Laodiceans
(The
most indicative piece of evidence that this cannot be a letter to Ephesian
believers is that Paul had founded the Ephesian church, visited and edified it
many times. This letter contains no specific greetings nor personal intimations
such as those that are copiously found in his other works. It is written as if
he never met nor knew any of them at all. The 16th chapter of Romans
is a cover letter introducing the deaconess Phoebe, bearing a second copy of
Romans, to the Ephesian church. He greets and mentions many believers there in
that cover letter. With all of these acquaintances in Ephesus, could he not
have greeted at least one in this so-called Ephesian letter? If we were to
allow, according to Colossians 4:16, we could call it "Laodiceans," since Marcion
so named it from what he knew, and for the reason that it shares similarities
to many Colossians verses, thus indicating it was written about the same time
when Paul was in prison. There are several very early manuscripts without the
term "in Ephesus" all together (the second century Papyrus 46, the fourth
century Codex Sinaiticus [Aleph], the fourth century Codex Vaticanus [B], and the
10th century Minuscule 1739) so this could very well be called the
letter to the Laodiceans, even as the anonymous Gospel of John could also be called
the Gospel of Lazarus (the beloved disciple). Destination is solved with the
lack of internal greetings, but there are other unmentioned problems that still
remain regardless.)
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by God's will; to
the faithful saints residing in Christ Jesus.
2
Sanctifying grace and tranquilizing peace to you all from God our Father and
Jesus Christ our Lord.
3
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ -- the One having blessed us with every spiritual
blessing through Christ in the heavens -- 4 in as much as he chose us for himself in Christ,
before the world's foundation, to be holy and blameless in his sight with love,
5 having predestined us for himself in accordance with adult son placing
through Jesus Christ, according to the intention of his will, 6 for an
identifiable commendation of his grace, by means of which he visited us with
favor in the Beloved, 7 in whom we are possessing the deliverance procured
through the payment of a ransom through his blood -- the
forgiveness of transgressions -- according to the wealth of his grace 8 which he
was causing to be abundant toward us in all wisdom and insight, 9 having
revealed to us the mystery of his will according to his intention which he himself
predetermined in Christ, 10 with a view
to an arranged plan concerning the completion of the destined times, to bring
together the totality for himself through the Christ -- all
that in the heavens, and all that upon the earth -- through him
11 by whom we were also
obtained by assignment, having been predestined according to a plan of the One
working the totality according to the determination of his will, 12 for us to
be for the purpose of a show of his glory, having reposed hope and confidence
in the Christ beforehand, 13 in whom you all also -- having heard the word of
truth, the Good News of your salvation -- in whom even faithing you all were
sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is a pledge, deposit, earnest or
down-payment of our inheritance against redemption of the special possession,
for a show of his glory.
15 For this reason, I also,
having heard about all ya all's faith in the Lord Jesus, and all ya all's love
toward all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks concerning you all, making
mention of you all in my prayers 17 so that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ --
the Father of Glory -- may give to you all a spirit of wisdom and revelation in
an applicable experiential knowledge of him, 18 the eyes of your heart having
been enlightened in order for you all to have absolute knowledge of what the
confident expectation of his calling is, and what the wealth of his glorious
inheritance is with the saints, 19 and what the surpassing greatness of his
power towards us is -- those faithing upon the effectiveness of the force of his
strength 20 which he has put into operation in the Christ, having raised him
out of death, and seated him at his right in the heavens 21 over and above
every ruler and authority and power and lordship and every name being named --
not only in this age, but also in the one coming. 22 And he placed all under
his feet, and he gave him headship over all the Church -- which is his body -- the full development of the One -- the totality being
complimentary in all.
2:1 And
you all being dead through the transgressions and sins 2 in which you all once
walked as a way of life, according to the life of this world, according to the
ruler of the jurisdiction of the air, of that spirit -- the
one currently operating within the sons of the disobedient -- 3 in whom even we
all were once conducting ourselves within the cupidinous lusts of our carnal
nature, habitually doing the desires of that carnal nature, and of the
affectionate dispositions of mind and heart -- then we were children of wrath by
nature, even like as the rest. 4 But God -- being rich in mercy, by means of his
great love with which he loved us, 5 and we -- being dead through these
transgressions -- he made alive together with the
Christ -- you all are, having been saved by grace (dat. sing.) -- 6 and we he
raised and seated together in the heavens with Christ Jesus 7 so that he
himself might openly display in the coming ages the surpassing riches of his
grace with kindness toward us through/in Christ Jesus. 8 For you all are
existing by the grace (dat. fem. sing.) (of God cf. 3:7; of Christ cf. 4:7),
having been saved by means of the Faith (gen. fem. sing.). Even this (nom.
neut. sing.) is not of you -- the gift (nom. neut. sing.) is
of God -- 9 not of works, so that no one can boast of themselves. 10 For we are
his creation -- having been created through Christ Jesus for good works which
God prepared in advance and appointed beforehand that we should walk in them.
11 Therefore remember that you
all were Gentiles on the ground of flesh -- those being called "uncircumcision"
by the one being called "circumcision" made in flesh by hand -- 12 that at that
time you all were without Christ, having been strangers to the commonwealth of
Israel and aliens of the covenants of promise, godless and having no hope in
the world. 13 But now with/in Christ Jesus you all -- those being once far away --
have come to be near through the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace
-- he having made the two/both one, and having demolished the barrier of the
fence -- 15 having abrogated by/with/through his flesh
the alienation -- the Law of commandments with decrees -- so that/in order that
by himself he might frame the two into one new (kind of) man (thus) working
peace, 16 and so that he can transfer the both into one body for God through
the cross, destroying the enmity by himself. 17 And having come he proclaimed
peace to you all -- to those far away and to those near. 18 For by/through him
we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 So, therefore, you all are
no longer aliens and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and
members of God's household; 20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets -- Jesus Christ himself being a prominent corner 21 in which a
whole structure/building, being put/joined together, grows into a holy temple in
(the) Lord, 22 in whom all of you all also are being built together into an
abode possessed by God's Spirit.
3:1 On
account of this, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you all,
the Gentiles -- 2 since in fact you all heard of the stewardship of
God's grace -- the one having been given me for you all, 3 that by revelation the
mystery was made known to me just as I wrote earlier in a brief, 4 concerning
which, reading, you all are able to understand my insight into the mystery of
Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations, as
it was now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by (the) Spirit: 6 the
Gentiles (are) to be joint heirs, even of the same body, and joint partakers of
his promise in the Christ through the Good News,
7 of which I became a servant
according to the gift of God's grace (cf. 2:8a), that having been given to me
in the active energy of his power. 8 This grace was given to me -- the most
inferior of all saints -- to proclaim as good news among the Gentiles: the
inscrutable riches of the Christ, 9 and to enlighten all concerning the
stewardship of the mystery that has been hidden in God since the ages -- the One having created the totality by Jesus Christ,
10 so that/in order that the infinite wisdom of God can now be made known
through the Church to rulers and to authorities in the heavens, 11 according to
a purposeful determination before the ages which he made with Christ Jesus our
Lord, 12 by whom we are possessing with confidence boldness and access through
his faith. 13 Therefore, I myself am asking, don't lose heart over my
afflictions on your behalf, which is ever your glory.
14 Because of this I am
bending my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 by whom every
family in heaven and upon earth is being named, 16 that according to the riches
of his glory, may he allow you all to be strengthened with power in the inner
man by his Spirit, 17 -- the Christ to dwell within
your hearts by means of faith, having been rooted and grounded in love 18 in
order that/so that you all might be fully able to grasp for yourselves with all
the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height 19 -- even to
know the love of Christ surpassing mere knowledge, in order that/so that you
can be complete to the extent of all the full development of God.
20 Now to the One being ever
able to do superabundantly beyond all which we are asking for ourselves or are
thinking, in proportion to the working power within us, 21 glory to him in the
Church through Christ Jesus on to all the generations of the age of ages. Amen.
4:1 I urge you all, therefore, I -- the
prisoner in (the) Lord -- to walk in a manner worthy of the calling in which you
all were called 2 with all humility and meekness, with longsuffering, patiently
enduring one another in love, 3 earnestly endeavoring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace -- 4 one body and one Spirit, even as you all were
called into one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one
God and Father of all -- the One over all and through all and in us all.
7 But to each one of us was
given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ (cf.2:8a). 8
Therefore he is saying, "Having ascended into heaven he led captive a captive
multitude and he gave gifts to men."
9 Now, that "he ascended,"
what is implied but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the
earth? 10 The One descending -- he is also the One ascending above all of the
heavens so that he can fill the totality. 11 And he gave some apostles, and
others prophets and evangelists, and pastor-teachers, 12 for the complete
adoptive qualification of the saints with respect to a work of service for a
building up of the body of Christ 13 until we can all come into the unity of
The Faith, and of the higher knowledge of the Son of God -- into a mature man --
into a measure of the full stature of Christ 14 so that we may no longer even
be infants, always being tossed about by waves, and always whirled about by
every wind of doctrine, through the trickiness of men in craftiness with
deceptive scheming, 15 but speaking truth in love we might grow into him in all
respects -- the Christ -- who is the Head, 16 of whom the whole body being fit
together, and being knit together by every joint of support, according to a
working measure furnished with each individual part, causes the growth of the
body, to the extent of building itself up in love.
17 This I say, therefore, and
make a solemn appeal before (the) Lord: you all are to no longer maintain a
walk in the manner that the remaining Gentiles are walking -- in their error of
the mind -- 18 having been blinded to the requisite disposition of mind and
heart, having been alienated from the Life of God due to the ignorance residing
in them because of the insensible hardening of their callous hearts; 19 who
having been emptied of feeling, have given themselves over to lasciviousness
for the performance of all lewdness with insatiableness. 20 But you all did not
so learn The Christ, 21 if in fact you all heard him and were taught in him, as
veracity is in this Jesus: 22 that with respect to your former way of life you
all put off of yourselves the old man -- the one having been ruined by the
desires of delusional deception, 23 and to be renovated for the Spirit in y all's
mindset, 24 and to put on yourselves the new man -- the one having been framed
after God in a righteousness and holiness of The Truth. 25 Therefore, putting off of
yourselves the falsehood, "Let each one be speaking truth with his own
neighbor;" for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry yet sin not: don't
let the sun set upon y all's wrath. 27 Neither yield ground to the Devil. 28
Let the one stealing steal no longer, but rather, let him labor, working good
with his hands so that he may be able to give to the one having need. 29 Let no
rotten speech come out of y all's mouth, but that which (is) good for building
up in the situation so that it might yield grace to the ones who are listening.
30 And do not be crossing, vexing or aggrieving the Holy Spirit of God in/by
whom you all were sealed with reference to/against/until a day of
redemption/deliverance procured by the payment of a ransom. 31 Let all bitter
harshness and strong emotion of mind and impulsive indignation and clamorous
hollering and blasphemous railing be taken away/removed from you all with all
maliciousness. 32 And be gentle/kind/obliging/gracious toward one another,
compassionately tender-hearted, sacrificially granting forgiveness to one
another, even as/ in the manner that God in/through Christ sacrificially
granted forgiveness to all of you. 5:1 Therefore,
as beloved children, be followers and imitators of God, 2 and be walking in
self-sacrificial loving-care, even as the Christ did self-sacrificially and
lovingly care for us, and did deliver himself up on our behalf an offering of a
fragrant aroma -- even as a sacrificial offering to God. 3 But just as it is
becoming for saints, do not even allow sexual immorality, any lewd uncleanness
or covetousness to be identified among you, 4 including indecency, and that
unbecoming foolish talk or facetious buffoonery, but rather, thanksgiving; 5
for you all are aware of this: that all impure, fornicating catamites, or
indecent ones, or an avaricious, covetous defrauder, who is an idolater, does
not have an inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and of God. 6 Let no one
seduce/deceive y all into error with personally interesting, empty words; for
because of these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of the obstinately
noncompliant, disobedient (ones). 7 Therefore, you all be not
joint-participants with them; 8 for you all were formerly darkness, but
now/presently light, because of (the) Lord. Be habitually walking as offspring/children
characterized by light -- 9 for the fruit of the Spirit (is) in all goodness and righteousness
and truth -- 10 proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord. 11 And do not be an
accomplice in the noxious deeds of moral darkness, but instead, expose (them).
12 For it is too shameful to speak of that taking place in secret under their
own purview (cf. 5:5-7). 13 But all that are being exposed under the light are
appearing in true character, for, all that is being revealed is illumination.
14 Therefore it says: "Rouse yourself, sleeping one, and rise up from among the
dead, and the Christ will enlighten you." 15 Therefore, you all
diligently/strictly observe how you all are walking -- not as unwise, but as
wise -- 16 securing the time for yourselves because these days are afflictively
evil. 17 Because of this, do not be religiously unenlightened, but clearly
perceiving/thoroughly comprehending what is the sovereign will, purpose or
design of the Lord. 18 And don't you all be absorbed/saturated/drunk on wine
within which is dissolute, profligate debauchery, but be altogether Spirit-possessed/controlled/influenced,
19 communicating spiritual psalms and hymns and songs to one another, y all
singing and melody-making within the heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks
over all in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ to the God and Father, 21
yourselves rendering submissive obedience each one to another for fear of God. 22 The wives: be subjecting
yourselves to your own husbands like as to the Lord, 23 for, a husband is head
of the wife, even as the Christ (is) head of the Church -- even he is Savior of
the Body. 24 But still more, just as the Church is subjecting itself to Christ,
so also the wives (are to be subject) to their own husbands in all. 25 The husbands: be lovingly
caring for your own wives by self-sacrificially seeking their highest good,
according as the Christ did also self-sacrificially seek the highest good of
and lovingly care for the Church -- even gave himself in her behalf, 26 in order
that he could sanctify her, having cleansed and purified (her) by the ablution of
the water by means of instruction, 27 in order that he can present her to
himself the Church Glorious, having no spot, nor wrinkle, nor any of the like,
but that she might be holy and blameless. 28 Thus, the husbands ought to
self-sacrificially and lovingly care for their own wives -- seeking their highest
good -- like as their own bodies. The one selflessly caring for his own wife,
cares for himself. 29 For no one at any time hated his own flesh, but is
training and fostering it, even as the Lord the Church. 30 For we are members
of his Body -- of his flesh and of his bones -- 31 "Because of this a man shall
let go of his father and mother, and shall be joined with his wife, and the two
shall exist as one flesh." 32 This hidden principle is great, but I am speaking
with reference to Christ and with reference to the Church. 33 Nevertheless,
even all of you individually: let each one so lovingly care for his own wife as
himself, and the wife to the intent that she should herself be reverentially
fearing the husband. 6:1The
children: submissively listen to and obey your parents for the Lord's sake, for
this is justly righteous. 2 "Honor your father and mother" -- which is a primary
commandment with a promise -- 3 "so that it may be well with you, and you will
be a long time on the earth." 4 And the fathers: do not be exasperating your
children, but be bringing them up in/by/through nurture and admonition of (the)
Lord. 5 The slaves: submissively
listen to and obey the masters systematically, with deferential respect and
venerable reverence in the sincerity of your hearts as to the Christ, 6 not
like with service rendered while under observation as desirous of pleasing men,
but as slaves of the Christ practicing the will of God heartily, 7 with
enthusiasm, slaving as to the Lord and not to humans, 8 knowing absolutely that
if each one should perform any good, he shall receive this back from the Lord,
whether slave or free. 9 And the masters: do the same
to them, dispensing with the harshness of language, knowing absolutely that
even your own Master is in heaven, and (there) is no respect of persons nor
partiality before him. 10 Finally, my brethren, you
all yourselves be summoning up vigor through (the) Lord, even on through to the
adherence of his power. 11 You all array yourselves, putting on the complete
armor of God in order for you to be able to stand up against the wily
machinations of the Devil. 12 For, for us, the struggle is not against flesh
and blood, but against the princes, against the potentates, against the
paramount powers of the darkness of this age in the world, against the spirits
of evil in the upper regions. 13 For this reason, take up/on the complete armor
of God so that you all can be enabled to resist/oppose in the evil time, and
having dispatched all, to firmly stand fast. 14 You all stand, therefore,
girding your own loins with truth, and putting on the breastplate of virtuous
integrity, 15 and shod-ding the feet with a ready preparation of the Good News
of peace. 16 Above all (be) carrying the shield of the Faith, with which you
all will be enabled to quench all the arrows of evil that have been set on
fire, 17 even to take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit
which is God's word, 18 always offering spiritual requests at each point in
time with every prayer and supplication, and to this same end being vigilant
with all perseverance and supplication concerning all the righteous, 19 and
over me, that utterance might be given to me in an opening of my mouth with a
boldness to make known the mystery of the Good News, 20 for which I serve as an
ambassador in a chain, that in it I might speak freely/plainly/boldly/confidently
as behooves me to speak. 21/22 And so that you all also
may know my situations -- how I am doing -- the beloved brother and faithful
servant in (the) Lord, Tychicus, whom I sent to you all for this very (reason),
will make all known to you so that you all might come to know our
circumstances, and he can encourage your hearts. 23 Tranquillizing peace to the
brethren, and agape love together with trustworthy faithfulness from God (the)
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Unmerited favor towards all those
faithfully and lovingly delighting in our Lord Jesus Christ. So be it.