Greeting

Paul,(A) an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will:(B)

To the faithful saints(C) in Christ Jesus at Ephesus.[a](D)

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

God’s Rich Blessings

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.(E) For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight.[b](F) In love[c] He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace(G) that He favored us with in the Beloved.(H)

We have redemption in Him(I) through His blood, the forgiveness(J) of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of His will,(K) according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him(L) 10 for the administration[d] of the days of fulfillment[e]—to bring everything together in the Messiah,(M) both things in heaven and things on earth(N) in Him.(O)

11 We have also received an inheritance[f] in Him, predestined(P) according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope(Q) in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.(R)

13 When you heard the message of truth,(S) the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.(T) 14 He is the down payment(U) of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession,[g] to the praise of His glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Insight

15 This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,[h] would give you a spirit[i](V) of wisdom and revelation(W) in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the perception of your mind[j] may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope(X) of His calling,(Y) what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power(Z) to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.

God’s Power in Christ

20 He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand(AA) in the heavens(AB) 21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given,[k](AC) not only in this age but also in the one to come.(AD) 22 And He put everything under His feet(AE)[l] and appointed Him as head(AF) over everything for the church, 23 which is His body,(AG) the fullness(AH) of the One who fills all things(AI) in every way.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:1 Other mss omit at Ephesus
  2. Ephesians 1:4 Vv. 3-14 are 1 sentence in Gk.
  3. Ephesians 1:4 Or In His sight in love
  4. Ephesians 1:10 Or dispensation; lit house law (Gk oikonomia)
  5. Ephesians 1:10 Lit the fulfillment of times
  6. Ephesians 1:11 Or we also were chosen as an inheritance, or we were also made an inheritance
  7. Ephesians 1:14 The possession could be either man’s or God’s
  8. Ephesians 1:17 Or the Father of glory
  9. Ephesians 1:17 Or you the Spirit
  10. Ephesians 1:18 Lit the eyes of your heart
  11. Ephesians 1:21 Lit every name named
  12. Ephesians 1:22 Ps 8:6

Paul, an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B)

To God’s holy people(C) in Ephesus,[a](D) the faithful(E) in Christ Jesus:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(F)

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,(G) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms(H) with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us(I) in him before the creation of the world(J) to be holy and blameless(K) in his sight. In love(L) he[b] predestined(M) us for adoption to sonship[c](N) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure(O) and will— to the praise of his glorious grace,(P) which he has freely given us in the One he loves.(Q) In him we have redemption(R) through his blood,(S) the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches(T) of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he[d] made known to us the mystery(U) of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed(V) in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment(W)—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.(X)

11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined(Y) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose(Z) of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.(AA) 13 And you also were included in Christ(AB) when you heard the message of truth,(AC) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,(AD) the promised Holy Spirit,(AE) 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance(AF) until the redemption(AG) of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.(AH)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus(AI) and your love for all God’s people,(AJ) 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you,(AK) remembering you in my prayers.(AL) 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,(AM) may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom(AN) and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened(AO) in order that you may know the hope to which he has called(AP) you, the riches(AQ) of his glorious inheritance(AR) in his holy people,(AS) 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power(AT) is the same as the mighty strength(AU) 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead(AV) and seated him at his right hand(AW) in the heavenly realms,(AX) 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,(AY) and every name(AZ) that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.(BA) 22 And God placed all things under his feet(BB) and appointed him to be head(BC) over everything for the church, 23 which is his body,(BD) the fullness of him(BE) who fills everything in every way.(BF)

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:1 Some early manuscripts do not have in Ephesus.
  2. Ephesians 1:5 Or sight in love. He
  3. Ephesians 1:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
  4. Ephesians 1:9 Or us with all wisdom and understanding. And he
  5. Ephesians 1:11 Or were made heirs
  6. Ephesians 1:17 Or a spirit