eng_aiv Amundson Interpretive Version Ephesians Ephesians Ephesians Eph Ephesians id=eng_aiv name=Amundson Interpretive Version (AIV) status=draft spec=USFM-USX 3.1.1 export=2026-11-02 char:add=translator-addition-italic char:wj=words-of-Jesus-as-received-unmapped note:f=footnotes para:r=parallel-passage-references para:d=psalm-superscriptions Paul’s Greeting to the Ephesians (Acts 19:8–12; Revelation 2:1–7) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus1.1 BYZ and TR Of Jesus Christ through the will of God, To the saints being in Ephesus,1.1 Some manuscripts do not include being in Ephesus. and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you⁺ and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual Blessings (Romans 8:28–34) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the One having blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ in the heavenly realms, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world for us to be holy and blameless before Him, in love having predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He graciously gave us in the Beloved One, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He abounded to us in all wisdom and understanding, having made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Him for the administration of the fullness of the times, to bring together all things in Christ—the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth— in Him, in whom also we obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of the One working all things according to the counsel of His will for us to be to the praise of His glory, the ones having first hoped in Christ, in whom you⁺ also, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your⁺ salvation, in whom also having believed, you⁺ were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the pledge of our inheritance to the redemption of the acquired possession, to the praise of His glory. Spiritual Wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:6–16) Because of this, I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus among you⁺ and the love to all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you⁺, making remembrance in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you⁺ a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes your⁺ of heart1.18 TR the eyes of your understanding being enlightened for you⁺ to know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power to us, those believing, according to the working of the power of His strength, which He worked in Christ, having raised Him out from the dead, and having seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above every principality and authority and power and lordship and every name being named, not only in this age, but also in the one about to be. And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of the One filling all in all. Alive with Christ (Colossians 2:6–23) And you⁺, being dead in your⁺ trespasses and sins— in which once you⁺ walked according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all also once conducted ourselves in the desires of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of its thoughts; and we were by nature children of wrath even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His much love with which He loved us, even us being dead in trespasses, made us alive with Christ—by grace you⁺ are saved— and He raised us up together and seated us together in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages that are coming, He might display the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you⁺ are saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.2.10 Or which God prepared in advance as our way of life. One in Christ (Philippians 2:1–4) Therefore remember that once you⁺—the Gentiles in the flesh, the ones being called the uncircumcision by that being called the circumcision, done by hands in the flesh— that at that time you⁺ were apart from Christ, having been alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, not having hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you⁺, the ones once being far off, became near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, having made both one and having broken down the middle wall of the partition, the hostility, having annulled in His flesh the law of commandments in decrees, so that He might create in Himself the two into one new man, making peace, and that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross, having put to death the hostility by it. And having come, He preached good news: peace to you⁺,2.17 F35 to us the ones far off, and peace2.17 BYZ and TR do not include and peace to those near. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. Christ Our Cornerstone (Isaiah 28:14–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; 1 Peter 2:1–8) So then, you⁺ are no longer strangers and aliens, but you⁺ are fellow citizens of the saints and of the household of God, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus2.20 BYZ and TR Jesus Christ Himself being the cornerstone, in whom all the building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you⁺ also are being built together into a habitation of God in the Spirit. The Mystery of the Gospel For reason of this, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you⁺ Gentiles...3.1 This train of thought is continued in verse 14. If indeed you⁺ heard of the administration of the grace of God having been given to me for you⁺, that by revelation was made known to me, the mystery, just as I wrote before in few words, which, by reading it, you⁺ are able to understand my insight in the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as now it was revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit, that the Gentiles are joint-heirs, and a joint-body, and joint-partakers of the3.6 BYZ and TR of His promise in Christ Jesus,3.6 BYZ and TR in Christ through the gospel, of which I became servant according to the gift of the grace of God having been given to me according to the working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, was given this grace: to preach good news to the Gentiles,3.8 BYZ and TR among the Gentiles the untraceable riches of Christ, and to enlighten all what is the administration3.9 NE and WH and to enlighten what is the administration; TR and to enlighten all what is the fellowship of the mystery having been hidden away from the ages in God, the One having created all things,3.9 BYZ and TR include through Jesus Christ. so that there might be made known now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God, according to the purpose of the ages, which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through the faith from Him.3.12 Or through His faithfulness Therefore I ask you not to grow fainthearted in my tribulations for you⁺, which are your⁺ glory. Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians ... for reason of this, I bow my knees to the Father,3.14 BYZ and TR to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom every family in the heavens and on earth is named, that He might give to you⁺ according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, for Christ to dwell in your⁺ hearts through faith, having been rooted and having been founded in love, that you⁺ may be fully able, with all the saints, to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth,3.18 BYZ and TR and depth and height and to know the love of Christ surpassing knowledge, that you⁺ may be filled to all the fullness of God. Now to the One being able to do exceedingly above all things that we ask or think, according to the power that is working in us, to Him be the glory in the church and in3.21 BYZ and TR in the church in Christ Jesus to all the generations of the age of the ages. Amen. Unity in the Body (Psalm 133:1–3; 1 Corinthians 1:10–17) Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you⁺ to walk worthily of the calling to which you⁺ were called, with all humility and gentleness; with patience, bearing with one another in love; being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; one body and one Spirit, just as also you⁺ were called in one hope of your⁺ calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.4.6 BYZ and TR in us all; TR in you all Now to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Therefore it says: “Having ascended on high, He led captive captivity, and gave gifts to men.”4.8 Or He says 4.8 Psalm 68:18 Now what is the saying “He ascended,” except that He also descended4.9 BYZ and TR except that He also descended first into the lower regions of the earth? The One having descended is also the same One having ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things. And He gave some indeed as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as shepherds and teachers, toward the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, until we all may come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a complete man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that no longer may we be infants, being tossed by waves and being carried around by every wind of teaching in the cunning of men in craftiness to the scheming of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, we should grow in all things into Him who is the head, Christ, from whom all the body, being fit together and being knit together by every joint of its supply, according to the working in the measure of each single part, the increase of the body makes for the building up of itself in love. New Life in Christ (Colossians 3:1–17) This therefore I say and testify in the Lord: You⁺ are no longer to walk as also the4.17 BYZ and TR include other. Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in the understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance being in them on account of the hardness of their heart, who, having ceased to feel, gave themselves up to sensuality for the working of all impurity with covetousness. But you⁺ did not learn Christ this way, if indeed you⁺ heard Him and were taught in Him, just as the truth is in Jesus, you⁺ are to put off concerning the former way of life the old man, which is being corrupted according to the desires of deceit, and to be renewed in the spirit of your⁺ mind, and to have put on the new man, having been created according to God in righteousness and holiness of truth. Therefore, having put off falsehood, let each one speak truth with his neighbor, because we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your⁺ anger, 4.26 Or “In your anger do not sin.” Psalm 4:4 neither give place to the devil. The one stealing, let him steal no longer, but rather let him toil, working with his own hands4.28 BYZ and TR with the hands what is good, so that he may have something to impart to the one having need. Do not let any rotten word go forth out of your⁺ mouth, but if any is good for edification of the need, so that it may give grace to those hearing. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you⁺ were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and rage and wrath and outcry and slander be removed from you⁺, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as also God in Christ forgave you⁺.4.32 RP us Imitators of God Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us5.2 NE and WH Christ loved you and gave Himself up for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God, into a fragrance of a sweet smell. But let sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness not even be named among you⁺, just as is proper to saints, and shamefulness, and foolish talk, or crude joking, which are not fitting, but rather thanksgiving. For this you⁺ know, realizing that every sexually immoral person, or impure person, or covetous person (who is an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you⁺ with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. Children of Light For you⁺ were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light— for the fruit of the light5.9 BYZ and TR the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth— discerning what is well-pleasing to the Lord. And do not have fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things being done by them in secret. But everything being exposed by the light is made manifest,5.13 SBL begins verse 14 after manifest, for everything being made manifest is light. Therefore it says: “Awake you, the one sleeping, and rise up out from the dead, and Christ will shine upon you.” Therefore watch carefully how you⁺ walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Because of this, do not be foolish, but understand what is the will of the Lord. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is debauchery, but be filled in the Spirit, speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your⁺ heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to the God and Father. Wives and Husbands (Song of Solomon 1:1–17; 1 Peter 3:1–7) Be submitting to one another in fear of Christ:5.21 Or out of reverence for Christ. wives, to your own husbands as to the Lord; 5.22 TH Wives to their for the husband is head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church, He Himself Savior of the body.5.23 BYZ and TR the church, and He is Savior of the body But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water in the word, so that He might present to Himself the church in glory, not having spot or wrinkle or any of such things, but that she may be holy and blameless. So also husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. The one loving his own wife loves himself. For no one at any time hated his own flesh, but he nourishes and cherishes it just as Christ5.29 BYZ and TR just as the Lord also does the church. For we are members of His body.5.30 BYZ and TR include —of His flesh and of His bones. “Because of this, a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will be into one flesh.” 5.31 Genesis 2:24 (see also LXX) This mystery is great, but I speak as to Christ and as to the church. However, you⁺ also, every one, let each so love his wife as himself; and the wife, that she may respect the husband. Children and Parents (Colossians 3:18–21) Children, obey your⁺ parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise, “that it may be well with you and you will be long-lived upon the earth.” 6.3 Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16 And fathers, do not provoke to anger your⁺ children, but nourish them in the discipline and admonition of the Lord. Serving with Honor (Colossians 3:22–25; 1 Timothy 6:1–2) Slaves, obey the masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in sincerity of your⁺ heart, as to Christ, not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul, serving6.7 F35 and Stephanus TR doing so with good will, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that each one, whatever good he might have done, this he will receive from the Lord, whether slave or free. And masters, do the same things toward them, giving up threatening, knowing that also their Master and yours⁺6.9 BYZ and TR having also known that your Master is in the heavens, and there is no partiality with Him. The Full Armor of God Henceforth,6.10 BYZ and TR include my brothers. be empowered in the Lord and in the might of His strength. Put on the full armor of God, for you⁺ to be able to stand against the schemes of the devil, because to us the wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Because of this, take up the full armor of God, so that you⁺ may be able to withstand in the day of evil, and having done all things, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your⁺ loins in truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod the feet in the readiness of the gospel of peace; in all, having taken up the shield of faith, in which you⁺ will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, through all prayer and supplication, praying in the Spirit in every season and unto this very thing, staying awake with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, and for me, that word may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known in boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in a chain, that in it I may be bold, as it is necessary for me to speak. Final Greetings (Philippians 4:21–23; 2 Timothy 4:19–22) And so that you⁺ also may know the things concerning me—what I am doing—Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you⁺ all things, whom I sent to you⁺ for this, that you⁺ might know the things concerning us, and he may encourage your⁺ hearts. Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those loving our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruptibility.6.24 BYZ and and Stephanus TR include Amen.