Ephesians 1
1 This letter comes from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to God's will, to the Christians in Ephesus and those who trust 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 and peace to you 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 Praise God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with all that's spiritually good in the heavenly world,
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 to be in him before the beginning of this world, so that in love we could be holy and without fault before him.
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 decided in advance to adopt us as his children, working through Jesus Christ to bring us to himself. He was happy to do this because this is what he wanted.
From the first he destined us, in his goodwill towards us, to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ,
6 So we praise him for his glorious grace that he so kindly gave us in his beloved Son.
and so to enhance that glorious manifestation of his loving kindness which he gave us in the one he loves;
7 Through him we gain salvation through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins as a result of his priceless grace
for in him, and through the shedding of his blood, we have found redemption in the pardon of our offenses.
8 that he so generously provided for us, together 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 revealed to us his previously-hidden will through which he was happy to pursue his plan
when he made known to us his hidden purpose. And it also accords with the goodwill which God purposed to exhibit in Christ,
10 at the appropriate time to bring everyone together in Christ—those in heaven and those on the 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, center in him.
11 In him—we were chosen beforehand, according to the plan of the one who is working everything out according to his 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 for the purpose that we who were the first to hope in Christ could praise his glory.
that we should enhance his glory – we who have been the first to rest our hopes on the Christ.
13 In him—you too have heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation. In him—because you trusted in him you were stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit's 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 a down-payment on our inheritance when God redeems what he's kept safe for himself—us, who will praise and give him 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 That's the reason, because I've heard of your trust in the Lord Jesus and the love that you have for all Christians,
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 why I never stop thanking God for you and 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 glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom to see and know him as he really is.
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 May your minds be enlightened so you can understand the hope he's called you to— the glorious riches he promises as an inheritance to his holy people.
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 May you also understand God's amazing power
and the transcendent greatness of the power which he is able to exercise in dealing with us who believe in him.
20 that he demonstrated in raising Christ from the dead. God seated Christ at his right hand in heaven,
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 any other ruler, authority, power, or lord, or any leader with all their titles—not only in this world, but also in the coming world too. (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 has made everything subject to the authority of Christ, and has given him the responsibility as head over everything 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, filled full and made complete by Christ, who fills and brings everything to completion.
for the church is Christ’s body, and is filled by him who fills all things everywhere with his presence.
