WEB
Ephesians 1
After a brief greeting to the saints at Ephesus, Paul launches into a single sweeping run of praise (verses 3-14) that names what God has done: chosen, predestined, redeemed, sealed. It reads less like an argument than a doxology gathering speed. Watch for the recurring phrase "in him" anchoring every blessing to Christ, and notice the turn at verse 15, where praise becomes prayer — that the readers' inner eyes be opened to the hope and power already theirs.
- 1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:
- 2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
- 4
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love,
- 5
having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,
- 6
to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved.
- 7
In him we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
- 8
which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
- 9
making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
- 10
to 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.
- 11
We 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,
- 12
to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ.
- 13
In 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,
- 14
who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.
- 15
For 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,
- 16
don’t cease 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 a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him,
- 18
having 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,
- 19
and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
- 20
which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
- 21
far 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.
- 22
He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,
- 23
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
- 1
Paulo, apóstolo de Cristo Jesus pela vontade de Deus, aos santos que estão em Éfeso, e aos fiéis em Cristo Jesus:
- 2
Graça a vocês e paz da parte de Deus, nosso Pai, e do Senhor Jesus Cristo.
- 3
Bendito seja o Deus e Pai de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, que nos abençoou com todas as bênçãos espirituais nas regiões celestiais em Cristo,
- 4
assim como nos escolheu nele antes da fundação do mundo, para que fôssemos santos e irrepreensíveis diante dele em amor,
- 5
tendo nos predestinado para a adoção como filhos por meio de Jesus Cristo para si mesmo, segundo o bom propósito da sua vontade,
- 6
para o louvor da glória da sua graça, pela qual nos concedeu favor gratuitamente no Amado.
- 7
Nele temos a nossa redenção por meio do seu sangue, o perdão das nossas transgressões, segundo as riquezas da sua graça,
- 8
que ele fez abundar para conosco em toda sabedoria e prudência,
- 9
fazendo-nos conhecer o mistério da sua vontade, segundo o seu bom propósito que ele estabeleceu nele
- 10
para a administração da plenitude dos tempos, de fazer convergir todas as coisas em Cristo, as coisas nos céus e as coisas na terra, nele.
- 11
Nele também recebemos uma herança, tendo sido predestinados segundo o propósito daquele que faz todas as coisas segundo o conselho da sua vontade,
- 12
a fim de que fôssemos para o louvor da sua glória, nós, os que primeiro esperamos em Cristo.
- 13
Nele também vocês, tendo ouvido a palavra da verdade, as Boas Novas da sua salvação — em quem, tendo também crido, vocês foram selados com o Espírito Santo prometido,
- 14
que é a garantia da nossa herança, para a redenção da possessão do próprio Deus, para o louvor da sua glória.
- 15
Por esta causa eu também, tendo ouvido da fé no Senhor Jesus que há entre vocês e do amor que vocês têm para com todos os santos,
- 16
não cesso de dar graças por vocês, fazendo menção de vocês em minhas orações,
- 17
para que o Deus de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, o Pai da glória, dê a vocês um espírito de sabedoria e de revelação no pleno conhecimento dele,
- 18
tendo os olhos dos seus corações iluminados, para que vocês saibam qual é a esperança do seu chamado, e quais são as riquezas da glória da sua herança nos santos,
- 19
e qual é a suprema grandeza do seu poder para conosco, os que cremos, segundo a atuação da força do seu poder
- 20
que ele operou em Cristo quando o ressuscitou dentre os mortos e o fez assentar à sua direita nas regiões celestiais,
- 21
muito acima de todo principado, autoridade, poder, domínio, e de todo nome que se nomeia, não só nesta era, mas também na que há de vir.
- 22
Ele sujeitou todas as coisas debaixo dos seus pés, e o deu para ser o cabeça sobre todas as coisas para a igreja,
- 23
que é o seu corpo, a plenitude daquele que enche tudo em todos.
One sentence, three persons
The Greek of verses 3-14 is one long sentence, and it moves through Father (who chose), Son (in whom we are redeemed), and Spirit (who seals as a "pledge of our inheritance"). Each section closes on the same refrain: "to the praise of his glory."
The closing image lifts everything higher: God raised Christ and seated him at his right hand, "head over all things for the assembly, which is his body" — the cosmic claim that chapters 2 and 3 will unfold.
Context layers
Keep these closed by default and open them only when you want more context.
- FaithWhat faith means in the Bible, how it differs from vague belief, and how to read it without turning it into self-confidence.
- ForgivenessWhat forgiveness means in the Bible, how it relates to mercy and reconciliation, and why it cannot be reduced to denial or sentimentality.
- GraceWhat grace means in the Bible, how it differs from vague kindness, and which passages help define it clearly.
- HopeWhat biblical hope means, how it differs from optimism, and which passages show its shape most clearly.
- Acts 4:12Related through the topic "Salvation".
- Isaiah 52:7Related through the topic "The Good News Jesus Announced".
- Mark 1:4Related through the topic "Forgiveness".
- Matthew 23:7Related through the topic "Salvation".
- Isaiah 61:1Related through the topic "The Good News Jesus Announced".
- Mark 3:29Related through the topic "Forgiveness".
- Mark 1:15Related through the topic "The Good News Jesus Announced".
- Acts 2:38Related through the topic "Forgiveness".
Share a small range via:
/en/web/ephesians/1/16-18
Or use the Passage link builder.