Ephesians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, 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 to you and peace from God our Father and 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 every spiritual blessing in the 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 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and unblemished before him in love.
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 He foreordained us for adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, 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, by which he bestowed favor upon us 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 him we have redemption through his blood, the remission of our trespasses, according to the riches of God's grace,
for in him, and through the shedding of his blood, we have found redemption in the pardon of our offences.
8 which he lavished upon us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
All this accords with the loving kindness which God lavished on us, accompanied by countless gifts of wisdom and discernment,
9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ
when he made known to us his hidden purpose. And it also accords with the goodwill which God purposed to exhibit in Christ,
10 as a plan for the fullness of times, to bring everything together in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth.
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, centre in him.
11 In Christ we have obtained an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to 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 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.
that we should enhance his glory – we who have been the first to rest our hopes on the Christ.
13 And when you heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Christ, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
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 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of God's own possession, to 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 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for 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 I have not ceased giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.
have never omitted to thank God on your behalf, whenever I make mention of you in my prayers.
17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know 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 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
that your minds may be so enlightened that you may realise the hope given by God’s call, the wealth of the glory of his heritage among Christ’s people,
19 and what is the surpassing greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
and the transcendent greatness of the power which he is able to exercise in dealing with us who believe in him.
20 He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his 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 every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age 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 God put all things in subjection under Christ's feet and appointed him as head over all things for 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 who fills everything in every way.
for the church is Christ’s body, and is filled by him who fills all things everywhere with his presence.
