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Ephesians 1
New Life Version

1 This letter is from Paul. I am a missionary for Jesus Christ. God wanted me to work for Him. This letter is to those who belong to Christ in the city of Ephesus and to you who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. 2 May you have loving-favor and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Let us honor and thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has already given us a taste of what heaven is like. 4 Even before the world was made, God chose us for Himself because of His love. He planned that we should be holy and without blame as He sees us. 5 God already planned to have us as His own children. This was done by Jesus Christ. In His plan God wanted this done.

6 We thank God for His loving-favor to us. He gave this loving-favor to us through His much-loved Son. 7 Because of the blood of Christ, we are bought and made free from the punishment of sin. And because of His blood, our sins are forgiven. His loving-favor to us is so rich. 8 He was so willing to give all of this to us. He did this with wisdom and understanding. 9 God told us the secret of what He wanted to do. It is this: In loving thought He planned long ago to send Christ into the world. 10 The plan was for Christ to gather us all together at the right time. If we are in heaven or still on earth, He will bring us together and will be head over all.

11 We were already chosen to be God’s own children by Christ. This was done just like the plan He had. 12 We who were the first to put our trust in Christ should thank Him for His greatness. 13 The truth is the Good News. When you heard the truth, you put your trust in Christ. Then God marked you by giving you His Holy Spirit as a promise. 14 The Holy Spirit was given to us as a promise that we will receive everything God has for us. God’s Spirit will be with us until God finishes His work of making us complete. God does this to show His shining-greatness.

Paul’s Prayer for the Christians in Ephesus

15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all Christians. 16 Since then, I always give thanks for you and pray for you. 17 I pray that the great God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ may give you the wisdom of His Spirit. Then you will be able to understand the secrets about Him as you know Him better. 18 I pray that your hearts will be able to understand. I pray that you will know about the hope given by God’s call. I pray that you will see how great the things are that He has promised to those who belong to Him. 19 I pray that you will know how great His power is for those who have put their trust in Him. 20 It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. This same power put Christ at God’s right side in heaven. 21 This place was given to Christ. It is much greater than any king or leader can have. No one else can have this place of honor and power. No one in this world or in the world to come can have such honor and power. 22 God has put all things under Christ’s power and has made Him to be the head leader over all things of the church. 23 The church is the body of Christ. It is filled by Him Who fills all things everywhere with Himself.

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Ephesians 1
Legacy Standard Bible

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

1 Paul, (A)an apostle of (B)Christ Jesus [a](C)by the will of God,

To the [b](D)saints who are [c]at (E)Ephesus and (F)who are faithful in (G)Christ Jesus: 2 (H)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 (I)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in (J)the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as (K)He chose us in Him before (L)the foundation of the world, that we would be (M)holy and blameless before [d]Him (N)in love, 5 by (O)predestining us to (P)adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, (Q)according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 (R)to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He graciously bestowed on us in (S)the Beloved. 7 (T)In [e]Him we have (U)redemption (V)through His blood, the (W)forgiveness of our transgressions, according to (X)the riches of His grace 8 which He caused to abound to us in all wisdom and insight, 9 (Y)making known to us the mystery of His will, (Z)according to His good pleasure which He (AA)purposed in Him 10 for an administration of (AB)the fullness of the times, that is, (AC)the summing up of all things in Christ, things [f]in the heavens and things on the earth in Him. 11 In [g]Him, we also [h](AD)have been made an inheritance, having been (AE)predestined (AF)according to the purpose of Him who works all things (AG)according to the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who first have hoped in [i]Christ would be (AH)to the praise of His glory. 13 In [j]Him, you also, after listening to (AI)the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also [k]believed, you were (AJ)sealed in [l]Him with (AK)the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is [m](AL)given as a pledge of (AM)our inheritance, unto the (AN)redemption of (AO)God’s own possession, (AP)to the praise of His glory.

15 For this reason I too, (AQ)having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and [n]your love for (AR)all the [o]saints, 16 (AS)do not cease giving thanks for you, (AT)while making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the (AU)God of our Lord Jesus Christ, (AV)the Father of glory, may give to you the [p]Spirit of (AW)wisdom and of (AX)revelation in the [q]full knowledge of Him, 18 so that you—(AY)the eyes of your heart having been enlightened—will know what is the (AZ)hope of His (BA)calling, what are (BB)the riches of the glory of (BC)His inheritance in (BD)the [r]saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe (BE)according to the working of the (BF)might of His strength, 20 which He worked in Christ, by (BG)raising Him from the dead and (BH)seating Him at His right hand in (BI)the heavenly places, 21 far above (BJ)all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every (BK)name that is named, not only in (BL)this age but also in the one to come. 22 And (BM)He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as (BN)head over all things to the church, 23 which is His (BO)body, the (BP)fullness of Him who (BQ)fills (BR)all in all.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:1 Lit through
  2. Ephesians 1:1 Or holy ones
  3. Ephesians 1:1 Three early mss omit at Ephesus
  4. Ephesians 1:4 Or Him, in love
  5. Ephesians 1:7 Lit whom
  6. Ephesians 1:10 Lit upon
  7. Ephesians 1:11 Lit whom
  8. Ephesians 1:11 Or obtained an inheritance
  9. Ephesians 1:12 Messiah
  10. Ephesians 1:13 Lit whom
  11. Ephesians 1:13 Or believed in Him
  12. Ephesians 1:13 Lit whom
  13. Ephesians 1:14 Or a down payment
  14. Ephesians 1:15 Three early mss omit your love
  15. Ephesians 1:15 Or holy ones
  16. Ephesians 1:17 Or spirit
  17. Ephesians 1:17 Or true knowledge
  18. Ephesians 1:18 Or holy ones
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Ephesians 1
New International Version

1 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:

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

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 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. 4 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) 5 he[b] predestined(M) us for adoption to sonship[c](N) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure(O) and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace,(P) which he has freely given us in the One he loves.(Q) 7 In him we have redemption(R) through his blood,(S) the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches(T) of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 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. 5 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. 9 And he
  5. Ephesians 1:11 Or were made heirs
  6. Ephesians 1:17 Or a spirit
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