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Ephesians, 1

1. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the holy ones who are (in Ephesus) faithful in Christ Jesus:

1. Paul, by the will of God an apostle of Christ Jesus, to God's holy people, faithful in Christ Jesus.

2. grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,

3. Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ.

4. as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love

4. Thus he chose us in Christ before the world was made to be holy and faultless before him in love,

5. he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will,

5. marking us out for himself beforehand, to be adopted sons, through Jesus Christ. Such was his purpose and good pleasure,

6. for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved.

6. to the praise of the glory of his grace, his free gift to us in the Beloved,

7. In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace

7. in whom, through his blood, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins. Such is the richness of the grace

8. that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight,

8. which he has showered on us in all wisdom and insight.

9. he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him

9. He has let us know the mystery of his purpose, according to his good pleasure which he determined beforehand in Christ,

10. as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

10. for him to act upon when the times had run their course: that he would bring everything together under Christ, as head, everything in the heavens and everything on earth.

11. In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,

11. And it is in him that we have received our heritage, marked out beforehand as we were, under the plan of the One who guides all things as he decides by his own will,

12. so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.

12. chosen to be, for the praise of his glory, the people who would put their hopes in Christ before he came.

13. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit,

13. Now you too, in him, have heard the message of the truth and the gospel of your salvation, and having put your trust in it you have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit of the Promise,

14. which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory.

14. who is the pledge of our inheritance, for the freedom of the people whom God has taken for his own, for the praise of his glory.

15. Therefore, I, too, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones,

15. That is why I, having once heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus, and your love for all God's holy people,

16. do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

16. have never failed to thank God for you and to remember you in my prayers.

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.

17. May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him.

18. May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones,

18. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, how rich is the glory of the heritage he offers among his holy people,

19. and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might,

19. and how extraordinarily great is the power that he has exercised for us believers; this accords with the strength of his power

20. which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,

20. at work in Christ, the power which he exercised in raising him from the dead and enthroning him at his right hand, in heaven,

21. far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.

21. far above every principality, ruling force, power or sovereignty, or any other name that can be named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.

22. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

22. He has put all things under his feet, and made him, as he is above all things, the head of the Church;

23. which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

23. which is his Body, the fullness of him who is filled, all in all.



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Footnotes:

1:3-6 - Paul praises God for the election of Christians in Christ before the foundation of the world, emphasizing divine grace. Salvation is a work of God from eternity, demonstrating His sovereignty and love (see also 2 Timothy 1:9 and 1 Peter 1:2).

1:7-10 - Redemption in Christ is the focus of this passage, emphasizing that the forgiveness of sins is granted by God's grace. The revelation of the mystery of God's will in Christ is a key to understanding the work of redemption (see also Colossians 1:13-14 and Romans 16:25-27).

1:13-14 - Believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of their future inheritance, symbolizing the security and assurance of salvation. The Holy Spirit is given as a seal of authenticity and commitment (see also 2 Corinthians 1:22 and Romans 8:16).

1:15-23 - Paul prays for wisdom and revelation in Christ, so that believers may understand the greatness of God's power in their lives. Christ's resurrection is highlighted as the manifestation of divine power (see also Philippians 3:10 and Colossians 1:18).

Verses related to Ephesians, 1:

Ephesians chapter 1 presents God's eternal plan for humanity. How does Paul describe our identity in Christ? This foundational text expounds the spiritual blessings of believers, including predestination, adoption, and redemption. The apostle emphasizes the sovereignty of God, unity in Christ and the role of the Holy Spirit. The chapter culminates with a powerful prayer for wisdom and revelation. Ephesians 1 sets the tone for the entire epistle, highlighting the greatness of God's love. Dive with us into five biblical passages that expand on the glorious themes of this inaugural chapter.

Colossians 1:12-14: "giving thanks to the Father, who has made us worthy to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he rescued us from the dominion of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, even the forgiveness of sins." - This excerpt echoes the themes of Ephesians 1 about spiritual adoption and redemption in Christ.

Romans 8:29-30: "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined, he also called; those whom he called, he also justified; those whom he justified, he also glorified." - These verses address the topic of predestination, which is discussed in Ephesians 1:4-5, 11.

1 Peter 1:3-4: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he regenerated us to a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that can never perish, be defiled or lose its value." - This passage reflects the themes of praise and spiritual inheritance found in Ephesians 1:3, 11, 14.

John 1:16: "We have all received from his fullness, and grace upon grace." - This verse relates to the idea of fullness in Christ mentioned in Ephesians 1:23.

Philippians 2:9-11: "Therefore God exalted him to the highest position and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - This passage echoes the exaltation of Christ described in Ephesians 1:20-22.

FAQ:

What does it mean to be chosen by God before the foundation of the world?

It means that God, in His love and sovereignty, planned the salvation of believers before creation, calling them to be holy and blameless before Him. (Ephesians 1:4-5)

What is the purpose of God's plan in Christ?

God's plan is to unite all things in Christ, both in heaven and on earth, restoring creation through redemption. (Ephesians 1:9-10)

What does Paul ask for in his prayer for the Ephesians?

Paul prays that God will grant them a spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that they may know the hope of God's calling and the greatness of His power. (Ephesians 1:17-19)

What does it mean that Christ is above all rule and authority?

It means that Jesus has supremacy over all spiritual and earthly powers, being the head of the church and ruling over everything. (Ephesians 1:20-23)

What is the role of the church in God's plan?

The church is the body of Christ, called to manifest His fullness in the world, being part of redemption and divine purpose. (Ephesians 1:22-23)


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