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EPHESIANS CHAPTER ONE
OBSERVATION STAGE
The purpose of
the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the
normative rules of language, context and logic 
which limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Ephesians.
This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more
importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective
comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.
Remember that something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in view.
I) [Eph 1:1]:
(Eph 1:1 Greek) "Paul, ...Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, that is to say to the believing [ones] in Christ Jesus"
A) THIS LETTER IS FROM PAUL APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH THE WILL OF GOD
(Eph 1:1 Greek) "Paul, ...Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, that is to say to the believing [ones] in Christ Jesus" =
(Eph 1:1 Greek) "paulos apostolos IEsou.Christou dia
............................"Paul ...apostle …Jesus Christesu by
thelEmatos theou ...tois .…hagiois .tois .....ousin
will ….....…of God, to the ..saints ...the .….being [ones]
en ephesO ..kai ...............................pistois ..................en .christO IEsou"
at Ephesus .that is to say [to the] ...believing [ones] ..in ..Christ ..Jesus"
The first word of the epistle to the Ephesians is "paulos" rendered "Paul" in the YLT. Due to its first position in the first phrase of verse one, the phrase not only makes an emphatic point of declaring from whom the letter came and his significance to the reader, but to whom it is addressed: "Paul, Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God to the saints who are in Ephesus." The Greek word "apostolos" rendered "Apostle" in the YLT literally can be translated "one sent with a message" = "apo" = from "stello" = to send, more specifically one sent as messenger of Jesus Christ by the will of God. So God chose the gift of Apostle for Paul, and Paul chose to accept that gift as is the manner in which an individual exercises his will in accordance with the will of God. Evidently the office of Apostle that Paul holds by the will of God has to do with being a specifically appointed messenger: Apostle for Jesus Christ, as opposed to all believers who are messengers of our Lord in a general sense. The absence of the article with the word rendered "Apostle" emphasizes having the office and characteristic of Apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God. The immediate appearance of the phrase "Paul, ...Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God" in the epistle makes its declaration especially significant: one which authenticates the supreme value of the letter to its readers as coming from God through His chosen Apostle / Messenger Paul.
B) MOST COPIES FOUND OF THIS LETTER ARE ADDRESSED TO THE SAINTS WHO ARE IN EPHESUS - TO THE BELIEVERS IN CHRIST JESUS; THERE IS SUPPORT FOR THE LETTER ALSO BEING ADDRESSED AND SENT TO LAODICEA; AND SOME COPIES HAVE NO SPECIFIC ADDRESSEE AT ALL, EXCEPT 'TO BELIEVERS IN CHRIST JESUS.' IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, THERE IS SUPPORT FOR THE LETTER APPLYING TO ALL BELIEVERS EVERYWHERE, FAITHFUL AND UNFAITHFUL TO THE END OF THE AGE
(Eph 1:1 Greek) "Paul, ...Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God,to the saints who are in Ephesus, that is to say to [the] believing [ones] in Christ Jesus" =
(Eph 1:1 Greek) "paulos apostolos IEsou.Christou dia
............................"Paul ...apostle …Jesus Christesu by
thelEmatos theou ...tois .…hagiois .tois .....ousin
will ….....…of God, to the ..saints ...the .….[ones] being
en ephesO ..kai ...............................pistois ..................en .christO IEsou"
at Ephesus .that is to say [to the] ...believing [ones] ..in ..Christ ..Jesus"
The word "hagiois" rendered "saints" literally means "set apart ones" or "holy ones" = those individuals who are specifically set apart for God's particular use - a godly and righteous use, since God is righteous. It is often used, as it is here, to describe the population of all who are part of that body of individuals who are called believers, i.e., those who have expressed a moment of faith alone in Christ alone unto eternal life. They are set apart from others because they have been commanded by God to choose daily to live godly and righteous lives as representatives of Jesus Christ on earth. This is not to say that all saints are only saints if they lead faithful lives; for the content of this letter is largely an exhortation to the saints to lead faithful lives implying that they may not always or at any time be faithful.
Although most copies of Paul's letter which have been found so far have been addressed specifically to the saints who are in Ephesus, a city in Asia Minor; there are a number of very key ancient manuscripts which have no address except to "the believing ones in Christ Jesus:" Three of these manuscripts have been found which omit the words "en EphesO" in Eph 1:1 with no substitutes: the Chester Beatty papyrus p46 dating from about A.D. 200 (the earliest extant MS of the Pauline Epistles), and two of the major fourth-century codd. Sinaiticus 01 aleph-org, and Vaticanus 03, B-org - in their unrevised form. Weiss' printed edition of the Greek text, (1894-1900) also omits any references to "en EphesO" or any city. Furthermore, Basil the Great testified that the words "in Ephesus" were not to be discovered in any of the ancient MSS, (Adv. Eunom. 2:19). Prigen's commentary presupposes the omission, as Jerome confirmed. And the majority of recent textual critics are persuaded that the original reading did not contain the words "en EphesO." Note that Marcion also referred to this epistle as the Epistle to the Laodiceans, which points to his observation that it was not necessarily limited to addressing the saints in Ephesus. Furthermore, Paul in his letter to the believers in Colosse exhorted them to read the letter he sent to the believers in Laodicea which is possibly the same as the one that was sent to Ephesus. Finally, since every copy of the letter includes the phrase rendered "to the believing [ones] in Christ Jesus," and since the letter was sent all over the world with the understanding that its message was applicable to every group of believers; then we may conclude that Paul's letter is applicable to all believers in Christ Jesus throughout the world from the time of Paul to the end of the age.
[The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord & Zuck, Eds., Victor Books, USA, 1988, p. 613]:
"Some scholars view this epistle as encyclical, a circular letter to be distributed to several undesignated local churches in the province of Asia or some other area. This is supported by two observations: (1) the words "in Ephesus" (1:1) do not appear in three early Alexandrian Greek manuscripts, and (2) it is strange for Paul not to mention by name any of the individuals in a church where he had lived and worked for three years (Acts 20:31).
If this epistle were routed to other churches after the Ephesians read it, it may have gone to Laodicea and Colosse, for Paul in writing Colossians urged the believers there to 'read the letter from Laodicea' (Col 4:16), possibly a reference to the Ephesian epistle."
Since the Greek phrase "tois hagiois tois ousin en EphesO," (literally "to the saints the [ones] being at Ephesus") is joined by the Greek conjunction "kai" to the phrase "[kai] pistois en christO IEsou" (literally "[to the] believing [ones] in Christ Jesus"), and since the second phrase has no definite article; then the Granville Sharpe rule of Greek grammar applies which stipulates (1) that the first phrase is identified and further defined by the second - both phrases describing the same thing, (in this case, "the saints the [ones] being at Ephesus" are further defined and the same as the "believing [ones] in Christ Jesus, and (2) "kai" is best rendered "that is to say."
.......................................(
on the Granville Sharpe rule).
Furthermore, since the Greek phrase "tois hagiois tois ousin en EphesO" is further described by the phrase which follows: "[kai] pistois en christO IEsou," then the second phrase is best rendered "to the believing ones in Christ Jesus," and not as most versions render it, 'to the faithful in Christ Jesus,' for the following reasons:
(1) Since the Greek word "pistois," in Eph 1:1, can mean 'the believing one' or 'the faithful one' depending upon the context; and since all of those who have expressed a moment of faith alone in Christ alone are declared to be permanently "in Christ" regardless of how they live their lives, (cf. Eph 1:13-14), and since the main theme of Paul's letter is an exhortation to believers to live faithful lives implying that believers may not, (Eph chapters 4-6); then the phrase "kai pistois en christO IEsou" in Eph 1:1 has all believers in view, not just those who are faithful to Christ Jesus.
(2) Since a faithful believer is correctly described as faithful to Christ Jesus, not faithful "in Christ Jesus," then the phrase "kai pistois en christO IEsou," in Eph 1:1 points to all who are in Christ Jesus, not just the ones that are faithful to Him, i.e., all believers.
(3) If Ephesian 1:1 stipulates "to the faithful to Christ Jesus," (and it does not), then this would imply that there are believers who are always faithful to Christ Jesus all the time, contradicting the rest of this letter and Scripture. For the main theme of Paul's letter is an exhortation to all believers to live godly lives which implies that there are no believers that always live faithful lives, (cf. Eph chapters 4-6).
(Eph 1:1 Greek) "Paul, ...Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, that is to say to the believing [ones] inChrist Jesus" =
The Greek word "Christos" in the phrase, "en ChristO IEsou" rendered "in Christ Jesus" in the YLT, comes from the Greek word “chrio” (number 5548) meaning contact, to smear, to rub - to anoint or joyously bestow. "Chrio" is used to refer to anointing with oil for a particular purpose such as being appointed to some position or office or function. Therefore, the Greek word "Christos" rendered "Christ" is given an assigned usage meaning in Scripture: “the Anointed One." It most often refers to the Messiah / Savior / Ruler of all the nations of the world in the kingdom of God, Who is to come into the world as an Israelite to deliver Israel and mankind from bondage and sin into the eternal kingdom of God.
(Ps 2:1 NKJV) '''Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?
(Ps 2:2 NKJV) The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed [i.e., The Christ], saying,
(Ps 2:3 NKJV) "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us."
(Ps 2:4 NKJV) He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.
(Ps 2:5 NKJV) Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure:
(Ps 2:6 NKJV) "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.
(Ps 2:7 NKJV) I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
(Ps 2:8 NKJV) Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
(Ps 2:9 NKJV) You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'
(Ps 2:10 NKJV) Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
(Ps 2:11 NKJV) Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
(Ps 2:12 NKJV) Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him." '''
The Psalmist asks why, in the sense of the futility of it, the nations of the world are in a rage, the peoples of the world, the kings and the rulers of the earth vainly plot and take counsel together and set themselves against the LORD and His Anointed. This is vanity especially in view of God's Almighty power and sovereignty, (Ps 1:1-2). The LORD's Anointed is His chosen one to be ruler of Zion, i.e., the people of Israel, His chosen people, with David, the first king in view, (Ps 2:2, 6). The Psalmist declares that the kings and rulers of the earth in their rebellion against God and His Anointed are saying, 'Let us break their bonds in piece and cast away their cords from us,' (Ps 2:3). The nations, peoples, kings and rulers of the world were evidently aware of the LORD and His Anointed ruler of the people of Zion. They were enraged and consorted with one another to defeat God's sovereignty over them. It was their view that they were in bondage to the LORD and His king, (Ps 2:2-3). But the Psalmist declares that the LORD in heaven will laugh and hold them in derision. He will speak to them via His wrath and distress them via action that reflects His deep displeasure, (Ps 2:4-5). The LORD declares that He has set His anointed king on His holy hill, Zion, (Ps 2:6). The word Zion here refers to Jerusalem which indicates that the LORD's chosen people are Israelites whose Anointed / Chosen one is their king. Zion was originally a Canaanite city which was being conquered by David. The name Zion later on was used to refer to the temple area and then to the entire city of Jerusalem. The term 'Holy hill' is a synonym for the temple mount in Jerusalem. And the LORD declares that His Anointed / Chosen One has been begotten of God as His Son, (Ps 2:7). In view of the fact that physical sonship is not reversible, so much the more is sonship to God irrevocable, and moreso, it is eternal because God is eternal. God goes on to say to His Anointed, "Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel" (Ps 2:8-9). The phrase "You are My son" in Ps 2:7, comes from the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7:14). It is appropriated in Psalm 2 to show the legitimate God ordained right of the king to rule. The phrase 'Today I have begotten You' refers to the day of one being Anointed / Chosen by God to be king of Israel, i.e., the day of the coronation of the king, and his adoption as a son of God into the family of God in an eternal life familial relationship with God. It is implied that the Anointed king of Israel, being declared to be a son of God, has the reception of eternal life and will receive an eternal kingdom inheritance to rule the nations to the ends of the earth in the future eternal kingdom, (Ps 2:8). This also implies that the rebellion of the nations of the world toward the LORD and His Anointed, will finally be put down.
In view of the lack of complete fulfillment of the prophecies in verses 1 through 9, through king David or any king after him so far, the context must jump out of the time of David to a future King of Israel, "the Anointed One, "the Christ," from the Greek, "ho Christos," Who will inherit the nations of the world, and the ends of the earth, evidently as an eternal inheritance and possession, (Ps 2:8). So the Future Anointed of God, "the Christ," will meet the enraged nations, peoples, kings and rulers of the world in conflict and "break them with a rod of iron" and "dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel," despite the warning of the LORD through the Psalmist in verses 10-12, "Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him." Notice that individual's throughout the world are blessed when they put their trust in the Anointed One of the LORD = "the Christ." This Anointed One is far more than a temporal king of Israel; for throughout the world one may trust in Him to be blessed. No temporal king can say or do that. Nor can the wrath of a king over all the nations of the earth be so powerful unless He is God Himself.
(v. 6) "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of Your kingdom.
(v. 7) You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has set You above Your companions by anointing You with the oil of joy."
(v. 6) "For a child will be born to us, [Israel, (vv. 1-5)] a Son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
(v. 7) There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this."
Old Testament Scripture spoke in ancient times of a Messiah Savior Who would be born as a Child and be God and Man at the same time. The prophet Isaiah verfies that a Messiah-Savior would be born of Israel Who is "Mighty God" and "Everlasting Father" Who could only then be God Himself as there are no other Gods, (Isa 43:10-11; 44:6).
Passages with the phrase "Christ Jesus" such as Eph 1:1 stress the exalted and anointed Son of God Who graciously emptied Himself of, i.e., set aside His divine prerogatives, adding to Himself the form of perfect Humanity so as to take upon Himself the penalty of sins of the whole world by dying in the cross at calvary - the atonement for the sins of the whole world. So when the Apostle Paul uses the term "Christ Jesus" he is emphasizing the grace of God with a view to His Son's atonement for the sins of the whole world.
D) THE PHRASE "CHRIST JESUS" STRESSES THE EXALTED SON OF GOD WHO GRACIOUSLY SET ASIDE THE EXERCISE OF HIS DIETY, TAKING ON THE FORM OF PERFECT HUMANITY TO PAY FOR SINS
(Eph 1:1 Greek) "Paul, ...Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, that is to say to the believing [ones] in Christ Jesus"
Jesus (Ye-shoo-ah) refers to God the Son's name in His First Coming to die for sins. It means "JEHOVAH IS SALVATION
The Christ (Ha-me-sh e-ah) refers to God the Son's name in His Second Coming to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. THE CHRIST means THE MESSIAH or THE ANOINTED ONE which is what the word Christos, (Christ) means in the Greek. To anoint is to gift or joyously bestow. Christ is the One Who is gifted (joyously bestowed) with the Lordship of heaven and earth - of all creation - by the Father.
The phrase "Christ Jesus" stresses the exalted Son of God Who graciously emptied Himself of, i.e., set aside His divine prerogatives, adding to Himself the form of perfect humanity so to take the penalty of sins of the whole world by dying on the cross at calvary - forever to remain the GodMan. So when the Apostle Paul uses the term "Christ Jesus" he is emphasizing the grace of God.
II) [Eph 1:2]:
(v. 2 YLT) Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ"
(v. 2 Greek) .charis humin kai .eirEnE apo ..theou ...patros hEmOn
......................Grace to you and peace ..from God .…Father our
kai .kuriou ..IEsou Christou"
and Lord …Jesus .Christ"
A) THE PHRASE "GRACE TO YOU" REFERS TO UNDESERVED GODLY BLESSING & THE PHRASE "PEACE FROM GOD AND CHRIST" TO AN INNER TRANQUILITY OUTSIDE OF CIRCUMSTANCES. BOTH PHRASES REFER TO THE BELIEVER
In verse 2, author Paul then stipulates "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Grace is defined as undeserved blessing which God bestows on one, to which Paul as if in a prayer has requested God to do so to the saints at Ephesus, the believing ones in Christ Jesus. Paul also declares a provision of peace, i.e., an inner tranquility, undisturbed by external circumstances upon believers. Another kind of peace, such as an external peace with no external troubles would not be in view.
III) [Eph 1:3]:
(Eph 1:3 YLT) Blessed [is] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who did bless us in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ"
A) SUMMARY IN CAPs
(v. 3 YLT) "Blessed [is] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who did bless us in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" =
Paul declares "Blessed [is] God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Greek word "EulogEtos" rendered "Blessed" literally means "speaking well of" and yields to the the concept of Paul extolling God in verse 3 of Ephesians chapter one because of God Who did bless us [believers] in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
The aorist, nominative participle "eulogEsas" in the phrase , "[God] Who did bless us in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ," which literally means, 'having blessed' points to God's blessing, i.e., prospering of all believers in a one time completed action in the past - eternity past. With what are believers blessed? With every spiritual blessing (in the Gr., this phrase precedes the words 'in the heavenly realms'). 'Every spiritual blessing' (eulogia) refers to every spiritual enrichment needed for the spiritual life. Since these benefits have already been bestowed on believers, they should not ask for them but rather appropriate them by faith.
The manner or sphere of this enrichment is in Christ. The place of these 'blessings' is in the heavenly realms, as opposed to the earthly realm of the Ephesian Goddess Artemis. Thus these blessings are spiritual not material, heavenly not earthly, eternal not temporal.
Ephesians 1:3 tells much about God's blessing on believers: (a) when: eternity past (b) with what: every spiritual blessing: (c) where: in the heavenly realms; (d) how: in Christ."
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Ephesians 1-NIV
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus,[a] the faithful[b] in Christ Jesus: 2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual Blessings in Christ 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he[c] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment-to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 11In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory. Thanksgiving and Prayer 15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Footnotes: a. Ephesians 1:1 Some early manuscripts do not have in Ephesus. b. Ephesians 1:1 Or believers who are c. Ephesians 1:5 Or sight in love. 5 He d. Ephesians 1:9 Or us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he e. Ephesians 1:11 Or were made heirs f. Ephesians 1:17 Or a spirit
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Ephesians 1 (New American Standard Bible) The Blessings of Redemption 1Paul, (A)an apostle of (B)Christ Jesus (C)by the will of God, To the (D)saints who are [a]at (E)Ephesus and (F)who 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, 4just as (K)He chose us in Him before (L)the foundation of the world, that we would be (M)holy and blameless before [b]Him (N)In love 5He (O)predestined us to (P)adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, (Q)according to the kind intention of His will, 6(R)to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in (S)the Beloved. 7(T)In Him we have (U)redemption (V)through His blood, the (W)forgiveness of our trespasses, according to (X)the riches of His grace 8which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9He (Y)made known to us the mystery of His will, (Z)according to His kind intention which He (AA)purposed in Him 10with a view to an administration suitable to (AB)the fullness of the times, that is, (AC)the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11also we (AD)have obtained an inheritance, having been (AE)predestined (AF)according to His purpose who works all things (AG)after the counsel of His will, 12to the end that we who were the first to hope in [c]Christ would be (AH)to the praise of His glory. 13In Him, you also, after listening to (AI)the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were (AJ)sealed in Him with (AK)the Holy Spirit of promise, 14who is (AL)given as a pledge of (AM)our inheritance, with a view to the (AN)redemption of (AO)God's own possession, (AP)to the praise of His glory. 15For this reason I too, (AQ)having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and [d]your love for (AR)all the saints, 16(AS)do not cease giving thanks for you, (AT)while making mention of you in my prayers; 17that the (AU)God of our Lord Jesus Christ, (AV)the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of (AW)wisdom and of (AX)revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18I pray that (AY)the eyes of your heart 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 saints, 19and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. (BE)These are in accordance with the working of the (BF)strength of His might 20which 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, 21far 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. 22And He (BM)put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as (BN)head over all things to the church, 23which is His (BO)body, the (BP)fullness of Him who (BQ)fills (BR)all in all. Footnotes: a. Ephesians 1:1 Three early mss do not contain at Ephesus b. Ephesians 1:4 Or Him, in love c. Ephesians 1:12 I.e. the Messiah d. Ephesians 1:15 Three early mss do not contain your love
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Ephesians 1 (King James Version) 1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According 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: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10That 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: 11In 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: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In 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, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17That 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: 18The 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, 19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far 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: 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
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Ephesians 1 (New King James Version) Greeting 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Redemption in Christ 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both[a] which are in heaven and which are on earth-in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who[b] is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom 15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease 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 to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding[c] being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His 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 age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Footnotes: a. Ephesians 1:10 NU-Text and M-Text omit both. b. Ephesians 1:14 NU-Text reads which. c. Ephesians 1:18 NU-Text and M-Text read hearts.
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Ephesians 1 (American Standard Version) 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints that are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: 5 having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved: 7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him 10 unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, I say, 11 in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will; 12 to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: 13 in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,-- in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God's own possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15 For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which ye show toward 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 a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; 18 having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might 20 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
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Ephesians 1 (Young's Literal Translation) 1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ! 3Blessed [is] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who did bless us in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4according as He did choose us in him before the foundation of the world, for our being holy and unblemished before Him, in love, 5having foreordained us to the adoption of sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He did make us accepted in the beloved, 7in whom we have the redemption through his blood, the remission of the trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, 8in which He did abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9having made known to us the secret of His will, according to His good pleasure, that He purposed in Himself, 10in regard to the dispensation of the fulness of the times, to bring into one the whole in the Christ, both the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth -- in him; 11in whom also we did obtain an inheritance, being foreordained according to the purpose of Him who the all things is working according to the counsel of His will, 12for our being to the praise of His glory, [even] those who did first hope in the Christ, 13in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth -- the good news of your salvation -- in whom also having believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14which is an earnest of our inheritance, to the redemption of the acquired possession, to the praise of His glory. 15Because of this I also, having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and the love to all the saints, 16do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of the glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the recognition of him, 18the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, for your knowing what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what the exceeding greatness of His power to us who are believing, according to the working of the power of His might, 20which He wrought in the Christ, having raised him out of the dead, and did set [him] at His right hand in the heavenly [places], 21far above all principality, and authority, and might, and lordship, and every name named, not only in this age, but also in the coming one; 22and all things He did put under his feet, and did give him -- head over all things to the assembly, 23which is his body, the fulness of Him who is filling the all in all,