Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Ezra+004     CHAPTER 4 (ESV)   1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the Lord, the God of Israel, 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, “Let us build with you,…

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Ezra+003     CHAPTER 3 (ESV) 8 Now in the second year after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their kinsmen, the priests and the…

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Ezra+002   CHAPTER 2 (ESV)   1 Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. 2 They came with…

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Ezra+001   EZRA In the fifth century BC, many Judeans were returning from exile to the southern part of the land of Israel. They faced great difficulties: their capital city and temple had been destroyed, foreigners had moved in, and they were no longer ruled by their own king. But the…

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Ephesians+006   EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6  (ESV) 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the…

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Ephesians+005   EPHESIANS CHAPTER 5  (ESV) 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as…

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Ephesians+004   EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4  (ESV) 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but…

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Ephesians+003   EPHESIANS CHAPTER 3  (ESV) 14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ…

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Ephesians+002   EPHESIANS CHAPTER 2  (ESV) 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all…

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Ephesians+001   EPHESIANS INTRODUCTION Traditionally named Ephesians, this letter may not actually have been written to the believers in Ephesus. Some of the best early copies of the letter don’t include the phrase in Ephesus in the greeting. While Paul spent two years in Ephesus, this letter appears to address people…