New Testament
The Letter to the Ephesians
The Letter to the Ephesians is the tenth of the 27 books of the New Testament: 6 chapters and 155 verses.
About Ephesians
About Ephesians · Circular letter
Ephesians reads less like a response to problems than a meditation to be read aloud in many churches: God's eternal plan to unite all things in Christ, the Church as his body and bride, Jew and Gentile made one new man by the cross. It comes down under Paul's name from prison; its authorship is debated among scholars, some seeing a disciple writing in his master's voice. It was written to give ordinary believers the largest possible view of what they had been baptized into, and then to spell out that calling in household life and spiritual combat.
| Testament | New Testament — book 10 of 27, 56 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 6 |
| Verses | 155, as Bless numbers them |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 6 chapters · 8 notes |
| Catechism | 109 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 6 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
Ephesians 1
23 versesThe great blessings we have received through Christ. He is the head of all the church.
Ephesians 2
22 versesAll our good comes through Christ. He is our peace.
Ephesians 3
21 versesThe mystery hidden from former ages was discovered to the apostle, to be imparted to the Gentiles. He prays that they may be strengthened in God.
Ephesians 4
32 versesHe exhorts them to unity, to put on the new man, and to fly sin.
Ephesians 5
33 versesExhortations to a virtuous life. The mutual duties of man and wife, by the example of Christ and of the Church.
Ephesians 6
24 versesDuties of children and servants. The Christian's armour.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
In the comments
What the saints said.
10 quotations from 10 saints linked to passages of Ephesians in Bless. Each names the work it comes from.
St. Ignatius of Antioch · on Ephesians 1:22
On this theme
Wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.
Letter to the Smyrnaeans, 8, c. 107
St. Bernadette Soubirous · on Ephesians 3:17
On this theme
O Jesus, keep me under the standard of Your cross. Let me not just look at You crucified but have You living in my heart.
Words to a fellow sister, c. 1870
St. Francis de Sales · on Ephesians 3:18
Attributed
The measure of love is to love without measure.
Popular saying, source unconfirmed
St. Joan of Arc · on Ephesians 5:23
On this theme
About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they are just one thing, and we should not complicate the matter.
Trial testimony, 1431, 1431
St. Cyprian · on Ephesians 5:25
On this theme
He cannot have God for his Father who has not the Church for his mother.
On the Unity of the Church, 6, 251
4 more, on the chapter pages
- Ephesians 5:26St. John Vianney
- Ephesians 6:4St. John Bosco
- Ephesians 6:14St. Polycarp
- Ephesians 6:17St. Dominic
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, Ephesians is read at the principal Mass on 17 days in the US calendar. The next 8 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Ephesians 6:10-20 | |
| Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Second Reading | Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 | |
| The Epiphany of the Lord | Second Reading | Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 | |
| Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | Ephesians 1:17-18 | |
| Fourth Sunday of Lent | Second Reading | Ephesians 2:4-10 | |
| Seventh Sunday of Easter — Ascension | Second Reading | Ephesians 1:17-23 | |
| computed | St. Justin, Martyr | Alleluia | See Ephesians 1:17-18 |
| computed | Most Sacred Heart of Jesus | Second Reading | Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19 |
| computed | St. Thomas, Apostle | First Reading | Ephesians 2:19-22 |
| computed | Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | Second Reading | Ephesians 1:3-14 or 1:3-10 |
| computed | Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | Cf. Ephesians 1:17-18 |
| computed | Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | Second Reading | Ephesians 2:13-18 |
| computed | Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | Second Reading | Ephesians 4:1-6 |
| computed | Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | Second Reading | Ephesians 4:17, 20-24 |
| computed | Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | Second Reading | Ephesians 4:30—5:2 |
| computed | Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time | Second Reading | Ephesians 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32 |
| computed | St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist | First Reading | Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 |
| computed | Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles | First Reading | Ephesians 2:19-22 |
| computed | Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Second Reading | Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 |
| computed | The Epiphany of the Lord | Second Reading | Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 |
| computed | Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | See Ephesians 1:17-18 |
| computed | Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | Ephesians 1:17-18 |
| computed | Seventh Sunday of Easter — Ascension | Second Reading | Ephesians 1:17-23 |
| computed | Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | Ephesians 1:17-18 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.