1 This letter is from me, Paul. God chose me to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.
I am writing to you, God's own people who live in Ephesus. You are those who continue to believe in Christ Jesus, and so you belong to him.
2 I pray that God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ will continue to help you. I pray that they will give you peace in your minds.
3 We praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has blessed us in very many ways. Because we belong to Christ, we enjoy all the good things that come from heaven. God blesses our spirits with those good things. 4 Before God made the world, he chose us to be his people because of Christ. He chose us so that we would please him. Because we belong to Christ, God accepts us as completely good. This shows how much he loves us. 5 Long ago, he already decided to accept us into his family as his children, because of Jesus Christ. He chose us to belong to him because it made him very happy. 6 As a result, we praise him, because he is great and he has been so kind to us. He has given us so much because of his Son, whom he loves very much. 7 When Christ died as a sacrifice on the cross, he paid the price to make us free. Because of Christ's death on our behalf, God has forgiven our sins. God is so very kind that he has done all this for us!
8 Even more than that, God has shown how wise he is. He understands what we need. 9 He has let us know his great purpose, which had been a secret before. That plan would make him very happy. It would be possible because of Christ. 10 God will make that plan happen when the time is completely right. At that time, he will bring everything together so that Christ rules all of them. That includes the things that are in heaven, and the things that are on earth.
11 God is able to make all things happen just like he decides. He chose us to be his own people, because we are united with Christ. In the beginning, God had already decided that this was his purpose. 12 We were the first people to trust in Christ, God's special Messiah. [ a ] God wanted us to show how great he is. He wanted people to praise him because of us. 13 You believers in Ephesus also heard God's true message. You heard the good news about how God saves you. When you believed in Christ, God gave his Holy Spirit to you. He had promised to do that, to show that you belong to him. 14 God has put his Holy Spirit inside us now. As a result, we know that one day we will receive all the good things that God has promised. At that time we will be completely free, because we belong to God. So we praise God and we say that he is great!
15 People have told me that you continue to trust in the Lord Jesus. They have told me that you love all God's people. Because I have heard these good things about you, 16 I am always thanking God because of you. Whenever I pray to God, I always ask him to help you. 17 God is very great! He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that his Holy Spirit will make you wise. I pray that his Holy Spirit will help you to understand what God is like. Then you will know God better and better. 18 I pray that God will bring light into your minds. Then you will understand about the many good things that he has prepared for you. You know that you will receive those things because he has chosen you to be his people. God has prepared very valuable things for you in heaven. 19 You will also know how very powerful God is. He uses that power to help us now, as we trust in Christ.
God's power is greater than anything we could ever know. 20 He used that power to raise Christ, so that he became alive again after his death. Then he gave Christ a place to sit at his right side in heaven. [ b ] 21 There, Christ rules over every other ruler and leader. He rules over everything else that has authority. He is greater than any power which people respect. That is true for the rulers of this world now, and also the rulers of the world that will come. 22 God has put all things under Christ's authority. He has made Christ the ruler over all things. He has done this to help his people, the church. 23 The church is like Christ's body and he is its head. Christ fills all things everywhere and he causes the church to become complete.
1 Greetings from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am an apostle because that is what God wanted.
To God’s holy people living in Ephesus, [ a ] believers who belong to Christ Jesus.
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven. 4 In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people—people who could stand before him without any fault. 5 And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it. 6 And this brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely. He gave us that grace in Christ, the one he loves.
7 In Christ we are made free by his blood sacrifice. We have forgiveness of sins because of God’s rich grace. 8 God gave us that grace fully and freely. With full wisdom and understanding 9 he let us know his secret plan. This was what God wanted, and he planned to do it through Christ. 10 God’s goal was to finish his plan when the right time came. He planned that all things in heaven and on earth be joined together with Christ as the head.
11 In Christ we were chosen to be God’s people. God had already planned for us to be his people, because that is what he wanted. And he is the one who makes everything agree with what he decides and wants. 12 We Jews were the first to hope in Christ. And we were chosen so that we would bring praise to God in all his glory. 13 It is the same with you. You heard the true message, the Good News about the way God saves you. When you heard that Good News, you believed in Christ. And in Christ, God put his special mark on you by giving you the Holy Spirit that he promised. 14 The Spirit is the first payment that guarantees we will get all that God has for us. Then we will enjoy complete freedom as people who belong to him. The goal for all of us is the praise of God in all his glory.
15-16 That is why I always remember you in my prayers and thank God for you. I have done this ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. 17 I always pray to the great and glorious Father, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that he will give you the Spirit, who will let you know truths about God and help you understand them, so that you will know him better.
18 I pray that God will open your minds to see his truth. Then you will know the hope that he has chosen us to have. You will know that the blessings God has promised his holy people are rich and glorious. 19 And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. It is the same as the mighty power 20 he used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in the heavenly places. 21 He put Christ over all rulers, authorities, powers, and kings. He gave him authority over everything that has power in this world or in the next world. 22 God put everything under Christ’s power and made him head over everything for the church. 23 The church is Christ’s body. It is filled with him. He makes everything complete in every way.
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
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 ) 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 [ e ] He ( O ) predestined us to ( P ) adoption as sons and daughters 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, with which He favored us in ( S ) the Beloved. 7 ( T ) In [ f ] Him we have ( U ) redemption ( V ) through His blood, the ( W ) forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to ( X ) the riches of His grace 8 which He [ g ] lavished on [ h ] us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He [ i ] ( Y ) made known to us the mystery of His will, ( Z ) according to His good pleasure which He ( AA ) set forth in Him, 10 regarding His plan of ( AB ) the fullness of the times, ( AC ) to bring all things together in Christ, things [ j ] in the heavens and things on the earth. 11 [ k ] In Him we also ( AD ) have obtained an inheritance, having been ( AE ) predestined ( AF ) according to the purpose of Him who works all things ( AG ) in accordance with the plan of His will, 12 to the end that [ l ] we who were the first to hope in the [ m ] Christ would be ( AH ) to the praise of His glory. 13 In [ n ] Him, [ o ] you also, after listening to ( AI ) the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also [ p ] believed, you were ( AJ ) sealed in [ q ] Him with ( AK ) the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 who is a ( AL ) first installment of ( AM ) our inheritance, in regard to 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 [ r ] your love for ( AR ) all the [ s ] 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 you a spirit of ( AW ) wisdom and of ( AX ) revelation in the [ t ] knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that ( AY ) the eyes of your heart [ u ] may be enlightened, so that you 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 [ v ] saints, 19 and what is the [ w ] boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. ( BE ) These are in accordance with the working of the ( BF ) strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He ( BG ) raised Him from the dead and ( BH ) seated 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 He ( BM ) put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him ( 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.
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 )
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 )
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 )
