Ephesians – Structured Edition (Complete)

Ephesians – Structured Edition

A Literal Literary Translation by Tim Mackie

About the Structured Edition

The purpose of this project is to produce a literal–literary edition of each biblical text that remains faithful to the original Greek wording while revealing the author's literary structure and rhetorical movement. This is not a paraphrase or commentary; it reconstructs how the text would have been heard by its earliest audience, especially where Greek carries Hebraic thought patterns (parallelism, expansions, blessing formulas, doxologies).

Core Objectives

This structured edition formats The BibleProject's literal literary translation to reveal the rhetorical and poetic architecture of the original text.

Structural visibility: Make rhetorical/poetic patterns visible (indents, expansions, cadence, doxologies, cosmic imagery).
Hebraic echoes in Greek: Highlight covenantal and liturgical resonances where Paul leans Hebrew.
Oral readability: Retain rhythm and cadence so it reads smoothly aloud while remaining literal.
Interactive features: Color-coding, labels, and navigation to explore the text's structure.
Non-dogmatic presentation: Let form and flow speak before interpretation; avoid importing systems.

Philosophy

Literal where possible, literary where necessary.
Formatting as pedagogy: structure replaces many footnotes—the layout itself teaches.
Primed for hearing: the edition is designed to be read aloud, not only analyzed.

How to Use This Edition

Interactive Features

Color accents: Toggle colors to highlight different structural elements (blessing, mystery, reconciliation, etc.)
High contrast: Increase color intensity for better visibility
Section labels: Show/hide descriptive labels for each section
Tabs: Navigate between chapters and the orientation guide

Visual Conventions

Indentation: Shows logical relationships and subordinate clauses
Colors: Different hues mark distinct rhetorical units (blessing formulas, prayers, cosmic themes)
Spacing: Blocks separate distinct thought units

Ephesians: The Letter's Unique Character

Ephesians stands as one of Paul's most theologically dense and liturgically rich letters. The first three chapters form a sustained theological meditation on God's cosmic plan of reconciliation, punctuated by two major prayer-reports and a climactic doxology. The second three chapters apply this cosmic vision to the practical life of the church—unity, spiritual warfare, and household conduct.

Structural Overview

Chapters 1-3: Theological foundation—blessing, predestination, redemption, mystery, prayer, cosmic reconciliation
Chapters 4-6: Ethical application—unity, maturity, transformation, household codes, spiritual armor

Key Themes

The mystery revealed: Gentiles as co-heirs with Israel
Cosmic reconciliation: all things headed up in Messiah
The church as God's dwelling-place by the Spirit
Spiritual warfare against cosmic powers
The vision of one new humanity in Messiah

Intended Use

For study, teaching, and literary appreciation of the biblical text's design.
A companion to interlinear and critical editions—never a replacement.
A base layer for commentary written after translation and structure are set.

Opening greeting (1:1-2)

Paul, an apostle of Messiah Jesus through the will of God,
to the holy ones who are in Ephesus
also believing in Messiah Jesus,
grace to y'all and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Messiah.

Blessing formula (1:3-4)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Messiah,
who has blessed us in the heaven through the Messiah,
because he chose us in him before the foundation of the cosmos,
so that we would be holy and blameless before him.

Predestination for adoption (1:5-6)

In love having predestined us for adoption/sonship
through Jesus Messiah unto himself,
in accordance with the purpose of his will,
resulting in praise for the glory of his grace,
which he graced us in the beloved one,

Redemption through blood (1:7-8)

in whom we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of sins,
according to the richness of his grace,
which he made abundant for us,
with all wisdom and understanding,

The mystery made known (1:9-10)

having made known to us the open-secret of his will,
in accordance with his purpose
which he pre-planned in him,
for the purpose of arranging the fullness the times,
to head-up all things together in Messiah,
things in the heavens and things in earth in him,

Our inheritance (1:11-12)

in whom also we have obtained an inheritance,
having been predestined in accordance with the plan
of the one who works all things
according to the decision of his will,
so that we would praise his glory,
we, who were the first ones to hope in the Messiah,

Sealed with the Spirit (1:13-14)

in whom also y'all, having heard the word of truth,
the good-news of y'all's salvation,
in whom also, having believed,
y'all were sealed by the promised holy Spirit,
who is the first installment of our inheritance,
for the redemption of the possession,
resulting in the praise of his glory.

Thanksgiving and prayer-report (1:15-17)

For this reason, as I heard of y'all's faith in the Lord Jesus
and the love which is toward all of the holy ones,
I have not stopped giving thanks,
making remembrance on y'all's behalf in my prayers,

in order that the God of our Lord Jesus Messiah,
the Father of glory,
would give y'all a spirit of wisdom and revelation
in order to know him.

Eyes enlightened (1:18-19)

The eyes of y'all's heart having been illuminated
so that y'all would know what is the hope of his calling,
what is the richness of the glory of his inheritance
among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
toward y'all who trust,
in accordance with the working of the power of his might,

Resurrection & exaltation (1:20-21)

which he worked in the Messiah
having raised him from the dead ones
and having seated him at his right hand
in the heavenly realm
above all rule and authority and power and dominion
and every name that is named,
not only in this age but also in the coming one.

All things under his feet (1:22-23)

And he placed all things under his feet
and gave him headship over all things in the church,
which is his body,
the fullness of the One who fills all in all.

Dead in transgressions (2:1-3)

And y'all, being dead in transgressions and sins,
in which at one time y'all walked
according to the age of this world,
according to the ruler of the authority of the air,
the spirit who is now working in the sons of disobedience,

among whom also we all used to live
by the passions of our flesh,
doing the will of the flesh and the mindsets,
and we were by nature children of wrath,
as also were the rest.

Made alive together (2:4-7)

But God, being rich in mercy,
because of the great love with which he loved us,
we and, being dead in our transgressions,
he made us alive together with the Messiah—
by grace y'all have been saved—

And he raised us up together
and sat us together in the heavenlies
with Messiah Jesus
in order that he might demonstrate
in the ages which are coming
the surpassing richness of his grace
by kindness to us in Messiah Jesus.

Saved by grace through faith (2:8-10)

For it is by grace that y'all have been saved
through trust,
and this not from y'all's selves,
it is the gift of God,
it is not from works,
in order that no one can boast.

For we are his handiwork,
having been created in Messiah Jesus for good works
which God prepared beforehand,
so that we would walk in them.

Remember your past (2:11-12)

Therefore remember that at one time y'all, the gentiles in flesh,
who are called "uncircumcised"
by what is called "the circumcised"
(what is performed by hands in the flesh),
that y'all were at that time without Messiah,
estranged from the citizenry of Israel
and foreigners of the covenants of the promise,
having no hope and without God in the world.

Brought near by blood (2:13)

But now, through/in Messiah Jesus,
y'all who at one time were far away
have become near
through the blood of the Messiah.

He is our peace (2:14-16)

For he himself is our peace,
the one who made the two one,
and having destroyed the barrier of the wall,
the enmity, in his flesh,

having set aside the Torah of commandments in decrees,
in order that he might create the two in himself
into one new humanity,
making peace,

and that he might reconcile the two to God
by means of one body,
through the cross,
having killed the enmity in himself.

Peace proclaimed (2:17-18)

And as he came, he announced good news of peace
to y'all who are far off
and peace to those near,
because through him we both have access
to the Father by means of one Spirit.

God's household (2:19-22)

Therefore, then, y'all are no longer foreigners and immigrants,
but y'all are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of God's household,

having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Messiah himself being the corner stone,
in whom the entire building being joined together
can grow into a holy temple in the Lord,

in whom also y'all are being built together
into a dwelling-building of God,
by means of the Spirit.

Paul, prisoner for the nations (3:1-6)

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of the Messiah Jesus
on behalf of y'all the nations,
if indeed y'all have heard of the arranged plan
of the grace of God
which was given to me for y'all,

that it would be made known to me by revelation
the open-secret,
as I wrote earlier about in brief,
into which, after reading,
you are able to comprehend
my insight into the open-secret of the Messiah,

which in other generations was not made known
to the sons of humanity
as it is now revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets
by the Spirit,

that the nations are co-heritorsins
and co-body-members
and co-possessors of the promise
in Messiah Jesus through the good-news,

Minister of this mystery (3:7-9)

of which I became a servant
according to the gift of God's grace
which was given to me
in accordance with the working of his power.

To me, the status-in-lowest of all the holy ones,
this grace was given
to announce to the nations the good-news
of the incomprehensible richness of the Messiah,

and to illuminate for everyone
what is the arranged plan of the open-secret
which was hidden from the ages
in God, who created all things,

Multi-faceted wisdom (3:10-13)

in order that now would be made known
to the rulers and to the authorities in the heavenlies,
through the church,
the multi-faceted wisdom of God,

in accordance with the plan of the ages
which he accomplished in Messiah Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have boldness and access with confidence
through his faithfulness [or: faith in him].

Therefore I request that there be no discouragement
about my difficulties on your behalf,
which are your glory.

Prayer for inner strengthening (3:14-19)

For this reason I bow my knee to the Father,
from whom every clan-family in the heavenlies
and on the earth is named,

so that he would give to y'all,
according to the richness of his glory,
power to be strengthened through his Spirit
in your inner human,

that the Messiah would dwell through faith in your hearts,

having been rooted and established in love,

so that y'all would be empowered to comprehend
along with all of the holy ones
what is the width and length and height and depth—

to know the love of the Messiah
far-beyond knowing,
so that y'all would be filled up
unto all the fullness of God.

Doxology (3:20-21) — Structural Anchor

Now to the one who is powerful beyond all things
to do over abundantly more than what we would ask or conceive,
according to the power which is at work in us,
to him be glory in the church
and in Messiah Jesus
for all generations of the age of the ages.
Amen.

Walk worthy (4:1-3)

Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge y'all
to walk in a manner worthy of the calling
with which y'all have been called,

with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another in love,
being zealous to keep the one-ness of the Spirit
with the bond of peace:

Seven unities (4:4-6)

one body and one Spirit,
as just y'all were called by one hope of y'all's calling;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of everyone,
who is over all and through all and in all.

Gifts according to measure (4:7-10)

But to each one of us grace was given
according to the measure of the gift of the Messiah.
Therefore it says:

"Having ascended to the height,
he took captive the captive forces;
he gave gifts to people."

Now, what is "he ascended"
except that he also descended
to the lower regions of the land?

The one who descended is also the one who ascended
high above all the things in the heavenly realms,
in order that he might fill all things.

Gifts for equipping (4:11-13)

And on the one hand he gave some as apostles
and some as prophets
and some evangelists
and some as shepherds and teachers,

for the equipping of the holy ones
for the work of the ministry,
for the building of the body of the Messiah,

until we all attain
unto the unity of the faith
and unto the knowing of the Son of God,
unto a mature man,
unto the measure of the stature
of the fullness of the Messiah,

No longer babies (4:14-16)

so that we might no longer be babies,
tossed by waves and driven by every wind of teaching
by the trickery of humans,
in the craftiness of a scheme of deception,

but truth-doing in love,
let us grow up in everything into him,
who is the head, the Messiah,

from whom the all body,
being joined together and being united together
through every supporting joint,
according to the working by the measure
of each one of the parts,
produces the growth of the body
for the building up of itself in love.

Walk not as gentiles walk (4:17-19)

Therefore I say and testify by the Lord,
that y'all should no longer walk
as the nations walk in the futility of their mindset,

having been in the dark in their mindset,
estranged from the life of God
because of the ignorance which is in them
on account of the hardness of their heart,

who, after making themselves calloused,
gave themselves over to a lack of self-control
resulting in deeds of every kind of impurity
along with insatiable desire.

You learned Messiah (4:20-24)

But you did not learn the Messiah in a way such,
if indeed you have heard of him
and were taught in him,
as truth is in Jesus,

that y'all are to take off the old humanity
of y'all's former way of life,
which is being corrupted by its deceptive desires,

and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

and to put on the new humanity
which has been created in accordance with God
in justice and true piety.

Practical transformation (4:25-32)

Therefore, having put off the lie,
"speak truth, each one with his neighbor,"
because we are members of one another.

"Be angry and do not sin."
Do not let the sun set on your anger,
and don't give an opportunity to the slanderer.

The one who steals, let him no longer steal,
but rather let him labor,
producing good with his own hands,
so that he can have something
to share with the one who has need.

Any rotten word, don't let it come out of y'all's mouth,
but only what is good for building up what is needed,
so that it might give grace to those who hear.

And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God,

by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

All bitterness and anger and wrath,
along with blasphemy with all wickedness,
let it be taken from you.

But be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another,
as just God in the Messiah forgave you.

Imitators of God (5:1-2)

Therefore, become imitators of God
as beloved children,
and walk in love,
as just the Messiah loved us
and gave himself as an offering and a sacrifice to God
as a pleasant aroma.

Sexual immorality has no place (5:3-7)

But sexual immorality and all impurity or greedy desire
should not be named among y'all,
as is fitting for holy ones,

also obscenity or foolish talk or inappropriate humor,
which have no place,
but rather grateful thanksgiving.

For y'all should know surely this:
that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person
(who is an idolator)
has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words,
because on account of such things
the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Therefore, do not participate together with them.

Children of light (5:8-14)

For you (now you are light in the Lord)
were darkness at one time.
Walk as children of light,
for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and justice and truth,

discerning what is it that pleases the Lord.

And don't share together in the fruitless deeds of darkness,

but rather expose them.

For what is done by them in hiding is even shameful to mention,
but everything that is exposed by the light is made visible,
for everything made visible is light.
Therefore one says:

"Awake, Sleeper,
Rise from among the dead ones,
and the Messiah will shine on you!"

Walk carefully (5:15-21)

Therefore, watch carefully how y'all walk,
not as unwise but as wise,
redeeming the time,
for the days are evil.

Because of this, don't be foolish,

but discern what is the will of the Lord.

And don't be drunk with wine,
which is recklessness,
but be filled by the Spirit,
speaking to each other
in psalms and hymns and spiritual poems,
creating poems and singing in your hearts to the Lord,

always giving thanks for all things
to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Messiah,

submitting to one another in the reverence of the Messiah.

Wives and husbands (5:22-33)

Wives to their own husbands as to the Lord,
because the husband is the head of the wife
as the Messiah is the head of the church,
he the deliverer of the body.

But as the church submits to the Messiah,

so also wives [submit] to their husbands in every way.

Husbands, be loving to your wives,
as the Messiah loves the church
and gave himself on her behalf,

so that he could set her apart,

having purified by washing of water with a word,

so he could present to himself the church glorious,
having no stain or wrinkle or any such thing,
but that she would be set apart and blameless.

In this way, husbands are obligated to love their own wives
as their own bodies;
the one who loves his own wife loves himself.

For no one ever hated his own flesh,
but he raises and nurses it,
as just the Messiah does for the church,
because we are members of his body.

"For this reason a man will leave the father and mother
and he will be joined to his wife,
and the two will become one flesh."

This open secret is great,

but I am speaking about the Messiah and the church.

Nevertheless, each one of y'all should love his wife in this way,

and the wife should revere her husband.

Children and parents (6:1-4)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord,

for this is right.

"Honor your father and mother,"
which is the first commandment with a promise:
"so that it may go well for you
and you will be in the land a long time."

And, fathers, do not provoke your children,

but raise them in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and masters (6:5-9)

Slaves, obey your masters according to the flesh
with serious reverence, in sincerity of your heart,
as to the Messiah,

not as a human-pleaser doing "eye-service,"
but as slaves of the Messiah,
doing the will of God from your very being,

serving with goodwill,
as to the Lord not humans,
knowing that each person,
whatever good he might do,
that one will receive from the Lord,
whether a slave or a freeman.

And, masters, do the same things to them,
giving up threats,
knowing that both their Lord and your own is in the heavenlies,
and there is no favoritism with him.

Find strength in the Lord (6:10-12)

Finally, find strength in the Lord

and in the power of his might.

Put on the full armor of God,
so that y'all have power to stand
against the schemes of the slanderer,

because our battle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the cosmic-powers of this darkness,
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies.

Take up the armor (6:13-17)

Because of this, take up the armor of God,
so that y'all have power to stand in resistance
on the day of evil,
and, having fulfilled one's duty, to stand.

Stand, therefore,
having girded y'all's loins with truth,
and having put on the breastplate of justice,

and having tied y'all's feet with the good news of peace,

in all situations having taken up the shield of faith,
by which y'all have power to extinguish
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.

Pray at all times (6:18-20)

With every prayer and petition,
praying on every occasion in the Spirit,
and for this reason staying alert
with all endurance and petition
for all of the holy ones,

and for me,
so that a word would be given to me
when I open my mouth,
to make known with boldness
the open-secret of the good-news,

on behalf of which I am an ambassador in chains,
so that by it I might be bold
as I am obligated to speak.

Final greetings (6:21-24)

So that y'all also might know how things are with me,
what I'm doing,
Tychicus will make everything known to y'all,
that beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord,

whom I sent to y'all for this reason,
so that y'all might know how things are with us
and that he might comfort y'all's hearts.

Peace to the brothers and sisters,
and love with faith,
from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Messiah.

Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Messiah

with [incorruptible] love.