Ephesians 1-3

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.

From Death to Life

2 And you were dead^(AJ) in your trespasses and sins ² in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world,^(AK) according to the ruler of the power of the air,^(AL) the spirit^(AM) now working in the disobedient.^{[l] 3} We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly^(AN) desires, carrying out the inclinations^(AO) of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath^(AP) as the others were also. ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy,^(AQ) because of his great love^(AR) that he had for us,^{[m] 5} made us alive^(AS) with Christ even though we were dead^(AT) in trespasses. You are saved by grace! ⁶ He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,^{(AU) 7} so that in the coming ages^(AV) he might display the immeasurable riches^(AW) of his grace through his kindness^(AX) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For you are saved by grace^(AY) through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created^(AZ) in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time^(BA) for us to do.

Unity in Christ

¹¹ So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,”^(BB) which is done in the flesh by human hands.^{(BC) 12} At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise,^(BD) without hope^(BE) and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood^(BF) of Christ. ¹⁴ For he is our peace, who made both groups one^(BG) and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, ¹⁵ he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create^(BH) in himself one^(BI) new man from the two, resulting in peace. ¹⁶ He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body^(BJ) through the cross by which he put the hostility to death.^{[n] 17} He came and proclaimed the good news^(BK) of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^{(BL) 18} For through him we both have access^(BM) in one Spirit to the Father.^{(BN) 19} So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,^(BO) with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building, being put together,^(BP) grows into a holy temple in the Lord.^{(BQ) 22} In him you are also being built together^(BR) for God’s dwelling^(BS) in the Spirit.

Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles

3 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner^(BT) of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that he gave me for you. ³ The mystery was made known to me by revelation,^(BU) as I have briefly written above. ⁴ By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.^{(BV) 5} This was not made known to people^[o] in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets^(BW) by the Spirit: ⁶ The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise^(BX) in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ⁷ I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.^(BY)

⁸ This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches^(BZ) of Christ, ⁹ and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created^(CA) all things. ¹⁰ This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom^(CB) may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.^{(CC) 11} This is according to his eternal purpose^(CD) accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² In him we have boldness and confident access^(CE) through faith in him.^{[p] 13} So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged^(CF) over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.^(CG)

Prayer for Spiritual Power

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel^(CH) before the Father^{[q] 15} from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. ¹⁶ I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches^(CI) of his glory,^(CJ) to be strengthened with power^(CK) in your inner being^(CL) through his Spirit, ¹⁷ and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,^{(CM) 19} and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able^(CN) to do above and beyond all that we ask or think^(CO) according to the power^(CP) that works in us— ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.^(CQ)