Ephesians 1
1 This letter comes from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to God's will, to the Christians in Ephesus and those who trust in Christ Jesus.
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God: To God's people who are in Ephesus--believers in Christ Jesus.
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
May grace and peace be granted to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Praise God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with all that's spiritually good in the heavenly world,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has crowned us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ;
4 just as he chose us to be in him before the beginning of this world, so that in love we could be holy and without fault before him.
even as, in His love, He chose us as His own in Christ before the creation of the world, that we might be holy and without blemish in His presence.
5 He decided in advance to adopt us as his children, working through Jesus Christ to bring us to himself. He was happy to do this because this is what he wanted.
For He pre-destined us to be adopted by Himself as sons through Jesus Christ--such being His gracious will and pleasure--
6 So we praise him for his glorious grace that he so kindly gave us in his beloved Son.
to the praise of the splendour of His grace with which He has enriched us in the beloved One.
7 Through him we gain salvation through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins as a result of his priceless grace
It is in Him, and through the shedding of His blood, that we have our deliverance--the forgiveness of our offences--so abundant was God's grace,
8 that he so generously provided for us, together with all wisdom and understanding.
the grace which He, the possessor of all wisdom and understanding, lavished upon us,
9 He revealed to us his previously-hidden will through which he was happy to pursue his plan
when He made known to us the secret of His will. And this is in harmony with God's merciful purpose
10 at the appropriate time to bring everyone together in Christ—those in heaven and those on the earth.
for the government of the world when the times are ripe for it--the purpose which He has cherished in His own mind of restoring the whole creation to find its one Head in Christ; yes, things in Heaven and things on earth, to find their one Head in Him.
11 In him—we were chosen beforehand, according to the plan of the one who is working everything out according to his will,
In Him we Jews have been made heirs, having been chosen beforehand in accordance with the intention of Him whose might carries out in everything the design of His own will,
12 for the purpose that we who were the first to hope in Christ could praise his glory.
so that we should be devoted to the extolling of His glorious attributes--we who were the first to fix our hopes on Christ.
13 In him—you too have heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation. In him—because you trusted in him you were stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit's promise,
And in Him you Gentiles also, after listening to the Message of the truth, the Good News of your salvation--having believed in Him--were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit;
14 which is a down-payment on our inheritance when God redeems what he's kept safe for himself—us, who will praise and give him glory!
that Spirit being a pledge and foretaste of our inheritance, in anticipation of its full redemption--the inheritance which He has purchased to be specially His for the extolling of His glory.
15 That's the reason, because I've heard of your trust in the Lord Jesus and the love that you have for all Christians,
For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which prevails among you, and of your love for all God's people,
16 why I never stop thanking God for you and remember you in my prayers.
offer never ceasing thanks on your behalf while I make mention of you in my prayers.
17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom to see and know him as he really is.
For I always beseech the God of our Lord Jesus Christ--the Father most glorious--to give you a spirit of wisdom and penetration through an intimate knowledge of Him,
18 May your minds be enlightened so you can understand the hope he's called you to— the glorious riches he promises as an inheritance to his holy people.
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened so that you may know what is the hope which His call to you inspires, what the wealth of the glory of His inheritance in God's people,
19 May you also understand God's amazing power
and what the transcendent greatness of His power in us believers as seen in the working of His infinite might
20 that he demonstrated in raising Christ from the dead. God seated Christ at his right hand in heaven,
when He displayed it in Christ by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His own right hand in the heavenly realms,
21 far above any other ruler, authority, power, or lord, or any leader with all their titles—not only in this world, but also in the coming world too. (aiōn g165)
high above all other government and authority and power and dominion, and every title of sovereignty used either in this Age or in the Age to come. (aiōn g165)
22 God has made everything subject to the authority of Christ, and has given him the responsibility as head over everything for the church,
God has put all things under His feet, and has appointed Him universal and supreme Head of the Church, which is His Body,
23 which is his body, filled full and made complete by Christ, who fills and brings everything to completion.
the completeness of Him who everywhere fills the universe with Himself.
