Efesini 1
1 Paolo, apostolo di Cristo Gesù per volontà di Dio, ai santi che sono in Efeso ed ai fedeli in Cristo Gesù.
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 Grazia a voi e pace da Dio, Padre nostro, e dal Signor Gesù Cristo.
[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 Benedetto sia l’Iddio e Padre del nostro Signor Gesù Cristo, il quale ci ha benedetti d’ogni benedizione spirituale ne’ luoghi celesti in Cristo,
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 siccome in lui ci ha eletti, prima della fondazione del mondo, affinché fossimo santi ed irreprensibili dinanzi a lui nell’amore,
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 avendoci predestinati ad essere adottati, per mezzo di Gesù Cristo, come suoi figliuoli, secondo il beneplacito della sua volontà:
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 a lode della gloria della sua grazia, la quale Egli ci ha largita nell’amato suo.
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 Poiché in Lui noi abbiamo la redenzione mediante il suo sangue, la remissione de’ peccati, secondo le ricchezze della sua grazia;
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 della quale Egli è stato abbondante in verso noi, dandoci ogni sorta di sapienza e di intelligenza,
He acted very kindly toward us and enabled us to become wise about many [HYP] things and to understand his truth.
9 col farci conoscere il mistero della sua volontà, giusta il disegno benevolo ch’Egli aveva già prima in se stesso formato,
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 per tradurlo in atto nella pienezza dei tempi, e che consiste nel raccogliere sotto un sol capo, in Cristo, tutte le cose: tanto quelle che son nei cieli, quanto quelle che son sopra la terra.
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 lui, dico, nel quale siamo pur stati fatti eredi, a ciò predestinati conforme al proposito di Colui che opera tutte le cose secondo il consiglio della propria volontà,
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 affinché fossimo a lode della sua gloria, noi, che per i primi abbiamo sperato in Cristo.
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 lui voi pure, dopo avere udito la parola della verità, l’evangelo della vostra salvazione, in lui avendo creduto, avete ricevuto il suggello dello Spirito Santo che era stato promesso,
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 il quale è pegno della nostra eredità fino alla piena redenzione di quelli che Dio s’è acquistati, a lode della sua gloria.
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 Perciò anch’io, avendo udito parlare della fede vostra nel Signor Gesù e del vostro amore per tutti i santi,
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 non resto mai dal render grazie per voi, facendo di voi menzione nelle mie orazioni,
I thank God for you constantly [LIT, HYP]. I (mention/pray for) you constantly, whenever I pray.
17 affinché l’Iddio del Signor nostro Gesù Cristo, il Padre della gloria, vi dia uno spirito di sapienza e di rivelazione per la piena conoscenza di lui,
[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 ed illumini gli occhi del vostro cuore, affinché sappiate a quale speranza Egli v’abbia chiamati, qual sia la ricchezza della gloria della sua eredità nei santi,
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 e qual sia verso noi che crediamo, l’immensità della sua potenza.
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 La qual potente efficacia della sua forza Egli ha spiegata in Cristo, quando lo risuscitò dai morti e lo fece sedere alla propria destra ne’ luoghi celesti,
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 al di sopra di ogni principato e autorità e potestà e signoria, e d’ogni altro nome che si nomina non solo in questo mondo, ma anche in quello a venire. (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 Ogni cosa Ei gli ha posta sotto ai piedi, e l’ha dato per capo supremo alla Chiesa,
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 che è il corpo di lui, il compimento di colui che porta a compimento ogni cosa in tutti.
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.
