Ephesians1

Paul opens his epistle to the Ephesians with a salutation, followed by a doxology praising God for spiritual blessings in Christ. He highlights God's eternal choice, predestination for adoption, and redemption through Christ's blood, sealed by the Holy Spirit as an earnest of inheritance. Paul then prays for the believers to receive wisdom and revelation, that they may comprehend God's calling, the riches of His inheritance, and the exceeding power demonstrated in Christ's resurrection and exaltation as head over the church.
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Salutation and Greeting

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: ​
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Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

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Blessedbethe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: ​
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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: ​
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having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ​
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to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved:
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in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, ​
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which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
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making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him ​
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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, ​
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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; ​
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to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:
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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, ​
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which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God’s own possession, unto the praise of his glory. ​

Thanksgiving and Prayer for Enlightenment

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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, ​
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cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
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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; ​
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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, ​
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and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
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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, ​
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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: ​
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and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,
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which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. ​

Study Notes for Ephesians 1

Verse 1

Paul typically identifies himself as an apostle to assert authority. The recipients are called 'saints' (holy ones, consecrated people) and 'faithful in Christ Jesus,' defining the Christian community.

Verse 3

This verse begins the great doxology (vv. 3-14), which is one long, complex sentence in the original Greek, praising God for the comprehensive plan of salvation. 'Heavenly places' is a key phrase in Ephesians, referring to the spiritual domain where Christ reigns and believers are seated.

Verse 4

God's election is described as occurring 'before the foundation of the world,' highlighting its eternal nature. The purpose of this election is moral and relational: to be 'holy and without blame' before God.

Verse 5

Predestination here emphasizes that God’s sovereign plan was to bring believers into the full legal status of 'adoption of children' through Christ, guaranteeing their inheritance.

Verse 7

Redemption is defined as 'forgiveness of sins' achieved 'through his blood,' underscoring the necessity of Christ's substitutionary sacrifice as the means of liberation from sin’s penalty.

Verse 9

The 'mystery of his will' refers not to something unknowable, but to a truth previously hidden but now revealed through the gospel—specifically, the inclusion of both Jews and Gentiles into one body (cf. Eph 3:6).

Verse 10

This verse describes the ultimate cosmic goal of God's plan: the unification ('gather together in one') of all creation, both spiritual and earthly, under Christ's absolute headship.

Verse 11

The concept of obtaining an inheritance is linked directly to being predestined according to God's sovereign purpose, ensuring the certainty of the believer’s future hope.

Verse 13

The sealing with the Holy Spirit signifies divine ownership and protection, confirming the believer’s secure standing after hearing and believing the gospel.

Verse 14

The Holy Spirit is the 'earnest' (arrabōn), a down payment or guarantee that ensures the full redemption and final inheritance will be received when Christ returns.

Verse 15

Paul transitions from theological doctrine (vv. 3-14) to pastoral intercession, motivated by the report of the Ephesians’ active faith and love for other believers.

Verse 17

Paul prays not for material needs, but for spiritual comprehension—'wisdom and revelation'—so that they might truly know God and grasp the depth of their relationship with Him.

Verse 18

'Enlightened' refers to spiritual illumination. Paul outlines three specific aspects of truth he prays they would grasp: the hope of their calling, the riches of their inheritance, and the greatness of God's power.

Verse 20

This verse anchors the power available to believers directly to the historical, undeniable power God demonstrated in the resurrection and subsequent exaltation of Christ.

Verse 21

Christ’s exaltation places him supremely above all earthly and spiritual hostile forces ('principality, and power'), confirming his absolute cosmic authority.

Verse 23

The Church is described as Christ’s 'body,' emphasizing organic union, and as the 'fulness' (plērōma), suggesting that the Church is the means by which Christ, who fills all things, expresses his presence and authority on earth.

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