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About this book: Ephesians

Ephesians is a letter that lifts the eyes. It opens with a long burst of praise for what God has done in Christ: choosing, forgiving and adopting people before they ever asked. Paul then describes how those who were spiritually dead have been raised by grace, not by achievement, and how Jews and non-Jews have been made one new people, a household and a temple where God lives by his Spirit. The second half turns to daily life. Because of this calling, believers are to live with humility, patience and truthfulness, to guard the unity the Spirit gives, and to let the gospel reshape marriage, parenting and work. The letter ends with a picture of spiritual struggle and the armor God supplies, and with a call to prayer. Some scholars think it was a circular letter meant for several churches, and a minority doubt Paul wrote it, but the church has long read it as one of his richest statements of who the church is.

Author
The apostle Paul; a minority of scholars propose a close follower writing in his name.
Date
Most likely about AD 60–62, while Paul was under house arrest in Rome.
Audience
Believers in Ephesus and the surrounding region, mostly of non-Jewish background.

Themes

Blessings in ChristSaved by graceOne new peopleUnity and holy livingThe armor of God

Outline

  1. 1:1–1:14Greeting and praise for God's plan
  2. 1:15–2:10Prayer, Christ's power and salvation by grace
  3. 2:11–3:21One new people and the mystery revealed
  4. 4:1–5:21Walking worthy: unity, growth and new life
  5. 5:22–6:9Households: marriage, children and work
  6. 6:10–6:24The armor of God and closing words

Key verses

Ephesians 2:8-10 →Ephesians 4:1-3 →Ephesians 6:10-11 →
About this chapterAfter greeting the believers, Paul praises God for blessing them in Christ with every spiritual blessing. Before the world began, God chose them in Christ and destined them to be adopted as his children, and in Christ they have redemption and forgiveness through his blood. God's plan is to bring all things together under Christ. Christians have long debated how to understand the language of choosing and predestination. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee of the inheritance to come. Paul then prays that they will know the hope of their calling and the immense power of God, shown when he raised Christ and seated him above every authority.

After greeting the believers, Paul praises God for blessing them in Christ with every spiritual blessing. Before the world began, God chose them in Christ and destined them to be adopted as his children, and in Christ they have redemption and forgiveness through his blood. God's plan is to bring all things together under Christ. Christians have long debated how to understand the language of choosing and predestination. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee of the inheritance to come. Paul then prays that they will know the hope of their calling and the immense power of God, shown when he raised Christ and seated him above every authority.

Themes

  • Every spiritual blessing
  • Chosen and adopted
  • Hope and power

Key verses

Audio Bible · Ephesians 1

Listen while you go about your day.

Ephesians 1

Berean Standard Bible23 verses · 2 min read

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. 4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love 5He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One. 7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ. 11In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. 13And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory. 15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. 18I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength, 20which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Verses in Ephesians 1
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Chapters of Ephesians

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