1After saluting the Ephesians, 3Paul blesseth God for his spiritual blessings on those whom he had chosen in Christ, and predestinated to the adoption of children; 7for our redemption by his grace, according to his revealed purpose of gathering together all in one under Christ; 11for the inheritance already obtained by those who first trusted in Christ; 13and for the Spirit given to after-believers, as an earnest of the same. 15He declareth his continual thankfulness to God for their faith, and his prayers that God would perfect them in the knowledge of those things, which concerned their state in Christ, 20whom God had raised up, and exalted to be the supreme head of his body the church.
1aPAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to bthe saints which are at cEphesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
a Ac. 9.3,15. Ro. 1.5. 1Co. 15.8-10. Ga. 1.15,16. b Ro. 1.7. 2Co. 1.1. 1Co. 1.2; 4.17. Phi. 1.1. Col. 1.2. ch. 2.10. 1Th. 1.1. c Ac. 19; 20.
2dGrace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
d 1Th. 1.1. Tit. 1.4. 1Pe. 1.2.
3eBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who fhath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly 1places in Christ:
1Or, things, He. 9.23. v.20. ch. 3.10.
e Jn. 20.17. He. 1.9. Ps. 45.7. f Ge. 12.3; 22.18. Ro. 8.30,32. v.4-11. ch. 2.4-10. Ps. 72.17. De. 2.7; 7.13; 8.7; 28.2.
4According as he ghath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be hholy and without blame before him in love:
g Ro. 8.29,30. 1Pe. 2.9. 2Ti. 1.9; 2.10,19. 2Th. 2.13. Ja. 2.5. Col. 1.22. Tit. 2.12,14. Mat. 20.16; 22.14. Jn. 15.16. h 1Th. 4.7.
5iHaving predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, jaccording to the good pleasure of his will,
i Ro. 8.15-17. Lu. 12.32. Jn. 1.12. 2Co. 6.18. Ga. 4.5,6. 1Jn. 3.1. Ps. 4.3; 135.4. Is. 43.21. De. 32.9. Jn. 17.9. Ac. 9.15. Ro. 11.4. v.6,11-14. Ro. 9.11. Je. 1.5; 3.19; 32.41. j 1Co. 1.21. v.9.
6kTo the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath lmade us accepted in mthe beloved.
k v.12,14. ch. 2.7; 3.21. 1Pe. 4.11. Ro. 9.23. Lu. 2.14. Ps. 115.1; 107.1,2,8. l 1Pe. 2.5. Is. 45.24,25. Je. 23.6. Ro. 3.24; 5.15-19. 2Co. 5.21. m Mat. 3.17; 17.5. Pr. 8.30,31. Is. 42.1; 49.1-3. Jn. 3.35; 10.17.
7nIn whom we have redemption through his blood, the oforgiveness of sins, according to the priches of his grace;
n Mat. 20.28; 26.28. Ac. 20.28. Ro. 3.24-26. Col. 1.14. He. 9.12,14. 1Pe. 1.18,19; 2.24; 3.18. Re. 5.9. o Lu. 1.77. Ac. 10.43. Col. 2.13. p ch. 3.8,16. Phi. 4.19.
8qWherein he hath abounded toward us in all rwisdom and prudence;
q 1Co. 1.5; 12.8. 1Ti. 1.14,16. 1Pe. 1.3, or v.17. Col. 1.9,10. 2Ti. 3.15. Ro. 12.2. Phi. 1.9,10. r Col. 2.3.
9sHaving made known unto us the mystery of his will, taccording to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
s Ro. 16.25. Col. 1.26. ch. 3.9,11; 2.17. Mat. 13.11. v.17. t v.5,11. Is. 46.10. Mat. 11.26,27. 2Ti. 1.9,10; 2.19. Tit. 1.2. Ro. 8.28-30; 9.11-23. ch. 3.11.
10That uin the *dispensation of the fulness of times he might vgather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in 2heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
*dispensation-administration, distribution.
2Gr. the heavens.
u Ge. 49.10. Da. 9.24. Mal. 3.1. Ga. 4.4. He. 1.2; 9.10,26. 1Pe. 1.20. v Col. 1.20; 2.10. He. 12.22-24. 1Ti. 1.15. v.20-23. 1Co. 3.22; 11.3; 15.24. Phi. 2.9-11. ch. 3.15; 2.15.
11wIn whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated xaccording to the purpose of him who yworketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
w Ac. 20.32; 26.18. Col. 1.12; 3.21. Ro. 8.17; 9.30. Ga. 3.2,9,29; 4.7. Tit. 3.7. 1Pe. 1.4; 3.9. v.14,18. x Ro. 8.28. v.9. ch. 3.11. y Is. 46.10. Ps. 33.11; 135.6; 104.24. Mat. 10.29. Ac. 15.18. Phi. 2.13. Is. 14.24,27.
12zThat we should be to the praise of his glory, who afirst 3trusted in Christ.
3Or, hoped.
z v.6,14. ch. 2.7; 3.21. Ro. 9.23. Lu. 2.14. Is. 43.21. Phi. 1.11. 1Pe. 4.11. Jn. 15.16,8. Mat. 5.16. a Ac. 3.26; 13.46; 2.41. Ro. 1.16; 11.16. 2Th. 2.13. Ja. 1.18.
13bIn whom ye also trusted , after that ye heard the word of truth, cthe gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, dye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
b Ro. 10.17; 1.16,17. Col. 1.6,23. 1Th. 2.13. 1Ti. 1.15. Re. 19.9. Jn. 1.17. Ga. 2.5,14; 3.1; 4.16; 5.7. ch. 4.21. 2Co. 6.7. c Mar. 16.15,16. Ro. 1.16,17. Is. 55.3. Tit. 2.11. He. 2.3. Jn. 3.14-17. d Ro. 8.15,16. 2Co. 1.6,22; 5.5. ch. 4.30. Ga. 4.6. Lu. 24.49. Jn. 6.27; 14.26; 16.13.
14Which is the e*earnest of our inheritance until the fredemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
*earnest-pledge, deposit.
e v.13. 2Co. 1.22; 5.5. Ga. 4.6. Ro. 8.15-17,23. f ch. 4.30. Ro. 8.23. Lu. 21.28. Ac. 20.28. Re. 5.9. Ex. 19.5. De. 7.6; 14.2; 26.18. 1Pe. 2.9. v.6,12.
15Wherefore gI also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
g Ro. 1.8,9. Phi. 1.3,4. Col. 1.3,4. 1Th. 1.2-5; 3.5-8. 2Th. 1.3. Phile. 4,5.
16hCease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
h Ro. 1.8.
17That ithe God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you jthe spirit of wisdom and revelation 4in the knowledge of him:
4Or, for the acknowledgment.
i v.3. Jn. 20.17. 1Pe. 1.3. Ac. 7.2. Ps. 19.1. j Col. 1.9,10. 2Pe. 1.2. 1Co. 12.8; 14.6,26.
18kThe eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is lthe hope of his calling, and what mthe riches of the glory of his ninheritance in the saints,
k Is. 42.7. Ps. 119.18. Lu. 24.45. Ac. 26.18. ch. 5.8. 1Jn. 2.20,27; 5.20. 2Co. 4.6. l ch. 4.4. Ga. 5.5. Ro. 8.24,25. 1Jn. 3.2,3. Col. 1.5. m v.7. ch. 2.7; 3.8,16. Mat. 13.44. Phi. 4.19. 1Pe. 1.4. n v.11.
19And what is othe exceeding greatness of his power to *us-ward who believe, paccording to the working of 5his mighty power,
*us-ward-toward us.
5Gr. the might of his power.
o Col. 2.12. Ps. 110.2,3. Is. 53.1. ch. 3.7. Phi. 3.21. 1Pe. 1.5. p Col. 1.29.
20qWhich he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and rset him at his own right hand sin the heavenly places ,
q Ps. 16.10,11; 89.21,27; 110.1. Ac. 2.24,33; 3.15,26. Mar. 14.62; 16.19. He. 2.9; 1.3; 10.12. 1Pe. 3.22. r Col. 3.1. s v.3.
21tFar above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in uthat which is to come:
t Phi. 2.9-11. Col. 2.10; 1.15,16,18; 2.15. ch. 4.10; 3.10. 1Pe. 3.22. He. 1.4. v.22. u He. 2.5,8. 2Pe. 3.7.
22And vhath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be wthe head over all things to the church,
v Ps. 8.6-8. Mat. 28.18. 1Co. 15.27. Phi. 2.11. He. 2.8. w ch. 3.15; 4.15,16; 5.23. Col. 1.18. Jn. 17.2. Phi. 3.21.
23Which is xhis body, the fulness of him that yfilleth all in all.
x Ro. 12.5. 1Co. 12.6,12,27. ch. 2.16; 3.15; 4.12,13,16; 5.23,30. Col. 1.18,24. y Jn. 1.14,16. ch. 4.10. Ps. 68.18. 1Co. 12.6; 15.28. ch. 5.18; 3.19. Phi. 1.11. Col. 1.19; 2.10; 3.11.