1 This letter comes from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to God's will, to the Christians in Ephesus and those who trust in Christ Jesus. 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with all that's spiritually good in the heavenly world, 4 just as he chose us to be in him before the beginning of this world, so that in love we could be holy and without fault before him. 5 He decided in advance to adopt us as his children, working through Jesus Christ to bring us to himself. He was happy to do this because this is what he wanted. 6 So we praise him for his glorious grace that he so kindly gave us in his beloved Son. 7 Through him we gain salvation through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins as a result of his priceless grace 8 that he so generously provided for us, together with all wisdom and understanding. 9 He revealed to us his previously-hidden will through which he was happy to pursue his plan 10 at the appropriate time to bring everyone together in Christ—those in heaven and those on the earth. 11 In him—we were chosen beforehand, according to the plan of the one who is working everything out according to his will, 12 for the purpose that we who were the first to hope in Christ could praise his glory. 13 In him—you too have heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation. In him—because you trusted in him you were stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit's promise, 14 which is a down-payment on our inheritance when God redeems what he's kept safe for himself—us, who will praise and give him glory! 15 That's the reason, because I've heard of your trust in the Lord Jesus and the love that you have for all Christians, 16 why I never stop thanking God for you and remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom to see and know him as he really is. 18 May your minds be enlightened so you can understand the hope he's called you to— the glorious riches he promises as an inheritance to his holy people. 19 May you also understand God's amazing power 20 that he demonstrated in raising Christ from the dead. God seated Christ at his right hand in heaven, 21 far above any other ruler, authority, power, or lord, or any leader with all their titles—not only in this world, but also in the coming world too. 22 God has made everything subject to the authority of Christ, and has given him the responsibility as head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, filled full and made complete by Christ, who fills and brings everything to completion.
Ephesians · Free Bible Version
Ephesians 1 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (23)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Colossians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:1–2; Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:1
- 2 Romans 1:7; Galatians 1:3; Titus 1:4; 2 Corinthians 1:2
- 3 1 Peter 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 2:6; Genesis 22:18; Revelation 5:9–14
- 4 2 Timothy 1:9; Romans 8:28–30; Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 25:34; 1 Peter 2:9
- 5 Romans 8:29–30; Ephesians 1:11; Galatians 4:5–6; John 1:12; 1 John 3:1
- 6 Romans 3:22–26; Colossians 1:13; Ephesians 1:12; Philippians 4:19; Ephesians 1:7–8
- 7 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 3:24; Colossians 1:14; 1 John 1:7–9; 1 Peter 1:18–19
- 8 Revelation 5:12; Ephesians 3:10; Romans 5:15; Colossians 2:3; Psalm 104:24
- 9 Colossians 1:26–28; Romans 16:25–27; Ephesians 3:3–9; 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 1:11
- 10 Colossians 1:20; Philippians 2:9–10; Galatians 4:4; Daniel 2:44; Mark 1:15
- 11 Romans 8:28; 1 Peter 1:4; Isaiah 46:10–11; Ephesians 1:14; Ephesians 1:5
- 12 Ephesians 1:6; Jeremiah 17:5–7; Ephesians 1:13–14; Isaiah 42:1–4; Ephesians 3:21
- 13 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 4:30; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Galatians 3:14
- 14 2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 4:30; Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:15–17
- 15 Philemon 5; Colossians 1:3–4; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; Hebrews 6:10; 1 John 4:21
- 16 Romans 1:8–9; Colossians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; Colossians 1:3; 1 Samuel 12:23
- 17 Isaiah 11:2; James 3:17–18; Colossians 1:9–10; Proverbs 2:5; 2 Peter 1:3
- 18 Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Luke 24:45; 1 John 3:1–3; Ephesians 1:7
- 19 Philippians 2:13; Colossians 2:12; Ephesians 3:20; Colossians 1:29; 2 Corinthians 4:7
- 20 Hebrews 10:12; Mark 16:19; Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 28:18
- 21 Philippians 2:9–11; Colossians 2:10; Colossians 1:15–16; 1 Peter 3:22; Hebrews 1:4
- 22 Colossians 1:18; Colossians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 15:25–27; Psalm 8:6–8; Hebrews 2:8
- 23 Colossians 1:18–19; John 1:16; Colossians 2:9–10; Ephesians 4:12; Ephesians 3:19
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… that Paul said, "And He Himself is all things;" and again, "All things are to Him, and of Him are all things;" and further, "In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead;" and yet again, "All things are gathered together by God in Christ." Thus do they interpret these and any like passages to be found in Scripture.
And Thou, O Lord, hadst already magnified Thy Holy One, raising Him from the dead, and setting Him at Thy right hand, whence from on high He should send His promise, the Paraclete, "the Spirit of Truth." And He had already sent Him, but I knew it not; He had sent Him, because He was now magnified, rising again from …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
And charging the Ephesians, he thus speaks, 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; and the rest.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
And an indication of this is found in the fact that wherever the Natures are distinguished in our thoughts from one another, the Names are also distinguished; as you hear in Paul's words, "The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory." The God of Christ, but the Father of glory.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered increaseth with the increase of God." And that Christ is the head of the Church we have learned in another passage, when the apostle says "gave him to be the head over all things to the Church," and "of his fulness have all we received." And the Lord Himself says "He shall …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)