Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he captured captives; he gave gifts to men.”

Now what is the meaning of “he ascended,” except that he also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth?

He did this when he revealed to us the secret of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,

that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight.

This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms

But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us,

This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace,

He, the very one who descended, is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.

It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this will be rewarded by the Lord.

And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near,

The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need.

to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son.

In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility,

And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and he gave him to the church as head over all things.

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.

I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person,

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.