Epheser 1
1 Paulus, durch Gottes Willen ein Apostel Christ Jesu, begrüßt die Heiligen (in Asien?), die auch an Christus Jesus gläubig sind.
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.
2 Gnade sei mit euch und Friede von Gott, unserem Vater, und dem Herrn Jesus Christus!
[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.
3 Gepriesen sei der Gott und Vater unseres Herrn Jesus Christus! Er hat vom Himmel aus in Christus uns gesegnet mit einer Gnadenfülle durch den Geist.
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.
4 Bereits vor Grundlegung der Welt hat er uns auserwählt in Christus, damit wir vor ihm wären heilig und unsträflich.
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],
5 In seiner Liebe hat er uns vorausbestimmt zu seinen Kindern durch Jesus Christus, nach dem Wohlgefallen seines Willens.
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.
6 So wird verherrlicht seine wunderbare Gnade, die er uns hat geschenkt in dem Geliebten.
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}.
7 Weil wir mit ihm vereint sind, haben wir Befreiung aus der Schuldhaft durch sein Blut: Vergebung unserer Sünden. So reich ist seine Gnade!
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.
8 Die hat er uns in Fülle mitgeteilt, indem er uns geziert mit mannigfacher Weisheit und Erkenntnis.
He acted very kindly toward us and enabled us to become wise about many [HYP] things and to understand his truth.
9 Denn das Geheimnis seines Willens ist uns kundgeworden.
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.
10 Das ist geschehen nach jenem Rat, den er gefaßt und in der Zeiten Fülle nach bestimmter Ordnung ausgeführt. Und wohin zielte dieser Ratschluß? Es sollte alles, was im Himmel und auf Erden ist, in Christus unter einem Haupt vereinigt werden.
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].
11 In ihm sind wir auch Erben. Dazu sind wir vorherbestimmt nach einem Vorsatz dessen, der alles nach dem Rat seines Willens wirkt:
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,
12 Wir Juden, die schon lang zuvor gehofft auf den Messias, wir sollten Gottes Herrlichkeit zum Ruhm gereichen.
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.
13 Doch auch ihr Heiden habt gehört das Wort der Wahrheit, die Frohe Botschaft, die euch Rettung bringt, und ihr habt sie im Glauben aufgenommen. So steht ihr nun mit Christus in Gemeinschaft und seid mit dem verheißenen Heiligen Geist versiegelt worden.
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].
14 Der ist das Angeld unseres Erbes, und er verbürgt uns die Befreiung, die Gottes Volk erlangen soll, damit man rühme Gottes Herrlichkeit.
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.
15 Nachdem ich nun gehört von euerm Glauben an den Herrn Jesus und von der Liebe, die ihr habt zu allen Heiligen
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,
16 so werde ich nicht müde, Gott für euch zu danken und euer zu gedenken, wenn ich bete.
I thank God for you constantly [LIT, HYP]. I (mention/pray for) you constantly, whenever I pray.
17 Ich flehe zu dem Gott unseres Herrn Jesus Christus, dem Vater, der die Herrlichkeit verleiht, er möge euch den Geist der Weisheit schenken und der Offenbarung, damit ihr ihn erkennt.
[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.
18 Denn sind die Augen euers Herzens recht erleuchtet, dann könnt ihr auch verstehen, zu welcher Hoffnung ihr berufen seid, wie groß der Reichtum jenes herrlichen Erbes ist, das er den Heiligen verheißen hat,
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.
19 und wie gewaltig seine Macht sich zeigt an uns, den Gläubigen. Hier wirkt dieselbe starke Kraft
And [I pray that] you will know how very powerfully [God helps] us who continue to trust [in Christ]. He works powerfully for us
20 die er bewiesen hat an Christus, als er ihn auferweckte von den Toten und ihn zu seiner Rechten setzte in der Himmelswelt.
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.
21 Dort thront er nun, erhaben über alle Mächte und Gewalten, er haben über jede Kraft und Herrschaft, ja über alles, was es Hohes gibt in der Weltzeit und in der zukünftigen. (aiōn g165)
[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)
22 Alles hat Gott ihm unterworfen. Ihn aber, aller Dinge Haupt, hat er gesetzt zum Haupt der Kirche:
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.
23 Sie ist sein Leib, und sie ergänzt ihn, der fort und fort in allen wird ergänzt.
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.
