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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

Greetings from Paul

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.

I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus,[a] who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Spiritual Blessings

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.[b] He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God,[c] for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own[d] by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere,[e] 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom[f] and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.[g]

19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 The most ancient manuscripts do not include in Ephesus.
  2. 1:6 Greek to us in the beloved.
  3. 1:11 Or we have become God’s inheritance.
  4. 1:13 Or he put his seal on you.
  5. 1:15 Some manuscripts read your faithfulness to the Lord Jesus and to God’s people everywhere.
  6. 1:17 Or to give you the Spirit of wisdom.
  7. 1:18 Or called, and the rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his holy people.