Ephesians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
To Christ’s people at Ephesus who are faithful to him, from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God.
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Blessed is the God and Father of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who has blessed us on high with every spiritual blessing, in Christ.
4 According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (agape)
For he chose us in our union with Christ before the creation of the universe, so that we might be holy and blameless in his sight, living in the spirit of love.
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
From the first he destined us, in his goodwill towards us, to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved.
and so to enhance that glorious manifestation of his loving kindness which he gave us in the one he loves;
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
for in him, and through the shedding of his blood, we have found redemption in the pardon of our offenses.
8 Wherein he has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
All this accords with the loving kindness which God lavished on us, accompanied by countless gifts of wisdom and discernment,
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself:
when he made known to us his hidden purpose. And it also accords with the goodwill which God purposed to exhibit in Christ,
10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
in view of that divine order which was to mark the completion of the ages, when he should make everything, both in heaven and on earth, center in him.
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will:
In him, I say, for by our union with him we became God’s heritage, having from the first been destined for this in the intention of him who, in all that happens, is carrying out his own fixed purpose;
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
that we should enhance his glory – we who have been the first to rest our hopes on the Christ.
13 In whom all of you also trusted, after that all of you heard the word (logos) of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that all of you believed, all of you were sealed with that holy Spirit (pneuma) of promise,
And you, too, by your union with him, after you had heard the message of the truth, the good news of your salvation – you believed in him and were sealed as his by receiving the holy Spirit, which he had promised.
14 Which is the earn of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
And the Spirit is a pledge of our future heritage, foreshadowing the full redemption of God’s own people – to enhance his glory.
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love (agape) unto all the saints,
And therefore I, ever since I heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which prevails among you, and of your confidence in all Christ’s people,
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
have never omitted to thank God on your behalf, whenever I make mention of you in my prayers.
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit (pneuma) of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
My prayer is that the God of Jesus Christ our Lord, the all-glorious Father, may inspire you with wisdom and true insight through a fuller knowledge of himself;
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that all of you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
that your minds may be so enlightened that you may realize the hope given by God’s call, the wealth of the glory of his heritage among Christ’s people,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
and the transcendent greatness of the power which he is able to exercise in dealing with us who believe in him.
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
The same mighty power was exerted on the Christ, when he raised the Christ from the dead and ‘caused him to sit at his right hand’ on high, exalting him above all angels and archangels of every rank,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (aiōn g165)
and above every name that can be named, whether in the present age, or in the age to come. (aiōn g165)
22 And has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
And God placed all things under Christ’s feet, and gave him to the church as its supreme head;
23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.
for the church is Christ’s body, and is filled by him who fills all things everywhere with his presence.
