(A)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in (B)the heavenly places in Christ, just as (C)He chose us in Him before (D)the foundation of the world, that we would be (E)holy and blameless before [a]Him. (F)In love [b]He (G)predestined us to (H)adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, (I)according to the good pleasure of His will, (J)to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in (K)the Beloved. (L)In [c]Him we have (M)redemption (N)through His blood, the (O)forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to (P)the riches of His grace which He [d]lavished on [e]us. In all wisdom and insight He [f](Q)made known to us the mystery of His will, (R)according to His good pleasure which He (S)set forth in Him, 10 regarding His plan of (T)the fullness of the times, (U)to bring all things together in Christ, things [g]in the heavens and things on the earth. 11 [h]In Him we also (V)have obtained an inheritance, having been (W)predestined (X)according to the purpose of Him who works all things (Y)in accordance with the plan of His will, 12 to the end that [i]we who were the first to hope in the [j]Christ would be (Z)to the praise of His glory. 13 In [k]Him, [l]you also, after listening to (AA)the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also [m]believed, you were (AB)sealed in [n]Him with (AC)the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 who is a (AD)first installment of (AE)our inheritance, in regard to the (AF)redemption of (AG)God’s own possession, (AH)to the praise of His glory.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:4 Or Him, in love. He
  2. Ephesians 1:5 Lit having predestined
  3. Ephesians 1:7 Lit whom
  4. Ephesians 1:8 Lit made abundant toward
  5. Ephesians 1:8 Or us in all wisdom and insight. He
  6. Ephesians 1:9 Lit making known
  7. Ephesians 1:10 Lit upon
  8. Ephesians 1:11 Lit In whom also
  9. Ephesians 1:12 I.e., Jewish believers
  10. Ephesians 1:12 I.e., Messiah
  11. Ephesians 1:13 Lit whom
  12. Ephesians 1:13 I.e., Gentile believers
  13. Ephesians 1:13 Or believed in Him, you were sealed
  14. Ephesians 1:13 Lit whom

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

(A)Blessed be (B)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing (C)in the heavenly places, (D)even as he (E)chose us in him (F)before the foundation of the world, that we should be (G)holy and blameless before him. In love (H)he predestined us[a] for (I)adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, (J)according to the purpose of his will, (K)to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in (L)the Beloved. (M)In him we have (N)redemption (O)through his blood, (P)the forgiveness of our trespasses, (Q)according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight (R)making known[b] to us the mystery of his will, (S)according to his purpose, which he (T)set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for (U)the fullness of time, (V)to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained (W)an inheritance, (X)having been predestined (Y)according to the purpose of him who works all things according to (Z)the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be (AA)to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard (AB)the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, (AC)were sealed with the (AD)promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is (AE)the guarantee[c] of our (AF)inheritance until (AG)we acquire (AH)possession of it,[d] (AI)to the praise of his glory.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:5 Or before him in love, 5having predestined us
  2. Ephesians 1:9 Or he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight, making known…
  3. Ephesians 1:14 Or down payment
  4. Ephesians 1:14 Or until God redeems his possession

Spiritual Blessings

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.[a] He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God,[b] for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own[c] by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:6 Greek to us in the beloved.
  2. 1:11 Or we have become God’s inheritance.
  3. 1:13 Or he put his seal on you.

The God of Glory

3-6 How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

7-10 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

11-12 It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

13-14 It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This down payment from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.

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Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,(A) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms(B) with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us(C) in him before the creation of the world(D) to be holy and blameless(E) in his sight. In love(F) he[a] predestined(G) us for adoption to sonship[b](H) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure(I) and will— to the praise of his glorious grace,(J) which he has freely given us in the One he loves.(K) In him we have redemption(L) through his blood,(M) the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches(N) of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he[c] made known to us the mystery(O) of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed(P) in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment(Q)—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.(R)

11 In him we were also chosen,[d] having been predestined(S) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose(T) of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.(U) 13 And you also were included in Christ(V) when you heard the message of truth,(W) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,(X) the promised Holy Spirit,(Y) 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance(Z) until the redemption(AA) of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.(AB)

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:5 Or sight in love. He
  2. Ephesians 1:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
  3. Ephesians 1:9 Or us with all wisdom and understanding. And he
  4. Ephesians 1:11 Or were made heirs