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.

Salutation and Greeting

1
Paul, an emissary of Messiah Yeshua through the will of God, to the holy ones who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Messiah Yeshua: ​
2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Messiah; ​
4
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love; ​
5
having predestined us for adoption as children through Yeshua the Messiah to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, ​
6
to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely bestowed favor 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 to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him ​
10
to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Messiah, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him; ​
11
in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will; ​
12
to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Messiah:
13
in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ​
14
who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory. ​

Thanksgiving and Prayer for Enlightenment

15
For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Yeshua which is among you, and the love which you have toward all the holy ones, ​
16
don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,
17
that the God of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; ​
18
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the holy ones, ​
19
and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
20
which he worked in Messiah, 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 age, but also in that which is to come. ​
22
He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,
23
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills 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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