Ephesians 1
Christian Standard Bible
Greeting
1 Paul,(A) an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will:(B)
To the faithful saints(C) in Christ Jesus[a] at Ephesus.[b](D)
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
God’s Rich Blessings
3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.(E) 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.[c](F) 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace(G) that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.(H)
7 In him we have redemption(I) through his blood, the forgiveness(J) of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.[d] 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will,(K) according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ(L) 10 as a plan for the right time[e]—to bring everything together in Christ,(M) both things in heaven and things on earth(N) in him.(O)
11 In him we have also received an inheritance,[f] because we were predestined(P) according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope(Q) in Christ might bring praise to his glory.(R)
13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit(S) when you heard the word of truth,(T) the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment(U) of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, 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,[g] would give you the Spirit[h](V) of wisdom and revelation(W) in the knowledge of him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope(X) of his calling,(Y) what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power(Z) toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.
God’s Power in Christ
20 He exercised this power in Christ 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,[i](AC) not only in this age but also in the one to come.(AD) 22 And he subjected everything under his feet[j](AE) and appointed him[k] 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
- 1:1 Or to the saints, the believers in Christ Jesus
- 1:1 Other mss omit at Ephesus
- 1:4 Or in his sight. In love
- 1:8 Or on us. With all wisdom and understanding
- 1:10 Or the fulfillment of times
- 1:11 Or In him we are also an inheritance,
- 1:17 Or the Father of glory
- 1:17 Or a spirit
- 1:21 Lit every name named
- 1:22 Ps 8:6
- 1:22 Lit gave him
Ephesians 1
Common English Bible
Greeting
1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will.
To the holy and faithful people in Christ Jesus in Ephesus.[a]
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The believers’ blessings
3 Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing that comes from heaven. 4 God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless in God’s presence before the creation of the world. 5 God destined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ because of his love. This was according to his goodwill and plan 6 and to honor his glorious grace that he has given to us freely through the Son whom he loves. 7 We have been ransomed through his Son’s blood, and we have forgiveness for our failures based on his overflowing grace, 8 which he poured over us with wisdom and understanding. 9 God revealed his hidden design[b] to us, which is according to his goodwill and the plan that he intended to accomplish through his Son. 10 This is what God planned for the climax of all times:[c] to bring all things together in Christ, the things in heaven along with the things on earth. 11 We have also received an inheritance in Christ. We were destined by the plan of God, who accomplishes everything according to his design. 12 We are called to be an honor to God’s glory because we were the first to hope in Christ. 13 You too heard the word of truth in Christ, which is the good news of your salvation. You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because you believed in Christ. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance, which is applied toward our redemption as God’s own people, resulting in the honor of God’s glory.
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians
15 Since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, this is the reason that 16 I don’t stop giving thanks to God for you when I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that makes God known to you. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call, what is the richness of God’s glorious inheritance among believers, 19 and what is the overwhelming greatness of God’s power that is working among us believers. This power is conferred by the energy of God’s powerful strength. 20 God’s power was at work in Christ when God raised him from the dead and sat him at God’s right side in the heavens, 21 far above every ruler and authority and power and angelic power, any power that might be named not only now but in the future. 22 God put everything under Christ’s feet and made him head of everything in the church, 23 which is his body. His body, the church, is the fullness of Christ, who fills everything in every way.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 1:1 The location of Ephesus was added in some later manuscripts, probably to make the opening of this letter similar to the others in the collection of Paul’s letters.
- Ephesians 1:9 Or mystery
- Ephesians 1:10 Or the fullness of times
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