Epheser 1
1 Paulus, Apostel Christus Jesus' durch Gottes Willen an die Heiligen (in Ephesus), welche sind gläubig an Christus Jesus.
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 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 ist Gott der Vater unseres Herrn Jesus Christus, der uns gesegnet hat mit jedem geistlichen Segen in der Himmelswelt in Christus, dem gemäß,
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 daß er uns erwählt hat in ihm vor Grundlegung der Welt, heilig und unsträflich zu sein vor ihm in Liebe,
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 indem er uns voraus bestimmte zur Sohnschaft, durch Jesus Christus bei ihm, nach dem Gutdünken 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 zum Lobe der Herrlichkeit seiner Gnade, mit welcher er uns begnadigt hat 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 in welchem wir haben die Erlösung durch sein Blut, die Vergebung der Fehltritte nach dem Reichtum seiner 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 er ausgoß über uns mit aller Weisheit und Einsicht,
He acted very kindly toward us and enabled us to become wise about many [HYP] things and to understand his truth.
9 indem er uns kund machte das Geheimnis seines Willens, gemäß seinem Wohlgefallen wie er es sich vorsetzte
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 für die Anordnung der Fülle der Zeit, unter ein Haupt zu fassen das All im Christus, was im Himmel sowohl als was auf Erden ist, in ihm,
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 welchem wir auch unser Los erhalten haben als Vorausbestimmte nach dem Vorsatz dessen, der alles wirkt gemäß der Neigung seines Willens,
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 daß wir seien zum Lobe seiner Herrlichkeit, die wir zuvorgehofft haben im Christus,
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 in welchem auch ihr, da ihr das Wort der Wahrheit hörtet, das Evangelium von eurem Heile - in welchem ihr auch gläubig wurdet, und so versiegelt wurdet mit dem heiligen Geiste der Verheißung,
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 da ist das Angeld unseres Erbes, für Erlösung des Eigentums, zum Lobe seiner 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 Darum auch ich, nachdem ich gehört von dem Glauben, der bei euch ist, an den Herrn Jesus und der Liebe gegen alle Heilige,
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 lasse ich nicht nach in Danksagung für euch, durch Erwähnung in meinem Gebet,
I thank God for you constantly [LIT, HYP]. I (mention/pray for) you constantly, whenever I pray.
17 auf daß der Gott unseres Herrn Jesus Christus, der Vater der Herrlichkeit, euch gebe einen Geist der Weisheit und Offenbarung durch seine Erkenntnis,
[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 erleuchtet die Augen eures Herzens, daß ihr wisset, welches ist die Hoffnung seiner Berufung, welches der Reichtum der Herrlichkeit seines Erbes bei den Heiligen,
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 welches die überwältigende Größe seiner Macht für uns, die wir glauben nach der Wirkung der Gewalt seiner Stärke,
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 gewirkt hat an Christus, da er ihn von den Toten auferweckte, und ihn setzte zu seiner Rechten 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 hoch über alle Herrschaft und Macht und Gewalt und Hoheit und alle Namen, die genannt werden, nicht nur in dieser sondern auch in der zukünftigen Welt, (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 und hat ihm alles unter die Füße gethan, und ihn zum Haupte gegeben über alles der Gemeinde,
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 die da ist sein Leib, die Fülle dessen, der alles in allen erfüllt.
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.
