Ephesians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, through God’s will, unto the saints who are [in Ephesus] and 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 Favour unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and 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 hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing, in the heavenlies, 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 According as he made choice of us, in him, before the founding of a world, that we might be holy and blameless in his presence; 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 marking us out beforehand unto sonship, through Jesus Christ, for himself, 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 Unto the praise of the glory of his favour wherewith he favoured us in the Beloved One, —
and so to enhance that glorious manifestation of his loving kindness which he gave us in the one he loves;
7 In whom we have the redemption through his blood, the remission of our offences, according to the riches of his favour,
for in him, and through the shedding of his blood, we have found redemption in the pardon of our offenses.
8 which he made to superabound towards us; in all wisdom and prudence,
All this accords with the loving kindness which God lavished on us, accompanied by countless gifts of wisdom and discernment,
9 making known to us the sacred secret of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him, —
when he made known to us his hidden purpose. And it also accords with the goodwill which God purposed to exhibit in Christ,
10 For an administration of the fulness of the seasons, to reunite for himself (under one head) the all things in the Christ, the things upon the heavens, and the things upon the earth, in him:
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 whom also we were taken as an inheritance, according to the purpose of him who energiseth all things according to the counsel of 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 That we should be for the praise of his glory—we who had hoped beforehand in the Christ, —
that we should enhance his glory – we who have been the first to rest our hopes on the Christ.
13 In whom, ye also—hearing the word of the truth, the glad-message of your salvation, —in whom also believing, —were sealed with the Spirit of the promise, the 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 Which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of the acquisition; —unto his glorious praise.
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 cause, I also, —having heard of the faith on your part in the Lord Jesus, and that towards 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 Cease not giving thanks in your behalf, making mention in my prayers,
have never omitted to thank God on your behalf, whenever I make mention of you in my prayers.
17 That, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, would give you a Spirit of wisdom and understanding in gaining a personal knowledge of 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 The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that ye may know—what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
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 And what the surpassing greatness of his power unto us who believe, —according to the energy of the grasp of his might
and the transcendent greatness of the power which he is able to exercise in dealing with us who believe in him.
20 which he energised in the Christ, when he raised him from among the dead, and seated him at his right hand in the heavenlies,
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 Over-above all principality, authority, and power, and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the coming one, (aiōn g165)
and above every name that can be named, whether in the present age, or in the age to come. (aiōn g165)
22 And did put, all things, in subjection beneath his feet. And gave him to be head over all things unto the assembly,
And God placed all things under Christ’s feet, and gave him to the church as its supreme head;
23 Which, indeed, is his body, the fulness of him who, the all things in all, is for himself filling up.
for the church is Christ’s body, and is filled by him who fills all things everywhere with his presence.
