your* parents in the Lord; for* this is righteous. 6:2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 6:3 that* it may become well with you and you may be upon the earth a long time. 6:4 And, you* fathers, do not rouse your* children to anger; but rear them in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.
6:5 Bondservants, be obedient* to those who are your* lords according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in clarity of your* heart, as to Christ; 6:6 not in the way of eye-service, like men-pleasers; but as bondservants of Christ, practicing the will of God from the soul; 6:7 serving* with benevolence to the Lord and not to men. 6:8 Knowing that if each one is doing anything good, he will get this back from the Lord, whether bond or free. 6:9 And lords, do the same things toward them and be lax with the threatening; knowing that your own Lord is also in the heavens and there is no partiality with him.
6:10 Furthermore, my brethren, be empowered in the Lord and in the dominion of his power. 6:11 Clothe yourselves with the full-armor of God, that you* may be able to stand up before the schemes of the Slanderer. 6:12 Because our wrestling is not with flesh and blood, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world dominions of the darkness of the world, with the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 6:13 Because of this, take up the full-armor of God, that* you* may be able to withstand in the evil day, and to stand straight, having worked against all things. 6:14 Therefore stand, having girded your* loins with truth and having clothed yourselves with the breastplate of righteousness, 6:15 and having tied each of the feet with the readiness of the good-news of peace. 6:16 Upon all these, take up the shield of the faith, with which you* will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. 6:17 And accept the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 6:18 through all prayer and supplication praying in all seasons in the Spirit and to this same thing, watching with all perseverance and supplication concerning all the holy-ones. 6:19 And pray on my behalf, that* the word may be given to me, in opening my mouth to make known the mystery of the good-news in boldness, 6:20 on behalf of which, I am an ambassador in chains; that* I may speak boldly in it, as I ought to speak.
6:21 But that* you* may also know the things concerning me, what I am doing; I will make known to you* all things. Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, 6:22 whom, I have sent to you* *for this same thing, that* you* may know the things concerning us and that* he may encourage your* hearts.
6:23 Peace and love* be to the brethren with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 6:24 Grace be with all those who love* our Lord Jesus Christ with an incorruptible love. Amen.
{Unlike all other translations we want your input should you ever find a typo or a better Greek fix for the MLV. Please check:
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Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1999, 2014 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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