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Spiritual Blessings in Christ

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

(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, 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, by (O)predestining us to (P)adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, (Q)according to the good pleasure of His will, (R)to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He graciously bestowed on us in (S)the Beloved. (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 which He caused to abound to us in all wisdom and insight, (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

Greeting

From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will.

To the holy and faithful people in Christ Jesus in Ephesus.[a]

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

The believers’ blessings

Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing that comes from heaven. God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless in God’s presence before the creation of the world. God destined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ because of his love. This was according to his goodwill and plan and to honor his glorious grace that he has given to us freely through the Son whom he loves. We have been ransomed through his Son’s blood, and we have forgiveness for our failures based on his overflowing grace, which he poured over us with wisdom and understanding. 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

  1. 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.
  2. Ephesians 1:9 Or mystery
  3. Ephesians 1:10 Or the fullness of times