| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 1 Salutation (1:1-14) grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1:2) | Salutation | 13 Benediction (6:23-24) Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in immortality. (6:24) |
| 2 Paul's prayer (1:15-23) 1:16 do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, (1:16) | Prayer | 12 Pray (6:18-22) 6:18 With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones (6:18) |
| 3 From death to life (2:1-10) 2:2 in which you once lived following the age of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the disobedient.(2:2) | Evil power | 11 The whole armor of God (6:10-17) 6:12 For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. (6:12) |
| 4 One in Christ (2:11-22) For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, (2:14) | Two are united to one | 10 Exhortation (5:21-6:9) "For this reason a man shall leave (his) father and (his) mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."(5:31) |
| 5 Paul's ministry to the Gentiles (3:1-13) 3:3 (namely, that) the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier.(3:3) | Revelation | 9 Renounce pagan ways (5:8-20) 5:13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, (5:13) |
| 6 Prayer for the readers (3:14-21) 3:17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, (3:17) | Love | 8 Rules for the new life (4:17-5:8) 5:2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. (5:2) |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 1 Salutation (1:1-14) 1:10 as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth. (1:10) | To become one in Christ | 7 Unity in the body of Christ (4:1-16) 4:15 Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ, (4:15) |
| 2 Paul's prayer (1:15-23) 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. (1:17) | Glory of the LORD | 6 Prayer for the readers (3:14-21) 3:21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.(3:21) |
| 3 From death to life (2:1-10) 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; (2:8) | Gifts of the grace of God | 5 Paul's ministry to the Gentiles (3:1-13) 3:7 Of this I became a minister by the gift of God's grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power. (3:7) |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 7 Unity in the body of Christ (4:1-16) 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, 4:3 striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: (4:2-3) | Love and peace | 13 Benediction (6:23-24) 6:23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (6:23) |
| 8 Rules for the new life (4:17-5:8) 5:2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. (5:2) | Love each other | 12 Pray (6:18-22) 6:21 So that you also may have news of me and of what I am doing, Tychicus, my beloved brother and trustworthy minister in the Lord, will tell you everything.(6:21) |
| 9 Renounce pagan ways (5:8-20) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, (5:8) | Fight with darkness | 11 The whole armor of God (6:10-17) For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. (6:12) |