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The Blessings of Redemption

Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), by the will of God [that is, by His purpose and choice],

To the [a]saints (God’s people) [b]who are at Ephesus and are faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

[c]Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ, just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will— to the praise of His glorious grace and favor, which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved [His Son, Jesus Christ]. In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and understanding [with practical insight] He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, 10 with regard to the fulfillment of the times [that is, the end of history, the climax of the ages]—to bring all things together in Christ, [both] things in the heavens and things on the earth. 11 In Him also we have [d]received an inheritance [a destiny—we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him as our Lord and Savior] would exist to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God].(A) 14 The Spirit is the [e]guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers; 17 [I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]. 18 And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the [f]hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the [g]saints (God’s people), 19 and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength 20 which He [h]produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come. 22 And He [i]put all things [in every realm] in subjection under Christ’s feet, and [j]appointed Him as [supreme and authoritative] head over all things in the church,(B) 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills and completes all things in all [believers].

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:1 “Saints” refers to born-again believers. All believers are holy, that is, set apart or sanctified for God’s purpose.
  2. Ephesians 1:1 Three early mss do not contain “at Ephesus.” Some scholars suggest that this was intended as a circular letter for various churches of Asia Minor (modern Turkey), sent first to Ephesus and then to the other churches. See Paul’s instruction to the Colossians in 4:16. Others believe the letter was directed only to the Ephesians because of its many personal references. The books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are believed to have been written by Paul while he was a prisoner under house arrest in Rome (a.d. 60-62) (cf 6:20).
  3. Ephesians 1:3 In Greek this passage (vv 3-14), also referred to as a doxology, is one sentence.
  4. Ephesians 1:11 Or our destiny.
  5. Ephesians 1:14 Or down payment.
  6. Ephesians 1:18 In the NT the word “hope” expresses a cherished desire along with the confident assurance of obtaining that which is longed for.
  7. Ephesians 1:18 See note v 1.
  8. Ephesians 1:20 The first of three manifestations of God’s power exhibited in Christ.
  9. Ephesians 1:22 The second manifestation of God’s power exhibited in Christ.
  10. Ephesians 1:22 This is the third manifestation of God’s power exhibited in Christ.

Paul Paulos, an apostle apostolos of Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous by dia the will thelēma of God theos, to the ho saints hagios who ho are eimi in en Ephesus Ephesos, · kai the faithful pistos in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous: Grace charis to you hymeis and kai peace eirēnē from apo God theos our hēmeis Father patēr and kai from the Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos.

Blessed eulogētos be the ho God theos and kai Father patēr of ho our hēmeis Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos, who ho has blessed eulogeō us hēmeis with en every pas spiritual eulogia blessing pneumatikos in en the ho heavenly epouranios places in en Christ Christos, even as kathōs he chose eklegomai us hēmeis in en him autos before pro the creation katabolē of the world kosmos to be eimi holy hagios and kai blameless before katenōpion him autos. In en love agapē he predestined proorizō us hēmeis for eis adoption hyiothesia as eis his own autos sons through dia Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos, according kata to the ho good eudokia pleasure of ho his autos will thelēma, to eis the praise epainos of his autos glorious doxa · ho grace charis with which hos he has highly favored charitoō us hēmeis in en the ho Beloved agapaō. In en him hos we have received echō · ho redemption apolytrōsis through dia · ho his autos blood haima, the ho forgiveness aphesis of our ho trespasses paraptōma, according kata to the ho rich ploutos benefits of ho his autos grace charis, which hos he lavished perisseuō on eis us hēmeis in en all pas wisdom sophia and kai insight phronēsis. He has made known gnōrizō to us hēmeis the ho mystery mystērion of ho his autos will thelēma, according kata to · ho his autos good eudokia pleasure , which hos he purposed protithēmi in en Christ autos, 10 as eis a plan oikonomia for the ho fullness plērōma of ho time kairos, to bring anakephalaioō · ho everything pas together in en · ho Christ Christos, things ho in epi · ho heaven ouranos and kai things ho on epi · ho earth . 11 In en Christ hos · kai we have obtained an inheritance klēroō, having been predestined proorizō according kata to the purpose prothesis of him ho who accomplishes energeō · ho all pas things according kata to the ho counsel boulē of ho his autos will thelēma, 12 so that eis we hēmeis, who ho have already set our hope proelpizō in en Christ Christos, might be eimi for eis the praise epainos of his autos glory doxa. · ho 13 You hymeis also kai are in en him hos, having heard akouō the ho word logos of ho truth alētheia, the ho good euangelion news of ho your hymeis salvation sōtēria; in en him hos also kai, when you believed pisteuō, you were marked sphragizō with the seal of the ho promised epangelia Holy hagios Spirit pneuma, · ho · ho 14 which hos is eimi the guarantee arrabōn of ho our hēmeis inheritance klēronomia vouching for eis God’s redemption apolytrōsis of ho his possession peripoiēsis, to eis the praise epainos of ho his autos glory doxa.

15 For dia this houtos reason , having heard akouō · ho about kata your hymeis faith pistis in en the ho Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous and kai the ho love agapē · ho you extend to eis all pas the ho saints hagios, 16 I do not ou cease pauō giving thanks eucharisteō for hyper you hymeis, making poieō mention mneia of you in epi · ho my egō prayers proseuchē, 17 that hina the ho God theos of ho our hēmeis Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos, the ho Father patēr of ho glory doxa, may give didōmi you hymeis a spirit pneuma of wisdom sophia and kai revelation apokalypsis by en coming to know epignōsis more of him autos. 18 I pray that eis, with the ho eyes ophthalmos of ho your hymeis heart kardia enlightened phōtizō, you hymeis may comprehend oida the ho hope elpis to which ho he autos has called klēsis you, what tis are the ho rich ploutos benefits of ho his autos glorious doxa · ho inheritance klēronomia among en the ho saints hagios, 19 and kai what tis is the ho incomparable hyperballō greatness megethos of ho his autos power dynamis available for eis us hēmeis who ho believe pisteuō, according kata to the ho exercise energeia of ho his autos mighty kratos · ho strength ischus, 20 which hos he accomplished energeō in en · ho Christ Christos when he raised egeirō him autos from ek the dead nekros and kai seated kathizō him at en his autos right dexios hand in en the ho heavenly epouranios realms , 21 infinitely superior hyperanō to every pas ruler archē, · kai authority exousia, · kai power dynamis, or kai dominion kyriotēs · kai every pas name onoma that can be named onomazō not ou only monon in en · ho this houtos age aiōn but alla also kai in en the ho age to come mellō. 22 And kai he placed hypotassō all pas things under hypo · ho Christ’ s autos feet pous and kai gave didōmi him autos as head kephalē over hyper all pas things to the ho church ekklēsia, 23 which hostis is eimi · ho his autos body sōma, the ho fullness plērōma of the ho one who fills plēroō · ho all pas things in en every pas way .