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Ephesians 1:6

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

To {G1519} the praise {G1868} of the glory {G1391} of his {G846} grace {G5485}, wherein {G1722}{G3739} he hath made {G5487} us {G2248} accepted {G5487} in {G1722} the beloved {G25}.

so that we would bring him praise commensurate with the glory of the grace he gave us through the Beloved One.

to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.

to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved:

Commentary

Ephesians 1:6 KJV is a pivotal verse within Paul's magnificent opening doxology in the Epistle to the Ephesians. It encapsulates the ultimate purpose of God's redemptive work: to bring Him eternal praise for His boundless grace. This verse assures believers of their complete acceptance before God, not based on their merit, but solely through their relationship with Jesus Christ, "the beloved."

Context

This verse flows directly from the preceding declarations of God's divine plan of salvation. Paul begins Ephesians 1 by blessing God for the spiritual blessings bestowed upon believers in Christ Jesus. He establishes that believers were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world and predestined unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself. Verse 6 then reveals the profound reason and desired outcome of this elaborate divine initiative: the praise of God's glorious grace.

Key Themes

  • The Praise of God's Glory: The primary purpose of all God's actions in salvation is to magnify His own glory. Our acceptance is not just for our benefit, but fundamentally for His renown.
  • God's Sovereign Grace: The term "grace" (Greek: charis) signifies God's unmerited favor. Our acceptance is purely a gift, undeserved and freely given by God. It highlights that salvation is entirely God's initiative and work.
  • Full Acceptance: The phrase "made us accepted" speaks to a complete and unqualified welcome into God's presence. There is no partial acceptance or conditional love; believers are fully reconciled and cherished by God.
  • In the Beloved: This crucial phrase points to Jesus Christ as the sole means of our acceptance. We are accepted not on our own standing, but because of our union with Him. Jesus is God's "Beloved Son" (Matthew 3:17), and through Him, we share in His favored status.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "made us accepted" is charitoō (χαριτόω), which means "to grace," "to make gracious," or "to highly favor." It carries the same root as charis, "grace." This isn't merely an act of toleration, but an active endowment of grace, making us objects of God's special favor. It is used elsewhere in the New Testament to describe how Mary was "highly favoured" (Luke 1:28). This suggests that believers are not just pardoned, but are actively honored and made delightful in God's sight through Christ.

The phrase "the beloved" (Greek: en tō ēgapēmenō, ἐν τῷ ἠγαπημένῳ) is a unique and tender title for Jesus Christ in this context. It emphasizes His intimate and cherished relationship with the Father, and it is in this beloved One that believers find their own beloved status before God.

Practical Application

Ephesians 1:6 offers profound comfort and a clear call to worship:

  • Assurance of Salvation: If you are in Christ, you are truly and fully accepted by God. This eliminates doubt and provides a firm foundation for your spiritual identity. Your standing before God is not based on your performance, but on Christ's perfect work.
  • Humility and Gratitude: This verse leaves no room for boasting. All credit for our acceptance belongs to God's glorious grace. This should cultivate a heart of deep gratitude and humility.
  • Living for God's Glory: The ultimate purpose of our salvation is God's praise. Our lives, therefore, should be lived in a way that brings glory to Him, reflecting His goodness and grace to the world.
  • Identity in Christ: Our true identity is found in being "in the beloved." This union with Christ is the source of all our spiritual blessings and our standing before God.

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that our salvation journey begins and ends with the praise of God's magnificent grace, revealed in the person and work of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Romans 3:22 (18 votes)

    Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

  • Romans 3:26 (18 votes)

    To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

  • Ephesians 1:12 (18 votes)

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

  • Colossians 1:13 (18 votes)

    Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:

  • Philippians 4:19 (13 votes)

    But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

  • Matthew 3:17 (13 votes)

    And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

  • Ephesians 1:7 (9 votes)

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