Ephesians 1:15-2:10

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Prayer for Spiritual Insight

¹⁵ This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^[a] would give you a spirit^[b](A) of wisdom and revelation^(B) in the knowledge of Him. ¹⁸ I pray that the perception of your mind^[c] may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope^(C) of His calling,^(D) what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power^(E) to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.

God’s Power in Christ

²⁰ He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand^(F) in the heavens^(G)— ²¹ far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given,^[d](H) not only in this age but also in the one to come.^{(I) 22} And He put everything under His feet^(J)[e] and appointed Him as head^(K) over everything for the church, ²³ which is His body,^(L) the fullness^(M) of the One who fills all things^(N) in every way.

From Death to Life

2 And you were dead^(O) in your trespasses and sins ² in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world,^(P) according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens,^[f](Q) the spirit^(R) now working in the disobedient.^{[g] 3} We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly^(S) desires, carrying out the inclinations^(T) of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath^(U) as the others were also. ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy,^(V) because of His great love^(W) that He had for us,^{[h] 5} made us alive^(X) with the Messiah even though we were dead^(Y) in trespasses. You are saved by grace! ⁶ Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens,^{(Z) 7} so that in the coming ages^(AA) He might display the immeasurable riches^(AB) of His grace through His kindness^(AC) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For you are saved by grace^(AD) through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are His creation, created^(AE) in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time^(AF) so that we should walk in them.