 |
 |
The Testimony of Yeshua
Ephesians (The Gabriel Version)
“Somebodies” And “Nobodies”
2 Peace be with you and compassion from our Father, and from our Master Yeshua Messiah.
3 Blessed is Yehovah, the Father of our Master Yeshua Messiah, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing of the spirit in the Heavenly realm by the Messiah. 4 He chose us before He laid the foundation of the world [1], so that we could be 'special' and without blemish before Him. In love 5 He predetermined that we would belong to Him, making us sons [2] thru Yeshua Messiah, anticipating what He has determined will be done: 6 so that the commendation of His magnificent compassion would be highly honored, that He poured on us by His Beloved One. 7 He paid our ransom and forgave our sins by His blood, due to the abundance of His loving kindness 8 that was lavished on us in great wisdom, and with complete spiritual understanding. 9 He revealed to us the secret of what He had determined to do, that He had already determined would be done. [3] 10 He is managing the affairs of His household until the time comes when everything is fulfilled, then everything can be unified again by the Messiah—things in Heaven and things on earth.
11 We have obtained our inheritance because to Him, as He predetermined according to His good will and purpose concerning everything that He had determined would be done, 12 so that those of us who were first to believe in the Messiah would be able to honor His magnificence. 13 You’ve also heard the true doctrine about Him, and that is the Good News of your eternal Life, and you have believed in Him, and have been sealed with the 'special' spirit that was promised. 14 That spirit is the downpayment of our inheritance, until the redemption of those who are given eternal Life, to the praise of His majesty.
15 Also, since I first heard of your faith in our Master Yeshua Messiah, and of your love towards all of the 'special ones', 16 I have not ceased giving thanks for you, and I’m remembering you in my prayers, 17 so that Yehovah, the magnificent Father of our Master Yeshua Messiah, will give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation—precise knowledge of Him. 18 Your understanding is being enlightened so that you’ll understand the hope of His invitation and know about the abundant magnificence of His inheritance for the 'special ones', 19 and what the excellence of the majesty of His power is for those of us who believe, according to the efficiency of the strength of His power. 20 He brought this about in the Messiah after raising Him from the dead, and seating Him by His right side in the Heavenly realm, 21 high above every government, authority, power and ruler, and above anyone who could be named, not only in this world but also in the one to come. 22 He is in control of everything under His feet, and He has entrusted Him with supremacy over His assembly 23 —that being His body—making the Perfecter perfect, everything in every way.
[1] He chose to have 'special ones' but there is no evidence that He had specific individuals in mind. This is called “free moral agency”. This is comparable to Ezekiel 20:5, where Yehovah said “On the day when I CHOSE Israel ... and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt....” Yet this was over four centuries after He chose to bless the descendants of Israel. The individuals were being chosen in “real time”. [2] You aren’t adopted into Yehovah’s family, you must be “born again” into the family as sons! “Adoption” is the “presumed compound”—based solely on tradition. [3] Like us, He planned to have children. But He didn’t say that He knew specifically which of us would be born again.
All Raised Together
11 So remember that you came from foreign nations. You were called “the uncircumcised” by those who are called “the circumcised”, being the work of human hands in the flesh. 12 At that time you were separated from the Messiah and excluded from the regulations [or commonwealth] of Israel, and aliens to the promised covenant, you had no hope and you were essentially the atheists [Gr. a’-theos] of the world. 13 But now, thru Yeshua Messiah, those of you who were far away are now close, by the blood of the Messiah.
14 He is our peace, and He has made both [Israel and the other nations] one by tearing down the wall that was between them. 15 Having destroyed with His own body the hatred of the law of prescribed rules [Strong’s #] contained in public decrees [Gr. dogma], so that He could create in Himself one new man, and make peace. 16 He completely reconciled both to Yehovah into one body thru the cross, that He put their hostility to death with. 17 He came and proclaimed peace to those of you who were far away, and to those nearby— 18 because there is access to the Father for both thru Him, by one spirit.
19 So you aren’t foreigners without citizenship, rather, you are fellow citizens with the 'special ones' [saints and belong to the family of Yehovah. 20 You are the finished structure built on the foundation of the envoys AND the prophets, and Yeshua Messiah has become the cornerstone of the building. 21 Both parts of the building are being assembled together because of Him, as it becomes a Temple dedicated to Yehovah. 22 You are also being built into a dwelling place for Yehovah by the spirit.
[1] Compare to 1 Thessalonians 4:17, “Then, we who are still alive, having survived, will be carried away together with them into the clouds to meet our Master in the expanse. And we will be with our Master forever.” This is the same expanse Elohim mentioned in Genesis 1:14-17, “There should be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, they should be for signs [of things to come], and Appointed Festivals [not seasons], days and years, 15 and they should be for lights in the expanse of sky to provide light on the earth,” and it was so. 16 Elohim made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. 17 Elohim set them in the expanse of sky to provide light for the earth...
Secrets Now Revealed
2 Surely you have heard of my responsibility for proclaiming the compassion of Yehovah that was given to me on your behalf, 3 and how by a revelation, hidden understandings were revealed to me, as I have already written to you about briefly. 4 So as you read this, you’ll be able to grasp my understanding as it flows together about the secrets of the Messiah 5 that weren’t revealed to prior generations of humanity, as it has now been revealed to Hare 'special', envoys and to His prophets, by the spirit. 6 To be specific, all nations should be fellow heirs in His inheritance, fellow members of the body sharing the promise that He revealed thru the Good News, 7 of which I have become a “deacon” in regard to the gift of the goodness of Yehovah that was given to me by the exercise of His power. 8 To me, the least of all the 'special ones', this compassion has been given, so that I could announce to the nations the unsearchable wealth of the Messiah, 9 and bring to light for everyone the mysterious plan that was hidden for ages by Yehovah, the Creator of everything. 10 Now the intention is that thru the assembly, the wisdom of Yehovah will become known to the leaders and authorities in the “Heavenly realm” [2}. 11 This was in accord with the eternal purpose that He carried out by Yeshua our Master, 12 who gave us the freedom of speech [[Strong’s #] to access Him confidently in faithfulness. 13 So I pray that I [3] won’t be discouraged because of my pressing trials on your behalf, because they are for your honor.
14 And I bow my knees to the Father of our Master Yeshua Messiah, 15 from whom the whole family in Heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 asking that He would grant you, according to the wealth of His magnificence, inner strength and great power by His spirit. 17 May the Messiah live in your minds by love thru faith. Then, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may you be able to comprehend, with all the 'special ones', what the height and depth and length and breadth is, 19 and have the transcending knowledge of the Messiah’s love, and be filled to the brim with the abundance of Yehovah.
20 Now to the One who is able by His almighty power to do even more for us than we ask for or think of, according to His power that works in us, 21 He’ll be praised in His assembly, because of Yeshua Messiah for all time and eternity! Aw-main.
[1] See why “bondsman” is far better than “prisoner”. Keyword prisoner.
[2] Clarke’s Commentary makes a case for this being an idiom for political and spiritual leaders. I could see this—with a heavy dose of sarcasm. [3] Greek translations say “you” instead of “I”.
One Body, One Spirit
7 Compassion is given to each of us in proportion to a determined measure of the gift of the Messiah. 8 That’s why it says, “He went up to the highest place and took captive those who had captured us, and gave us gifts.”
9 Now what does “He went up” imply, other than He had also gone down to the interior parts of the earth? 10 The One who had gone down is the same One who went up high above all the heavens, so that He could fulfill everything. 11 He surely gave us envoys, prophets, ‘assembly planters’ [1], shepherds [2] and teachers, 12 to equip the 'special ones' [saints for the work of serving others—for building up the body of the Messiah 13 until we all become unified in the faith and in the knowledge of Aloha’s Son—one complete man, measuring up to the full standard of maturity, completely filled with the Messiah.
14 This is so that we won’t be immature—tossed and turned as if by waves and blown away by the strong winds of treacherous doctrines, playing dice against skilled people who “cheat” in order to lead you astray! 15 We should be established in our love, so that everything in us will progress in the Messiah, who is the head. 16 He is precisely fitting all of the body parts together so that every connection is assisted by supernatural energy [Gr. energeia], each member being precisely measured so that the growing body itself is built up thru love.
17 So I tell you, as a witness for the Master, that from now on you should no longer live like other people [Gr. ethnos] do, with no understanding of the truth. 18 As for understanding, they are in the dark—excluded from the Life of Aloha, because of their ignorance and their blinded intellects. 19 They’ve lost all hope, and they’ve given themselves over to sensuality. They practice every kind of sexual perversion without restraint.
20 But you didn’t learn about the Messiah that way 21 if you have truly listened to Him and learned His ways, since the truth is in Yeshua. 22 You have learned that you should lay aside your old self, it is corrupted with desires that deceive you. 23 You should have a renewed spirit in your minds. 24 You should be clothed with the new man who is created by Aloha, in righteousness, dedicated to the truth.
25 So throw off your practice of lying. Everyone should tell the people they encounter the truth, because we belong to each other. 26 Be angry without sinning. Don’t let the sun set while you’re still angry. 27 Don’t give the devil a foothold. 28 Thieves should no longer steal, instead, they should do manual labor, doing honorable things with their own hands, so that they’ll have something to share with those in need.
29 No rotten words should come out of your mouth, but rather, anything that is honorable and useful for building people up so that it will convey compassion to those who hear. 30 And don’t grieve the 'special' spirit of Aloha that seals you until the day when your ransom is paid off. 31 Get rid of your bitterness, anger, wrath, loud moaning, and slandering, along with every type of hatred. 32 Be kind to each other, and be compassionate and pardon each other, as Aloha has pardoned us thru the Messiah.
[1] Euaggelistes: This is one of three places where this form of the word evangel (Good News) appears. Religious jargon calls them Evangelists. They were “assembly planters” (or “Church planters” as described in Pagan Christianity), carrying the Good News to places where it was previously unknown. Philip appears to have traveled from city to city heralding the teachings (Acts 8:4, 40 & 21:8). Judging from the case of Philip, assembly planters didn’t have the authority of envoys or the gift of prophecy or the responsibility of elders, (see also 2 Timothy 4:5). Unlike all the rest of us, they were “missionaries”, financially supported by faithful people. [2] Poimen is translated as “shepherd” 17 times in the KJV, and this one place as “pastors”. “The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were:—to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep—to defend the sheep from attackers—to heal the wounded and sick sheep—to find and Rescue lost or trapped sheep—to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust.”
Live as Children of Light
3 Don’t allow sexual sin or any impurity or greed to ever be mentioned among you, those things certainly aren’t for the 'special ones', 4 or obscenities, or foolish talk, or insults, or abusive talk—things that aren’t appropriate. Instead of these, thankfulness! 5 You know very well that any man who is a male prostitute or an impure person or who is greedy [idolizing wealth], has no inheritance in the Kingdom of the Messiah and of Yehovah. 6 Don’t allow anyone to deceive you with their meaningless ‘sermons’. It is because of these things that the anger of Yehovah comes on the children of disobedience. 7 So don’t be like them.
8 You used to be darkness, but now you are light, belonging to Yehovah. So live as the children of light. 9 The fruit that light produces is entirely good and righteous and truthful. 10 So search out what is pleasing to Yehovah. 11 Have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness. Rather, expose them for what they are. 12 The things that they do in private are abominable to even mention. 13 Everything becomes visible once it’s exposed to the light. Light reveals everything. 14 That’s why it says, “Wake up sleeper! Rise from the dead, and the Messiah will illuminate you.”
15 Be sure to pay attention to the details, unlike the foolish. 16 Like the wise, make the most of your opportunities, because these are evil times. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what Yehovah’s will is. 18 Don’t get drunk on wine and loose control, but be filled with the spirit. 19 Speak to each other in psalms and spiritual songs, wholeheartedly singing and offering praise to Yehovah. 20 Always give thanks to Yehovah the Father, on behalf of everyone, in the name of our Master Yeshua Messiah.
21 Be submissive to each other out of reverence for the Messiah.
Wives and Husbands
22 Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as you are to Yehovah. 23 Because the husband is the head of the wife, just as the Messiah is the head of the assembly, [1] He Himself being the Life Giver of His body. 24 And as the assembly is subject to the Messiah, so wives must be submissive to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as the Messiah loved His assembly and delivered Himself to death for it, 26 so that He could dedicate it, and cleanse it by washing it in water, and by the written Word. 27 Then He could present it to Himself as a radiant assembly, not stained or wrinkled, or anything like that—pure and unblemished. 28 Similarly, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. 29 No one ever hated their own body. Instead, they nourish and cherish it, as the Messiah does for the assembly. 30 We are parts of His body—His very flesh and bones. [2] 31 That is why a man should leave his father and mother and be “glued” to his wife, and the two will become one body. 32 This is still a great secret. I’m talking about the Messiah and His assembly. 33 Every husband must love his wife as he loves himself, and wives should respect their husbands.
[1] If we learn to be submissive to Yeshua in this life, then we will teach His ways in the Kingdom and people will be submissive to us, as Isaiah 30:20 says: “Yehovah may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction. But your teachers [yes, it’s plural] won’t be hidden any longer. You’ll see your teachers with your own eyes.”
[2] Bullinger understood all of this. It’s far better to be a part of the bridegroom!
Children and Parents
4 Parents [1], don’t cause your children to be angry, but bring them up in the discipline and doctrine of Yehovah.
5 Servants, obey your human masters with fear and trembling and with sincere sentiments, as when you obey the Messiah, 6 not just while you’re being watched, as if you were only pleasing men, but be like servants of the Messiah who are doing Yehovah’s will. 7 Serve them with enthusiasm, peacefully, as if you were serving Yehovah, and not merely people. 8 You know that for every good deed you do, Yehovah will compensate you, whether you are servants or freeborn.
9 Masters, treat your servants the same way. Pardon their faults [2], because you know that you have a Master in Heaven, and He doesn’t show favoritism.
10 Finally, Friends, increase your strength in Yehovah, relying on the great power of His ability: 11 Put on the full armor of Yehovah, so that you’ll be able to withstand the stratagems of the Accuser. 12 Our conflict isn’t against flesh and blood, but against sovereigns and powers, with the master of this dark world and with the evil spirits who are under the Heavenly realm. 13 So put on the full armor of Yehovah so that you’ll be fully prepared to meet the Wicked one and remain unharmed. 14 Take a stand! Fasten the truth around you like a belt and put on the breastplate of righteousness 15 and shield your feet with the Good News of peace. 16 In addition, take the shield of faith so that you’ll be able to quench all of the fiery darts of the evil one. 17 Also take eternal Life as your helmet, and take the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of Aloha [the Tanak]. 18 Pray with unceasing prayer and requests in the spirit, and in your prayers be continually alert and pray for all the 'special ones', 19 and ask on my behalf that the right words will be given to me when I ‘speak’, so that I can boldly reveal the mystery of the Good News 20 that I’m an ambassador of in chains, and declare it as boldly as it should be.
21 So that you’ll know what is happening to me, and how I’m doing, Tychicus, a dear Friend and a faithful servant of Yehovah will tell you everything. 22 This is why I sent him to you, so that you would know what is going on with me and so that he would encourage you.
23 Peace be with you Friends, and love with faith, from Yehovah the Father, and from our Master Yeshua Messiah. 24 May compassion be with everyone who sincerely loves our Master Yeshua Messiah. Aw-main.
[1] The Greek says “fathers”. [2] The Greek says, “Don’t threaten them”.
End of the letter to the Ephesians, that was written in Rome, and sent by Tychicus.
PHILIPPIANS is next.
Compare the Testimony of Yeshua Version of this book with the 1851 Murdock or the 1849 Etheridge Versions of “The Testimony of Yeshua” (New Testament).
