1:1 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. |
1:2 May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be yours! |
1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm, |
1:4 just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in his presence. In love |
1:5 he predestined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will, |
1:6 so that we would praise his glorious grace that he gave us in the Beloved One. |
1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of God's grace |
1:8 that he lavished on us, along with all wisdom and understanding, |
1:9 when he made known to us the secret of his will. This was according to his plan that he set forth in Christ |
1:10 to usher in the fullness of the times and to gather up all things in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth. |
1:11 In Christ 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, |
1:12 so that we who had already fixed our hope on Christ might live for his praise and glory. |
1:13 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, |
1:14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of God's own possession, to his praise and glory. |
1:15 Therefore, because I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, |
1:16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I mention you in my prayers. |
1:17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father most glorious, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation through knowing Christ fully. |
1:18 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, |
1:19 and the unlimited greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his mighty strength, |
1:20 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. |
1:21 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. |
1:22 God has put everything under his feet and has made him the head of everything for the good of the church, |
1:23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills everything in every way. |