Ephesians 1

Paul, an apostle^a of Christ Jesus by the will of God,^b

To God’s holy people^c in Ephesus,^d the faithful^e in Christ Jesus:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^f

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^a who has blessed us in the heavenly realms^b with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us^c in him before the creation of the world^d to be holy and blameless^e in his sight. In love^f he predestined^g us for adoption to sonship^h through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasureⁱ and will— to the praise of his glorious grace,^j which he has freely given us in the One he loves.^k In him we have redemption^l through his blood,^m the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the richesⁿ of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery^o of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed^p in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment^q—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.^r

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined^s according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose^t of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.^u And you also were included in Christ^v when you heard the word of truth,^w the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,^x the promised Holy Spirit,^y who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance^z until the redemption^a of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.^b

Thanksgiving and Prayer

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus^a and your love for all his people,^b I have not stopped giving thanks for you,^c remembering you in my prayers.^d I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^e may give you the Spirit of wisdom^f and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened^g in order that you may know the hope to which he has called^h you, the richesⁱ of his glorious inheritance^j in his people,^k and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power^l is the same as the mighty strength^m he exerted when he raised Christ from the deadⁿ and seated him at his right hand^o in the heavenly realms,^p far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,^q and every name^r that can be invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.^s And God placed all things under his feet^t and appointed him to be head^u over everything for the church, which is his body,^v the fullness of him^w who fills everything in every way.^x