Eph Ephesians, chapter Epistle to the Ephesians, chapter 1
Apostolic Greeting
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus1:1 Some ancient manuscripts transpose Christ Jesus to Jesus Christ by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus,1:1 Some ancient manuscripts omit in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ascription of Praise to God
Blessed be the God and Father1:3 One ancient Greek manuscript omits and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love, having predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved, in whom we have the redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,1:7 Greek the . In this context, the Greek definite article functions pronominally, thus translating to our according to the riches of His grace,1:7 Two ancient Greek manuscripts replace grace with kindness , possibly as a scribal harmonization with Rom. 2:4 which He caused to overflow to us in all wisdom and understanding, making known to us the mystery1:9 Or secret of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth1:9 Or purposed in Him as a plan for the fullness of the times,1:10 Or for the administration of the fullness of the times to sum up1:10 Or to gather up in one/to unite all things in Christ—the things in the heavens and the things on the earth—in Him, I emphasize,1:10 The clause I emphasize , though not found in the original text, is used in the translation to clarify the text for better understanding in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of the One who works all things according to the counsel of His will, in order that we might be to the praise of His glory, we who have first hoped in Christ. In whom you also, having heard the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—and having believed in Him, were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee1:14 Or down payment/deposit/first installment of our inheritance for the redemption of God’s own1:14 The referent God’s own is not found in the Greek text but is added here for the sake of clarification. The Greek text reads the redemption of the possession/acquired possession possession, to the praise of His glory.
Pauline Prayer for the Gift of the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation
For this reason, I also, having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,1:15 Greek the . In this context, the definite article functions pronominally, thus translating to your. This is used twice in this verse do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your heart enlightened, in order that you may know what is the hope of His calling,1:18 Or the hope to which He has called you what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing magnitude of His power toward us who believe, in accordance with the working of His mighty strength1:19 Greek the working of the might of His strength which He worked in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above every rule and authority and power and dominion,1:21 Or lordship and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come, and He subjected all things under His feet, and gave Him to be1:22 The infinitive phrase to be is contextually supplied to the text for the purpose of clarification head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.1:23 Or who fills all things in every way