Ephesians 1

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

1 This is Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus because God called me and put me on assignment, writing to the faithful believers in Ephesus, the ones staying solid in Christ Jesus.

2 Grace and peace to all of you all from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Big praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, because through Christ He blessed us with every spiritual blessing that comes from heaven.

4 Before He even laid the foundation of the world, He chose us in Christ so we could stand before Him holy, set apart, and without blame.

5 Because of His love, He already decided ahead of time to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ, and that was exactly what He wanted to do.

6 All of this happened so people would praise the greatness of His grace, the same grace He freely poured out on us through His beloved Son.

7 Through Jesus and the blood He shed for us, we got redemption, freedom from our sins, and complete forgiveness according to the riches of His grace.

8 God did not hold back either, He poured that grace out on us with all wisdom and understanding.

9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He planned beforehand in Christ.

10 When the right time comes, God’s plan is to bring everything together under Christ’s authority, everything in heaven and everything on earth.

11 In Christ we also received an inheritance, because God chose us beforehand according to His purpose, and He works out everything according to His own will and plan.

12 We who first put our hope in Christ were chosen so our lives would bring glory and praise to Him.

13 And you all also got included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the Good News of your salvation. After you believed, God marked you with the promised Holy Spirit as His seal of ownership.

14 The Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we belong to God and that we will receive our full inheritance when He finally redeems everything He purchased, all to the praise of His glory.

Paul’s Prayer for Wisdom and Revelation

15 Ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,

16 I have not stopped thanking God for you all and bringing you up in my prayers.

17 I keep asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so you can know Him deeper and better.

18 I am praying that the eyes of your heart get opened so you can truly understand the hope He called you to, the riches of His glorious inheritance among His people,

19 and the overwhelming greatness of His power working in us who believe. That power is the same mighty strength

20 God used when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.

21 Jesus is far above every ruler, authority, power, dominion, and every name that can be named, not only in this age but in the age to come.

22 God placed everything under Christ’s feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church.

23 The church is His body, filled by Christ Himself, who fills everything everywhere with His presence.