Eph 1 | ISV | STEP | The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians Greetings from Paul From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, to his holy and faithful people in Ephesus who are in union with Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1

Let us stop being arrogant, provoking one another and envying one another.Phil 2:3

1 The Letter of Paul to the EphesiansGreetings from PaulFrom ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks From} Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, to his holy and faithful people ^{▼▼Or to the saints and faithful} in Ephesus ^{▼▼Other mss. lack in Ephesus} who are in union with Christ Jesus.Rom 1:7; 1Cor 4:17; 2Cor 1:1; Eph 6:21; Col 1:2 2 May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be yours!Gal 1:3; Titus 1:4

3 The Many Blessings of SalvationBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm,2Cor 1:3; 1Pet 1:3 4 just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in his presence. In loveLuke 1:75; Rom 8:28; Eph 2:10; 5:27; Col 1:22; 1Thes 4:7; 2Thes 2:13; 2Tim 1:9; Titus 2:12; James 2:5; 1Pet 1:2, 20; 2:9 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will,Matt 1:24; Luke 12:32; John 1:12; Rom 8:15, 29-30; 1Cor 1:21; 2Cor 6:18; Gal 4:5; Eph 1:9; 8:11; 1John 3:1 6 so that we would praise ^{▼▼Lit. to the praise of} his glorious grace that he gave us in the Beloved One.Matt 3:17; 17:5; John 3:35; 10:17; Rom 3:24; 5:15 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of God's ^{▼▼Lit. his} graceActs 20:28; Rom 2:4; 3:24; 9:23; Eph 2:7; Phil 4:19; Col 1:14; Heb 9:12; 1Pet 1:18-19; Rev 5:9 8 that he lavished on us, along with all wisdom and understanding, 9 when he made known to us the secret of his will. This was according to his plan that he set forth in Christ ^{▼▼Lit. him}Rom 16:25; Eph 3:4, 9, 11; Col 1:26; 2Tim 1:9 10 to usher in ^{▼▼Or administer} the fullness of the times and to gather up all things in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth.1Cor 3:22-23; 11:3; Gal 4:4; Eph 2:15; 3:15; Phil 2:9-10; Col 1:20; Heb 1:2; 9:10; 1Pet 1:20

11 In Christ ^{▼▼Lit. him} we were also chosen when we were predestined according to the purpose of the one who does everything according to the intention of his will,Isa 46:10-11; Acts 20:32; 26:18; Rom 8:17; Eph 1:5; Col 1:12; 3:24; Titus 3:7; James 2:5; 1Pet 1:4 12 so that we who had already fixed our hope on Christ might live for his praise and glory.Eph 1:6, 14; 2Thes 2:13; James 1:18 13 You, too, have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed in him you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,John 1:17; 2Cor 1:22; 6:7; Eph 4:30 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of God's own possession, ^{▼▼Lit. of the possession} to his praise and glory.Luke 21:28; Acts 20:28; Rom 8:23; 2Cor 1:22; 5:5; Eph 4:30; 1Pet 2:9

15 Paul's Prayer for the EphesiansTherefore, because I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love ^{▼▼Other mss. lack your love} for all the saints,Col 1:4 16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I mention you in my prayers.Rom 1:9; Phil 1:3-4; Col 1:3; 1Thes 1:2; 2Thes 1:3 17 I pray ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks I pray} that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father most glorious, ^{▼▼Lit. the Father of glory} would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation through knowing Christ ^{▼▼Lit. him} fully.John 20:17; Col 1:9 18 Then, with the eyes of your hearts enlightened, you will know the hope of his calling, the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,Acts 26:18; Eph 2:12 19 and the unlimited greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his mighty strength,Eph 3:7; Col 1:29; 2:12 20 which he put to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realm.Ps 110:1; Acts 2:24, 33; 7:55-56; Col 3:1; Heb 1:3; 10:12 21 He is far above every ruler, authority, power, dominion, and every name that can be named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.Rom 8:38; Phil 2:9-10; Col 1:16; Heb 1:4 22 God ^{▼▼Lit. He} has put everything under his feet and has made him the head of everything for the good of ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks the good of} the church,Ps 8:6; Matt 28:18; 1Cor 15:27; Eph 4:15-16; Col 1:18; Heb 2:7-8 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills everything in every way. ^{▼▼Or who fills all in all}Rom 12:5; 1Cor 12:6, 12, 27; Eph 4:10, 12, 27; Col 1:18, 24, 27; 2:10; 3:11