Ephesians 1
1 I, Paul, am an apostle whom God appointed (to represent/to proclaim the message about) Christ Jesus because that is what God wanted. [I am writing this letter] to you who are the people of God in Ephesus [city. You are people who] (faithfully/continue to) trust in Christ Jesus and who have a close relationship with him.
Paulus, Apostel Jesu Christi durch den Willen Gottes, den Heiligen und Gläubigen in Christus Jesus in Ephesus.
2 [I pray that] God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord will continue to act kindly toward you and cause you to have [inner] peace.
Gnade werde euch zuteil und Friede von Gott, unserem Vater, und von dem Herrn Jesus Christus!
3 Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Because of our relationship with Christ, he has blessed us spiritually in every way by giving us blessings that come from heaven.
Gepriesen sei der Gott und Vater unseres Herrn Jesus Christus! Er, der uns im Himmel gesegnet hat in Christus mit aller Art von Geistessegen,
4 Before God created the world, he chose us to be his people because of our (relationship with/union with) Christ, in order that [God could consider] us to be completely holy [DOU]. Because [God] loves [us],
So wie er uns in ihm vor Grundlegung der Welt erwählt hat, auf daß wir heilig seien vor ihm und tadellos.
5 he decided long ago that he would adopt us to be [as though we were] his own children because of what Jesus Christ [has done]. He decided to do that because it pleased him to do that.
Er, der uns in Liebe zu seinen Kindern vorherbestimmte durch Jesus Christus, weil so sein Wohlgefallen es gewollt hat,
6 He did it in order that we would praise him for acting very kindly toward us in a wonderful way that we did not deserve. He did it because of our relationship with his beloved Son {[one, who is also God, whom he] loves}.
damit wir jubeln ob der Herrlichkeit seiner Gnade, die er in seinem Liebling gnädig uns verliehen hat.
7 When the blood of Christ [flowed when he died] [MTY], [it was as though] he paid a price to free/save us [from the guilt of our sins]. [That] ([provided a way/made it possible]) [for] God to act very kindly toward us to forgive us for having sinned.
In ihm besitzen wir Erlösung durch sein Blut, Vergebung unserer Sünden dank seiner überreichen Gnade,
8 He acted very kindly toward us and enabled us to become wise about many [HYP] things and to understand his truth.
die er reichlich auf uns überströmen ließ samt aller Weisheit und Erkenntnis.
9 He has enabled us to know the things that he had planned secretly (OR, that he had not revealed to anyone yet). He did that because he wanted to do that, and because he planned to do that by means of the things Christ would do.
Er tat uns kund, was er geheimnisvoll gewollt, wie er es sich in seiner Liebe in ihm vorgenommen hat:
10 God planned that at the time that [he appointed], he would unite all things/beings in heaven and all things/beings on earth (OR, all beings in heaven and all things on earth), and cause Christ to be the one who will rule them [MET].
Er wollte es in der Zeiten Fülle erreichen, daß alles wieder unter einem Haupte, unter Christus, stünde, was im Himmel und auf Erden ist.
11 Because of our close relationship with Christ, God has also chosen us [(inc)] (OR, us [(exc)] Jews) to receive what he has promised [to give] us. He decided long ago to do that. It was exactly what he planned. He accomplishes everything exactly as he plans and desires,
In ihm sind wir als Erben gleichfalls reich bedacht, die wir vorausbestimmt gewesen nach dem Plane dessen, der alles nach dem Ratschluß seines Willens wirkt.
12 in order that we(exc) Jews, who confidently expected the Messiah to do great things for us before the non-Jews expected such things (OR, we [(inc)] who were already confidently expecting Christ [to do great things for us]) will praise him for his greatness.
So sollten wir zum Lobe seiner Herrlichkeit gereichen, nachdem wir längst zuvor auf Christus unsere Hoffnung aufgebaut.
13 You [Ephesians] also heard the true message, the good message about how God saves you. [People] put their seal on something to show that [it belongs to them]. Similarly, when you believed [in Christ], God [showed that you also belong to him by sending you] the Holy Spirit as he promised to do [MET].
Als ihr das Wort der Wahrheit, die frohe Botschaft eures Heils, vernommen und als ihr dann geglaubt habt, seid auch ihr in ihm mit dem verheißenen Heiligen Geiste besiegelt worden.
14 The Holy Spirit is [like] [MET] a (deposit/down payment). That is, he (guarantees/assures us) that [we will receive] all that God has promised to give us, at the time when God will give to those who belong to him [MET] everything that [Christ] freed us to receive. [God also assures you that you belong to him], in order that you would praise him for his greatness.
Ist er doch unseres Erbes Unterpfand, das uns den Loskauf seines Eigentums verbürgt zum Lobe seiner Herrlichkeit.
15 Because of [what God has done for you], and because [people] told me that you continue to trust in the Lord Jesus and that you love all those who belong to God,
Seitdem ich von eurem Glauben an den Herrn Jesus hörte sowie von eurer Liebe zu allen Heiligen,
16 I thank God for you constantly [LIT, HYP]. I (mention/pray for) you constantly, whenever I pray.
sage ich um euretwillen unablässig Dank, bei meinem Beten euer eingedenk.
17 [I pray] that God, who is the glorious/wonderful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, may cause his Spirit to make you wise, and that his Spirit will reveal [God to you] so that you may fully know him.
Möge der Gott unseres Herrn Jesus Christus, der Vater der Verherrlichung, den Geist der Weisheit und der Offenbarung euch verleihen, damit ihr ihn erkennet.
18 And I pray that God would enable you to understand [MTY] his truth, in order that in your (inner beings/hearts) you may know the things that we believers should confidently expect to receive because he chose us [to be his people]. And I pray that you will know how God will bless his people in a very wonderful way [when we finally receive] all that he has promised to give us.
Möge er die Augen eures Herzens hell erleuchten, damit ihr so begreift, zu welcher Hoffnung ihr berufen seid, wie herrlich reich sein Erbe bei den Heiligen,
19 And [I pray that] you will know how very powerfully [God helps] us who continue to trust [in Christ]. He works powerfully for us
wie überwältigend groß seine Macht an uns ist, die wir gläubig wurden auf Grund der großen Wirkung seiner Kraft,
20 just like he acted powerfully for Christ when he caused Christ to become alive again after he died, and put him in the place of highest/greatest honor [MTY] in heaven.
die er erwiesen hat an Christus, als er ihn von den Toten auferweckte und ihn in Himmelshöhen zu seiner Rechten sitzen hieß,
21 [There], Christ is the supreme ruler over every powerful spirit of every level of authority. His rank is much higher than any powerful spirit can receive, not only now, but forever. (aiōn g165)
hoch über alle Macht und Kraft und über Herrschaft und Gewalt, ja, über jedes Wesen, das es in dieser Welt und in der Welt der Zukunft gibt. (aiōn g165)
22 God has caused all beings to be subject to Christ [MTY], and he has also appointed Christ, who rules over all things, to rule [MET] over all believers.
Er legte ihm das ganze All zu Füßen, ihn aber machte er zum Haupte der Kirche, das alles überragen sollte,
23 We believers [relate to Christ like the parts of a person’s] body [MET] [relate to its head]. Christ uses all [his power among us] just like he uses his power throughout the whole universe.
der Kirche, die sein Leib ist, die ganze Fülle dessen, der das All allüberall erfüllt.
