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

¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

According 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:

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

That 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:

In 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:

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

In 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,

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Thanksgiving and Prayer for Enlightenment

¶ Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

That 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:

The 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,

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Far 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:

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

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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Ephesians1

Salutation and Greeting

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Thanksgiving and Prayer for Enlightenment

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