Ephesians

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:

1This letter is from Paul. He is an apostle, a messenger sent out by Jesus Christ. God wanted him to have this job. He writes to God's people in the city of Ephesus. They trust Jesus Christ and belong to him.

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

2I ask God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ to be kind to you. I ask them to give you peace.

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

3Let us praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has given us every good gift his Spirit brings. These gifts are ours because we belong to Christ. They come from heaven, where God rules.

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

4Before God made the world, he chose us to be his own through Christ. He wanted us to belong to him and to have no blame when we stand before him. He did all this because he loves us.

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

5Long before, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. He did it because it made him glad.

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

6So we praise God for his grace, his kind gift that we did not earn. He gave it to us freely through his dear Son.

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

7Because we belong to Jesus, we are bought back and set free. His blood, his death for us, paid the price. Our sins are forgiven. God's kindness is very rich.

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

8God poured that kindness over us. With it he gave us wisdom and good sense.

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

9God has told us the plan he kept secret for so long. He was glad to share it. He made this plan himself, and it is all about Christ.

10That in the dispensation of the fulness 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:

10When the right time is full, God will finish his plan. He will bring everything together under Christ. That means everything in heaven and everything on earth.

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

11We also became God's own people because we belong to Christ. He chose us ahead of time. God works out everything the way he decides.

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

12So we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, would live to praise how great God is.

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

13You heard the true message too. It is the good news that God saves you. You believed it. Then God marked you as his own with the Holy Spirit he had promised.

Note"Sealed" comes from an old habit. A person pressed a mark into wax to show that something belonged to them. So the picture is God putting his own mark on his people.

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

14The Spirit is God's first payment to us. He shows that the rest is surely coming. One day God will set his own people completely free. All of this brings praise to God.

NoteThe old word here is "earnest." It does not mean serious. It means a first payment that promises the rest will come.

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

15I heard that you trust the Lord Jesus. I heard that you love all of God's people.

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

16So I never stop thanking God for you. I speak your names when I pray.

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

17I ask the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, our great and shining Father, to help you. I ask him to make you wise and to show you what is true. Then you will know him better.

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

18I pray that the eyes of your heart will see clearly. Then you will know the good things God called you to hope for. You will know how rich and wonderful his gift to his people is.

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

19You will also know how very great his power is for us who believe. It is the same strong power God has always used.

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

20God used that power on Christ. He raised Christ from the dead. He seated Christ at his own right side in heaven, the place of honor.

21Far 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:

21Christ is far above every ruler and every power. He is above every leader and every name there is. That is true now, and it will be true in the time to come.

Note"Principality" is an old English word. It does not mean a small country. It means a ruler or a power that gives orders.

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

22God put everything under Christ's feet. He made Christ the head over all things for the church, which is God's people.

23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

23The church is Christ's body. Christ fills everything everywhere, and he fills his church too.