Greeting

Paul,(A) an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will:(B)

To the faithful saints(C) in Christ Jesus at Ephesus.[a](D)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Rich Blessings

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.(E) For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight.[b](F) In love[c] He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace(G) that He favored us with in the Beloved.(H)

We have redemption in Him(I) through His blood, the forgiveness(J) of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of His will,(K) according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him(L) 10 for the administration[d] of the days of fulfillment[e]—to bring everything together in the Messiah,(M) both things in heaven and things on earth(N) in Him.(O)

11 We have also received an inheritance[f] in Him, predestined(P) according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope(Q) in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.(R)

13 When you heard the message of truth,(S) the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.(T) 14 He is the down payment(U) of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession,[g] to the praise of His glory.

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,[h] would give you a spirit[i](V) of wisdom and revelation(W) in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the perception of your mind[j] may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope(X) of His calling,(Y) what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power(Z) 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(AA) in the heavens(AB) 21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given,[k](AC) not only in this age but also in the one to come.(AD) 22 And He put everything under His feet(AE)[l] and appointed Him as head(AF) over everything for the church, 23 which is His body,(AG) the fullness(AH) of the One who fills all things(AI) in every way.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:1 Other mss omit at Ephesus
  2. Ephesians 1:4 Vv. 3-14 are 1 sentence in Gk.
  3. Ephesians 1:4 Or In His sight in love
  4. Ephesians 1:10 Or dispensation; lit house law (Gk oikonomia)
  5. Ephesians 1:10 Lit the fulfillment of times
  6. Ephesians 1:11 Or we also were chosen as an inheritance, or we were also made an inheritance
  7. Ephesians 1:14 The possession could be either man’s or God’s
  8. Ephesians 1:17 Or the Father of glory
  9. Ephesians 1:17 Or you the Spirit
  10. Ephesians 1:18 Lit the eyes of your heart
  11. Ephesians 1:21 Lit every name named
  12. Ephesians 1:22 Ps 8:6

问安

奉 神旨意作基督耶稣使徒的保罗,写信给住在以弗所,在基督耶稣里忠心的圣徒。 愿恩惠平安从我们的父 神和主耶稣基督临到你们。

在基督里属灵的福分

我们主耶稣基督的父 神是应当称颂的。他在基督里,曾经把天上各种属灵的福分赐给我们: 就如创立世界以前,他在基督里拣选了我们,使我们因着爱,在他面前成为圣洁,没有瑕疵。 他又按着自己旨意所喜悦的,预定我们借着耶稣基督得儿子的名分, 好使他恩典的荣耀得着颂赞。这恩典是他在爱子里赐给我们的。 我们在他爱子里,借着他的血蒙了救赎,过犯得到赦免,都是按着他丰盛的恩典。 这恩典是他用各样的智慧和聪明,充充足足地赐给我们的; 他照着自己在基督里预先安排的美意,使我们知道他旨意的奥秘, 10 到了所计划的时机成熟,就使天上地上的万有,都在基督里同归于一。 11 那凭着自己旨意所计划而行万事的,按着他预先所安排的,预定我们在基督里得基业(“得基业”或译:“成为 神的产业”), 12 借着我们这在基督里首先有盼望的人,使他的荣耀得着颂赞。 13 你们既然听了真理的道,就是使你们得救的福音,也信了基督,就在他里面受了所应许的圣灵作为印记。 14 这圣灵是我们得基业的凭据,直到 神的产业得赎,使他的荣耀得着颂赞。

保罗的祈祷

15 因此,我听到你们在主耶稣里的信心,和对众圣徒的爱心, 16 就不住地为你们献上感谢。我祷告的时候,常常提到你们, 17 求我们主耶稣基督的 神,荣耀的父,赐给你们智慧和启示的灵,使你们充分地认识他, 18 并且使你们心灵的眼睛明亮,可以知道他的呼召有怎样的盼望;他基业的荣耀,在圣徒中是多么的丰盛; 19  神照着他强大的力量,向我们信他的人显出的能力,是何等的浩大。 20 这力量运行在基督身上,使他从死人中复活,并且在天上坐在自己的右边, 21 远超过一切执政的、掌权的、有能的、作主的,和今生来世所能举出的一切名衔。 22  神又使万有都归服在他的脚下,并且赐他给教会作万有的元首。 23 教会是他的身体,是那充满万有者所完全充满的。

Paul, an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B)

To God’s holy people(C) in Ephesus,[a](D) the faithful(E) in Christ Jesus:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(F)

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,(G) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms(H) with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us(I) in him before the creation of the world(J) to be holy and blameless(K) in his sight. In love(L) he[b] predestined(M) us for adoption to sonship[c](N) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure(O) and will— to the praise of his glorious grace,(P) which he has freely given us in the One he loves.(Q) In him we have redemption(R) through his blood,(S) the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches(T) of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he[d] made known to us the mystery(U) of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed(V) in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment(W)—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.(X)

11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined(Y) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose(Z) 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.(AA) 13 And you also were included in Christ(AB) when you heard the message of truth,(AC) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,(AD) the promised Holy Spirit,(AE) 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance(AF) until the redemption(AG) of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.(AH)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus(AI) and your love for all God’s people,(AJ) 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you,(AK) remembering you in my prayers.(AL) 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,(AM) may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom(AN) and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened(AO) in order that you may know the hope to which he has called(AP) you, the riches(AQ) of his glorious inheritance(AR) in his holy people,(AS) 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power(AT) is the same as the mighty strength(AU) 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead(AV) and seated him at his right hand(AW) in the heavenly realms,(AX) 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,(AY) and every name(AZ) that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.(BA) 22 And God placed all things under his feet(BB) and appointed him to be head(BC) over everything for the church, 23 which is his body,(BD) the fullness of him(BE) who fills everything in every way.(BF)

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:1 Some early manuscripts do not have in Ephesus.
  2. Ephesians 1:5 Or sight in love. He
  3. 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.
  4. Ephesians 1:9 Or us with all wisdom and understanding. And he
  5. Ephesians 1:11 Or were made heirs
  6. Ephesians 1:17 Or a spirit