1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

8 Wherein he has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself:

10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.

15 Why I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love to all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.

apostle. App-189.

Jesus Christ. The texts read Christ Jesus (App-98).

will. App-102.

God. App-98.

saints. See Act 9:13. 1Co 1:2.

at. App-104.

Ephesus. See Introductory Notes.

faithful. App-150.

in. Same as at, above.

Christ Jesus. As above.

Grace. App-184. Occurs twelve times in Eph.

from. App-104.

Father. App-98.

Lord. App-98.

Blessed, &c. Compare 2Co 1:3. 1Pe 1:3. Always applied to God.

Lord. App-98.

hath = having. Note the use and importance of aorist participles throughout this section.

with. App-104.

all = every.

spiritual. See 1Co 12:1.

blessings = blessing (singular) Greek. eulogia. See Rom 15:29.

heavenly places = the heavenlies, i.e. heavenly spheres. Greek. epouranios. Compare Eph 1:20; Eph 2:6; Eph 3:10; Eph 6:12.

Christ. App-98.

According = Even.

hath chosen = chose out. Greek. eklegomai. Compare Act 1:2.

before. App-104.

foundation. App-146.

world. App-129. Compare 2Ti 1:9.

without blame. Greek. amomos. Here; Eph 5:27. Col 1:22. Heb 9:14. 1Pe 1:19. Jud 1:24. Rev 14:5.

before Him = in His sight. See 2Co 2:17.

love. App-135. Some insert "in love" after "predestinated us" in Eph 1:5.

predestinated = foreordained. Greek. proorizo. See Act 4:28. Rom 8:29.

unto, to. Greek. eis. App-104.

adoption of children. Greek. huiothesia. See Rom 8:15. Compare App-108.

according to. Greek. kata. App-104.

good pleasure. Greek. eudokia. See Rom 10:1.

praise. See Rom 2:29.

glory. Greek. doxa. See p. 1511.

wherein. The texts read which.

made . . . accepted = literally en-graced. App-184. Compare Luk 1:28.

Beloved. App-135. Compare Mat 3:17, Mat 17:5; &c. and see App-99.

we have. Compare Rom 5:1.

redemption = the redemption. See Rom 3:24; Rom 5:1.

through. Greek. dia. App-104. Eph 1:1.

His blood. The price of the redemption. Compare Act 20:28. 1Co 6:20. 1Pe 1:18, 1Pe 1:19; &c.

sins = transgressions. App-128.

riches, &c. Compare Eph 1:18; Eph 2:7; Eph 3:8, Eph 3:16. Rom 9:23. Col 1:27.

hath. Omit.

toward. Greek. eis. App-104.

prudence. Greek. phronesis. Only here and Luk 1:17.

Having made known. Greek. gnorizo. As in Eph 3:3. Php 1:1, Php 1:22 (wot). Compare App-132.

unto = to.

mystery. See App-193.

hath. Omit.

purposed. Greek. protithemi. See Rom 1:13.

That in. Greek. eis. App-104.

dispensation. Greek. oikonomia. See 1Co 9:17.

fulness. Greek. pleroma. First occurance: Mat 9:16.

He might gather together in one = to sum up (literally: "head up"). Greek. anakephalaioomai. See Rom 13:9. The verb in this place being in Mid. voice is reflexive, implying "for Himself" (compare verses: Eph 1:5, Eph 1:9).

both. Omit.

in. The texts read epi, as below.

heaven = the heavens (plural) See Mat 6:9, Mat 6:10.

on. Greek. epi. App-104.

earth. App-129.

even. Omit.

have. Omit.

obtained an inheritance. Greek. kleroomai. Only here.

being = having been.

purpose. Greek. prothesis. See Rom 8:28.

worketh. Greek. energeo. See 1Co 12:6.

after. Greek. kata. App-104.

counsel. App-102.

That = To the end that. Greek. eis. App-104.

first trusted = have before hoped. Greek. proelpizo. Only here. The "we" being the saved members of the Pentecostal church closed by the judgment pronouncement of Act 28:25, Act 28:28 (see Longer Note, p. 1694).

In Whom, &c. The Ellipsis (App-6) should be supplied from the subject of Eph 1:11. In (Greek. en) Whom ye were made an inheritance also; or, allotted as God’s own inheritance.

after, &c. = having heard. See Eph 1:5.

word of truth. The Word always the instrument of the new begetting. Compare Joh 17:17. Jas 1:18. 1Pe 1:23.

word. App-121.

truth = the truth.

gospel. App-140.

salvation. Only occurance of the word in Eph.

in Whom, &c. = in (Greek. en) Whom ye also on believing were sealed.

believed. App-150.

sealed. Compare Eph 4:30. Mat 27:66. Joh 3:33. 2Co 1:22. Rev 7:3; &c. A seal affixed implies possession, or security, as well as being a distinctive mark.

with. No preposition. Dative case.

that = the (Emph.)

holy Spirit. Although both articles occur (see App-101.), yet it is clear from the "earnest, a pledge" ( Eph 1:14) that it is the gift, not the Giver.

promise = the promise. See Joh 16:13, and compare Act 1:4, which latter refers to the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise in Joh 16:13.

Which . . . possession. In parenthesis.

the earnest = a pledge. See 2Co 1:22. The gift of the new nature (spirit) is a pledge of God’s future gifts in the same kind, thus differing from any ordinary pledge. Compare 1Pe 1:4.

inheritance. Greek. kleronomia. See Act 20:32. Compare our inheritance here, and His inheritance, Eph 1:18.

until = unto. Greek. eis. App-104.

purchased possession. Greek. peripoiesis. Here; 1Th 5:9. 2Th 2:14. Heb 10:39. 1Pe 2:9. Compare Act 20:28.

Wherefore = on account of this. Greek. dia (App-104. Eph 1:2) touto.

after I = having.

your = among (Greek. kata. App-104.) you.

faith. App-150.

the Lord Jesus. i.e. Jesus (App-98.) as Lord (App-98. A). See Rom 10:9.

love. App-135.

give thanks. Greek. eucharisteo. First occurance: Mat 15:36. With its noun and adjective occuring fifty-five times (thirty-eight in Paul’s Epp.) See App-10.

making mention, &c. See Rom 1:9. In a papyrus of second century A.D. the mention of assurance of intercession for a sister in the same words is found in a letter from a soldier.

prayers. App-134.

That = In order that. Greek. hina.

Father of glory. Compare 1Co 2:8.

Father. See App-98.

unto = to.

the spirit = a spirit. App-101.

revelation. App-106.

knowledge. App-132.

understanding = mind. Compare Mat 22:37; &c. Greek. dianoia, but the texts read kardia, heart.

being = having been.

that. Greek. eis. See Eph 1:12.

know. App-132.

the hope of His calling. i.e. to the sonship, Eph 1:4-5; our acceptance as sons in the "Beloved" (Son). Compare Gal 1:4, Gal 1:5-7.

His inheritance in the saints. Compare Eph 2:7. Tit 2:14; &c. Israel will be God’s inheritance ("peculiar treasure", Exo 19:5) on earth. The church which is His body will be His inheritance in heaven. In Tit 2:14 the Greek periousion (peculiar treasure) is used by the Septuagint for segullah, Exo 19:5. Deu 7:6; Deu 14:2; Deu 26:18. Compare Mal 3:17. A cognate word is used in Psa 135:4.

exceeding = surpassing. See 2Co 3:10; 2Co 9:14.

greatness. Greek. megethos. Only here.

power. App-172.

believe. App-150.

according to . . . all in all. Parenthetic (Figure of speech Parembole. App-6), the main argument being continued in Eph 2:1, which should read, "Even you", &c.

according to. Same as Eph 1:5.

working. App-172. Occurs: Eph 3:7; Eph 4:16. Php 1:3, Php 1:21. Co Eph 1:1, Eph 1:29; Eph 2:12. 2Th 2:9, 2Th 2:11.

His mighty power. Literally the strength (App-172.) of His might (App-172.)

wrought. Greek. energeo, as in Eph 1:11.

when He raised = having raised. App-178.

from the dead. App-139.

set = sat. Compare Mar 16:19.

Far above. Greek. huperano. Here; Eph 4:10. Heb 9:5

all = every. principality. Greek. arche. See Rom 8:38, and App-172.

power. App-172.

might = power. Greek. dunamis, Eph 1:19.

dominion. Greek. kuriotes. Here, Col 1:16. 2Pe 2:10. Jud 1:8.

world. App-129.

also, &c. = the coming one also.

hath. Omit.

put, &c. Compare 1Co 15:27.

under. App-104.

the. Omit.

over. App-104.

church. App-186. Here, the "church" of the Mystery. In these verses: note the sevenfold (App-10) Headship of the Lord, above (1) all principality, (2) power, (3) might, (4) dominion, (5) every name, (6) all things, (7) the church.

His body Compare Eph 3:5, Eph 3:6.

fulness. See Eph 1:10. His members "fill up" the body of Christ, and the body of Christ fills up and completes "the dispensation of the fulness of the times". The apostle adopts the term used by the Gnostics, pleroma ( Col 2:9, Col 2:10). See note on Eph 2:2 (prince).

filleth all in all. He fills up all the members with all spiritual gifts and graces.