Ephesians 1
The first chapter of Ephesians, which begins with the greeting of the apostle Paul, reveals that Paul was made an apostle by God’s will, and prays that God’s grace and peace be upon the saints in Ephesus and upon the faithful in Christ Jesus. This clarifies the intended recipients of the letter and establishes the authority of the message to be delivered next.
1versePaul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2verseGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3verseBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4verseeven as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love,
5versehaving predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,
6verseto the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved.
7verseIn him we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
8versewhich he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
9versemaking known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
10verseto an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in him.
11verseWe were also assigned an inheritance in him, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who does all things after the counsel of his will,
12verseto the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ.
13verseIn him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14versewho is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.
15verseFor this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you and the love which you have toward all the saints,
16versedon’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,
17versethat the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him,
18versehaving the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19verseand what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
20versewhich he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
21versefar above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.
22verseHe put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,
23versewhich is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Praise and Thanksgiving (1:3–14)
From verse 3 through verse 14, Paul offers praise and thanksgiving to God. He declares that every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms has been given in Christ, emphasizing God’s choosing, adoption, redemption, forgiveness, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit.
- Election (verse 4): God’s gracious initiative is emphasized.
- Adoption (verse 5): Believers are described as brought into God’s family through Christ.
- Redemption and forgiveness (verse 7): Grace is presented as the basis of salvation.
- The seal of the Holy Spirit (verses 13–14): The Spirit is described as the guarantee of the promised inheritance.
Prayer and Intercession (1:15–23)
After hearing the news of the faith and love of the church in Ephesus, Paul offers thanks and intercessory prayers. Paul asks that God would give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they may know God better. He also prays that they will come to understand how great God’s hope, inheritance, and power are. Finally, he explains Christ’s sovereignty and His relationship to the church, stating that Christ is the head of the church over all things.
Meditation Points
- In the fact that God chose and loved us first, we can deeply reflect on what it means to be among God’s people and on the grace of salvation.
- Through Paul’s prayer, we are led to look back on how important it is in our Christian life to have knowledge of God and the help of the Holy Spirit.
- Take some time to reflect on Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church, each individual’s relationship with Him, and the identity of the faith community.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- I also reflect on whether I am living today’s life with gratitude and joy as one who has been chosen in Christ.
- This can be an opportunity to check whether I serve one another in love within the community of faith.
- Let’s make a decision to live by relying on the leading of the Holy Spirit as we keep learning more and more about God every day and the Spirit who is with me in my life.
