Ephesians — The Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ephesians is the letter on the church as the body of Christ and the unity of Jew and Gentile. In Coverdale’s Bible of 1535 it stands in the New Testament under the heading “The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Ephesians”. Coverdale’s summary of the chapters stands before the text; the 1535 Bible has no verse numbers, so the text keeps its own paragraphs, in 6 chapters, with the marginal notes and references printed after each chapter.
The summe of this Epistle.
- Chap. I. The euerlastinge ordinaunce and eleccion of God in sauynge all men thorow Christ Iesus his sonne. We are ordened vnto good workes. The dominion of Christ.
- Chap. II. Paul sheweth them what maner of people they were before their conuersion, and what they are now in Christ.
- Chap. III. He sheweth the cause of his presonment, desyreth them not to faynte because of his trouble, and prayeth God to make thē stedfast in his sprete.
- Chap. IIII. He exhorteth them vnto mekenes, longe sufferinge, vnto loue and peace, euery one to serue and edifie another with the gifte that God hath geuē him, to bewarre of straunge doctrine, to laye asyde the olde conuersacion of gredy lustes, and to walke in a new life.
- Chap. V. He exhorteth them vnto loue, warneth them to bewarre of vnclennes, cuvetounesse, foolish talkynge and false doctryne: to be circumspecte, to avoyde dronkennesse, to reioyse and to be thankfull towarde God, to submytt thēselues one to another, He teacheth how wemen shulde obeye their huszbōdes, and how louyngly men ought to intreate their wyues.
- Chap. VI. How children shulde behaue themselues towarde their fathers and mothers: Likewyse fathers towarde their children: Seruauntes towarde their masters: Agayne, masters towarde their seruaūtes. An exhortacion to the spirituall battayll, and what weapens christen men shulde fight withall.
The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Ephesians.
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Chapter 1
[A] PAul an Apostle of Iesus Christ by the will of God. To yᵉ sayntes which are Ephesus, & to thē that beleue on Iesus Christ.
⁽¹⁾Grace be with you and peace from God oure father, & frō the LORDE Iesus Christ.
Blessed be God the father of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, which hath blessed vs wᵗ all maner of spirituall blessynge in heauenly thynges by Christ ⁽²⁾ acordinge as he had chosen vs by him, or euer the foundacion of the worlde was layed, that we shulde be holy and without blame before him in loue, & ordeyned vs before, to receaue vs as children thorow Iesus Christ, acordinge to the pleasure of his will, vnto the prayse of the glory of his grace, wherby he hath made vs accepted in the ⁽³⁾ Beloued, in whom we haue redempcion thorow his bloude (namely) the forgeuenes of synnes, acordynge to yᵉ riches [B] of his grace, which he hath shed vpon vs abundauntly in all wyszdome and prudēce: and hath opened vnto vs the mystery of his wil acordinge to his pleasure, which he had purposed in himselfe, yᵗ it shulde be preached ⁽⁴⁾ whā the tyme was fullcome, that all thinges shulde be gathered together by Christ, both the thinges which are in heauen, and also the thinges that are vpon earth, euen by him, by whom also we are come to the inheritaunce ⁽⁵⁾ we that were therto predestinate before, acordinge to yᵉ purpose of him, which worketh all thinges after yᵉ councell of his owne wyll, that we mighte be to the prayse of his glory, euen we that before beleued on Christ, on whō also ye beleued, after that ye herde the worde of trueth, namely yᵉ Gospell of youre saluacion: wherin whan ye beleued, ye were ⁽⁶⁾ sealed with the holy sprete of promes, which is the ernest of oure inheritaunce to oure redempcion, that we mighte be his owne to the prayse off his glory.
Wherfore I also, (in so moch as I haue [C] herde of the faith which ye haue in yᵉ LORDE Iesu, and of youre loue vnto all yᵉ sayntes) ceasse not to geue thankes for you, and make mencion of you in my prayers, that yᵉ God of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, the father of glory maye geue vnto you the sprete of wyszdome, and open vnto you the knowlege of himselfe, and lighten the eyes of youre vnderstondinge, that ye maye knowe what is the hope of youre callynge, and what the riches of his glorious enheritaunce is vpon the sayntes, & what is the exceadinge greatnesse of his power towarde vs, which beleue acordinge to yᵉ workynge of his mightie power, which he wroughte in Christ, whan he raysed him vp frō the deed, ⁽⁷⁾ and set him on his righte hāde ī heauēly thinges, aboue all rule, power, and mighte, and dominaciō, and aboue all that maye be named, not onely in this worlde, but also in yᵉ worlde to come. ⁽⁸⁾ And hath put all thinges vnder his fete, and hath made him aboue all thinges ⁽⁹⁾ the heade of the cōgregacion, which is his body, and the fulnesse of him that fylleth all in all.
Notes to Chapter 1
⁽¹⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽³⁾ Mat. 3. b and 1⟨illegible⟩. a
⁽⁴⁾ Gal. 4. a
⁽⁵⁾ Rom ⟨illegible⟩. d
⁽⁶⁾ 2. Cor. ⟨illegible⟩. e and 5. a
⁽⁷⁾ Psal. 109.
⁽⁸⁾ Psal 8. b
⁽⁹⁾ Ephe. 4 and 5. c Col. 1. c
Chapter 2
ANd quyckened you also, whan ye were [A] deed thorow trespaces and synnes, in the which in tyme past ye walked. acordinge to the course off this worlde, and after the prynce that ruleth in the ayre namely, after yᵉ sprete, which now worketh in the children of vnbeleue,⁽¹⁾ amonge whom we also had oure conuersacion in tyme past in the lustes of oure flesh, and dyd the wyll of the flesh and of the mynde, and were naturally the children of wrath, euen as well as other.
But God which is riche in mercy thorow his greate loue wherwith he loued vs euē whā we were deed in synnes, hath quyckened vs in Christ (⁽²⁾ for by grace are ye saued) and hath raysed vs vp with him, and set vs with him in heauēly thinges thorow Christ Iesus, yᵗ in tymes to come he mighte shewe the exceadinge riches of his grace, in kyndnesse to vs warde in Christ Iesu. For by grace are ye saued thorow faith, and that not of youre selues, For it is yᵉ gifte of God, not [B] of workes, lest eny mā shulde boast him selfe. For we are his workmanshippe, created in Christ Iesu ⁽³⁾ vnto good workes, to yᵗ which God ordeyned vs before, that we shulde walke in them.
Wherfore remēbre, that ye (which afore tyme were Gentyles after the flesh, and were called vncircumcision, of thē that are called ⁽⁴⁾ circumcision after the flesh, which circumcision is made with the hande) that ye at the same tyme were without Christ, and reputed aleauntes from the comen welth of Israel, and were straungers from the Testamentes of promes, therfore had ye no hope, and were without God in this worlde. But now ye that be in Christ Iesu, and afore tyme were farre of, are now made nye by the bloude of Christ.
[C] For he is o ⁽⁵⁾ peace, which of both hath made one, and hath broken downe the wall, that was a stoppe betwene vs, and hath also thorow his flesh put awaye the cause off hatred (namely the lawe of the commaundemētes contayned in the lawe wrytten) that of twayne he mighte create one new man in him selfe, and make peace, and to reconcyle both vnto God in one body thorow the crosse, and so he slewe yᵉ hatred thorow his owne selfe, and came ⁽⁶⁾ and preached peace in the Gospell, vnto you which were afarre of, and to thē that were nye. For thorow him we both haue intraunce in one sprete vnto the father.
Now therfore ye are nomore gestes and straungers, but citesins with the sayntes, & of the housholde of God, buylded vpon ⁽⁷⁾ yᵉ foundacion of yᵉ Apostles and prophetes ⁽⁸⁾ where Iesus Christ is yᵉ heade corner stone in whom euery buyldinge coupled together, groweth to an holy temple in the LORDE, in whom ye also are buylded together, to be an habitacion of God in the sprete.
Notes to Chapter 2
⁽¹⁾ Col. 3. a
⁽²⁾ Esa. 25. b Act. 15. b
⁽³⁾ Tit. 2. b
⁽⁴⁾ Phil. 3. a Col. 2. b
⁽⁵⁾ Esa. 9 b Col. 1. b
⁽⁶⁾ Esa. 57. c
⁽⁷⁾ Cor. 3. b
⁽⁸⁾ Pet. 2. a
Chapter 3
FOr this cause I Paul am ⁽¹⁾ a presoner of Iesus Christ for you Heythen, acordinge as ye haue herde of yᵉ office of the grace of God which is geuen me to you warde. For by ⁽²⁾ reuelacion was this mystery shewed vnto me, as I wrote aboue in fewe wordes: wherby whan ye rede it, ye maye perceaue myne vnderstondynge in yᵉ mystery of Christ, which (mystery) in tymes past was not opened vnto the childrē of mē as it is now declared to his holy Apostles and prophetes by the sprete: namely, that the Heythen shulde be inheritours also, and of the same body, and partakers of his promes in Christ by the Gospell, wherof I am made a mynister acordynge to the gifte of the grace of God, which is geuē me acordinge to the workynge of his power.
Vnto me ⁽³⁾ the leest of all sayntes is this [B] grace geuen, that I shulde preach amonge the Heythē yᵉ vnsearcheable riches of Christ, and to make all men se, what is the fellishippe of the ⁽⁴⁾ mystery, which frō the begynnynge of the worlde hath bene hyd in God, which made all thīges thorow Iesus Christ to the intent that now vnto the rulers and powers in heauē mighte be knowne by the congregacion the manifolde wyszdome off God, acordinge to yᵉ eternall purpose, which he hath shewed in Christ Iesu oure LORDE by whom we haue boldnesse and intraunce in all confidēce thorow faith on him. Wherfore I desyre that ye faynte not because of my tribulacions, yᵗ I ⁽⁵⁾ suffre for you, which is youre prayse.
For this cause I bowe my knees vnto the [C] father of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, which is the true father, ouer all that is called father in heauen and in earth, that he graunte you (acordinge to yᵉ riches of his glory) to be strengthed with power by his sprete in yᵉ inwarde mā, that Christ maye dwell in youre hertes by faith, that ye beynge roted and grounded in loue, maye be able to cōprehende with all sayntes, what is the bredth, and the length, and the deepth, and the heyth: and to knowe the loue of Christ, which loue yet passeth all knowlege: that ye maye be fylled with all maner of fulnesse of God.
Vnto him that is able to do exceadinge abundauntly, aboue all that we axe or vnderstonde (acordinge to yᵉ power that worketh in vs) be prayse in the congregacion, which is in Christ Iesu, at all tymes for euer and euer, Amen.
Notes to Chapter 3
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⁽³⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁴⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁵⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
Chapter 4
[A] I Therfore which am presoner in the LORDE, exhorte you, that ye walke as it becōmeth yoʳ callinge wherin ye are called, with all humblenes off mynde and mekenes, and longe sufferinge, forbearinge one another in loue, and be diligent to kepe the vnite of the sprete thorow the bonde of peace. One body and one sprete, euē as ye are called in one hope of youre callynge. One LORDE, one faith, one baptyme, one God and father of vs all, which is aboue all, and thorow all, and in you all.
⁽¹⁾Vnto euery one of vs is geuen grace, acordinge to the measure off the gifte off Christ. Therfore sayeth he:⁽²⁾ He is gone vp an hye, and hath led awaye captiuyte captyue, and hath geuē giftes vnto men. That he wente, vp what is it, but that he first came downe in to yᵉ lowest partes of yᵉ earth? ⁽³⁾ He that came downe, is euen the same which is gone vp aboue all heauens, to fulfill all. ⁽⁴⁾ And yᵉ same hath set some to be Apostles, some to be prophetes, some to be Euangelistes, some to be shepherdes & teachers, wherby the sayntes mighte be coupled together thorow comen seruyce to the edifienge of yᵉ body of Christ, tyll we all come vnto one maner of faith and knowlege of the sonne of God, and become a perfecte man in to the measure of the perfecte age of Christ ⁽⁵⁾ that we be nomore children, ⁽⁶⁾ waueringe & caried aboute with euery wynde of doctryne thorow the wickednes of men and craftynes, wherby they laye awayte for vs to disceaue vs.
[B] But let vs folowe the trueth in loue, and in all thinges growe in him, ⁽⁷⁾ which is the heade, euen Christ, in whom all the body is coupled together, and one membre hangeth by another thorow out all yᵉ ioyntes. ⁽⁸⁾ Wherby one mynistreth vnto another (acordinge to the operacion as euery membre hath his measure) and maketh, that yᵉ body groweth to the edifienge of it selfe in loue.
This I saye therfore, and testifye in the LORDE, that ye walke nomore * as yᵉ other Heythen walke in the vanite of their mynde, blynded in their vnderstondinge, beynge straungers frō the life which is in God thorow the ignoraunce that is in them, because of the blyndnes of their hert: which beynge past repentaunce, haue geuē them selues ouer vnto wantonnes, to worke all maner of vnclennes euen with gredynesse.
But ye haue not so learned Christ, yf so be that ye haue herde of him, & are taught [C] in him, euen as the trueth is in Iesu. So then as concernynge the conuersacion in tyme past ⁽⁹⁾ laye from you that olde man which marreth himselfe thorow disceauable lustes: but be ye renued in the sprete of youre mynde, and put on that new man, which is shapen after God, in true righteousnes and holynes.⁽¹⁰⁾ Wherfore put awaye lyenge, and speake euery man the trueth vnto his neghboure, for as moch as we are membres one of another. ⁽¹¹⁾ Be angrie, but synne not. Let not yᵉ Sonne go downe vpō youre wrath: nether geue place to the bacbyter. He that hath stollen, let him steale nomore: ⁽¹²⁾ but let him laboure rather, and do some good with his hondes, that he maye haue to geue vnto him that nedeth.
Let no filthy communicacion proceade out of youre mouth,⁽¹³⁾ but that which is good to edifye withall, whā nede is, that it be gracious to heare. And greue not the holy sprete of God, wherwith ye are ⁽¹⁴⁾ sealed vnto yᵉ daye of redempcion. Let all bytternes, and fearsnes, and wrath, and roaringe, & cursed speakynge be farre frō you with all maliciousnes. But be ye curteous one to another, mercifull,⁽¹⁵⁾ and forgeue one another, euē as God hath forgeuen you in Christ.
Notes to Chapter 4
⁽¹⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽³⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁴⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁵⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁶⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁷⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁸⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁹⁾ Rom. 6. a Col. 3. a
⁽¹⁰⁾ Zach. ⟨illegible⟩. c 1. Pet. 2. a
⁽¹¹⁾ Psal. 4. a
⁽¹²⁾ 2. Tess. 3. a
⁽¹³⁾ Mat. 12. d Ephe. 5. a
⁽¹⁴⁾ 2. Cor. 1. c
⁽¹⁵⁾ Mat. 6. ⟨illegible⟩
Chapter 5
BE ye the ⁽¹⁾ folowers therfore of God [A] as deare children, and walke in loue, euen as Christ loued vs, and ⁽²⁾ gaue him selfe for vs an offerynge and sacrifice of a swete sauoure vnto God. As for whordome and all vnclennes, or couetousnes, let it not be named amōge you, as it becommeth sayntes:⁽³⁾ nether fylthines, ner folish talkynge, ner ieastynge (which are not comly) but rather geuynge of thākes.⁽⁴⁾ For be sure, that no whore monger, or vncleane person, or couetous person (which is a worshipper off ymages) hath inheritaunce in the kyngdome of Christ and of God.⁽⁵⁾ (Let no man disceaue you with vayne wordes) for because of these commeth the wrath of God vpon the children of vnbeleue. Be not ye therfore companions with them. For sometyme ye were darknesse, ⁽⁶⁾ but now are ye lighte in the LORDE.
Walke as the children of lighte. (⁽⁷⁾ ⟨illegible⟩ [B] the frute of the sprete is all maner of goodnes, and righteousnes and trueth:) and proue what is pleasinge vnto the LORDE, and haue no fellishippe with yᵉ vnfrutefull workes of darknes, but rather rebuke thē. For it is shame euen to name those thinges, which are done of them in secrete. But all thinges are manifest, whan they are rebuked of the lighte. For what so euer is manifest, that same is lighte. Therfore sayeth he: ⁽⁸⁾ Awake thou that slepest, and stonde vp frō the deed, and Christ shal geue the lighte.
⁽⁹⁾ Take hede therfore how ye walke circumspectly, not as the vnwyse, but as yᵉ wyse, and redeme the tyme, for it is a miserable tyme. Wherfore be not ye vnwyse, but vnderstonde what the wil of the LORDE is, ⁽¹⁰⁾ and be not dronken with wyne, wherin is excesse: but be full of the sprete ⁽¹¹⁾ and talke amōge youre selues of Psalmes, and ymnes, and spirituall songes, synginge and makynge melody vnto the LORDE in youre hertes ⁽¹²⁾ geuynge thankes alwayes for all thinges vnto God the father, in the name of oure LORDE Iesus Christ, submyttinge youreselues one to another in the feare of God.
[C] Let the wemen submytte them selues vnto their huszbandes,⁽¹³⁾ as vnto the LORDE. ⁽¹⁴⁾ For the huszbande is the wyues heade, euē as Christ also is the heade of the congregacion, and he is the Sauioure of his body. Therfore as the congregacion is in subieccion to Christ, likewyse let the wyues be in subieccion to their huszbandes in all thinges.
Ye huszbandes loue youre wyues, even as Christ loued the congregacion, ⁽¹⁵⁾ and gaue himselfe for it, to sanctifye it, ⁽¹⁶⁾ and clensed it in the fountayne of water by the worde, to make it vnto himselfe a glorious congregacion, hauynge no spot ner wrynkle, ner eny soch thinge, but that it shulde be holy and without blame.
So oughte men also to loue their wyues, euen as their awne bodyes. He that loueth his wife, loueth himselfe. For no mā euer yet hated his awne fleszhe, but norisheth and cheriszheth it, euen as the LORDE doth also the congregacion. For we are membres of his body, of his flesh and of his bones. ⁽¹⁷⁾ For this cause shal a man leaue father and mother, and cleue vnto his wife, and they two shal be one flesh: This is a greate secrete: but I speake of Christ and the congregacion. Neuertheles do ye so, that euery one of you loue his wife euen as himselfe: but let the ⟨illegible⟩ huszbande.
Notes to Chapter 5
⁽¹⁾ Mat. 5. e Ioh. 13. b Gal. 1. a
⁽²⁾ Mat. 5. e Ioh. 13. b Gal. 1. a
⁽³⁾ Ecclī 23. c
⁽⁴⁾ 1. Cor. 6. b Col. 3. a
⁽⁵⁾ Col. 2. a
⁽⁶⁾ 1. Tess. 5. ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁷⁾ Gal. 5. c
⁽⁸⁾ Esa. 60. a Rom. 13. b
⁽⁹⁾ Col. 4. a
⁽¹⁰⁾ Ecclī. 31. c
⁽¹¹⁾ Col. 3. b
⁽¹²⁾ 1. Tess. 5. c
⁽¹³⁾ Col. 3. c 1. Pet. 3. a
⁽¹⁴⁾ .1 Co. 11. a
⁽¹⁵⁾ Ephe. 5. a Gal. 2. c
⁽¹⁶⁾ Tit. 3. a 1. Pet 3. c
⁽¹⁷⁾ Gen. 2. d Mat 19. a Marc. 10. a
Chapter 6
YE ⁽¹⁾ children, obey youre elders in the [A] LORDE, for that is righte. Honoure thy father and thy mother (⁽²⁾ That is the first commaundement, that hath eny promes) that thou mayest prospere, and lyuelonge vpon earth. And ye fathers, prouoke not youre children vnto wrath, but brynge thē vp in the nourtoure and informacion of the LORDE.
⁽³⁾ Ye seruauntes, obey youre bodely masters, with feare and tremblynge, in synglenes of youre hert, euen as vnto Christ, not with seruyce onely in the eye sighte, as men pleasers: but as the seruauntes off Christ, doynge the wyll off God from the hert with good wyll. Thynke that ye serue the LORDE and not mē: and be sure, that what good soeuer a man doth, he shal receaue it agayne of the LORDE, whether he be bonde or fre.
And ye masters,⁽⁴⁾ do euen the same vnto thē, puttynge awaye threatenynges, and knowe that euen youre master also is in heauen, ⁽⁵⁾ nether is there eny respecte of personnes with him.
Fynally my brethren, be stronge in the LORDE, and in the power of his mighte:[B] put on the armo of God, that ye maye stonde stedfast agaynst the craftie assautes off the deuell. For we wrestle not agaynst flesh and bloude, but agaynst rule, agaynst power namely, agaynst the rulers of the worlde, of the darknesse of this worlde, agaynst yᵉ spretes of wickednes vnder the heauen. For this cause take ye the armoure of God, yᵗ ye maye be able to resiste in the euell daye, and stonde perfecte in all thinges.
⁽⁶⁾ Stonde therfore, and youre loynes gyrde aboute with the trueth, hauynge on the brest plate of righteousnes, and shod vpō yo fete with the gospell of peace, that ye maye be prepared: Aboue all thinges take holde of the shylde of faith, wherwith ye maye quenche all the fyrie dartes of the wicked. And take the helmet of saluacion, & the swerde of the sprete, which is the worde of God.
⁽⁷⁾And praye allwayes with all maner of [C] prayer and supplicacion in the sprete, and watch there vnto with all instaunce and supplicacion for all sayntes and for me,⁽⁸⁾ that the worde maye be geuen me, that I maye open my mouth boldly, to vtter the secretes of the Gospell, wherof I am a messaunger in bondes, that I maye speake therin frely,⁽⁹⁾ as it becommeth me to speake.
But that ye maye also knowe, what case I am in, and what I do, Tichicus my deare brother and faithfull mynister in the LORDE, shal shewe you all: whom I haue sent vnto you for the same cause, that ye mighte knowe what case I stonde in, and that he mighte comforte youre hertes.
Peace be vnto the brethrē, and loue with faith, from God the father, & from the LORDE Iesu Christ. Grace be with all them that loue oure LORDE Iesus Christ vnfaynedly. Amen.
Sent from Rome vnto the Ephesians, by Tichicus.
Notes to Chapter 6
⁽¹⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽³⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁴⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁵⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁶⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁷⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁸⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁹⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
Colophon
This page is an archival transcription of the printed text, not a Good Works Translation. Source: Biblia the Byble, that is, the holy Scrypture of the Olde and New Testament, faithfully translated in to Englyshe (M.D.XXXV; STC 2063.3), translated by Myles Coverdale, the copy in Cambridge University Library, keyed and encoded by the Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP Phase I, text A10349, 2005) and released under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 public-domain dedication.
4 places illegible in the Cambridge copy were filled from Samuel Bagster’s 1838 page-for-page reprint of the edition (archive.org, holyscriptures00cove), only where the reprint’s reading is certain; each fill is listed on this room’s Supplied Readings page; 32 places are still marked ⟨illegible⟩ (2 in the text, 30 in the marginal notes).
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