Ephesians 1

Ephesians · Chapter 1

Ephesians 1:4

1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:2Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: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:5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: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: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:12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.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,14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,16Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;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: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,19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,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:22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
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:For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In loveeven as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Ephesians 1:3-14Every spiritual blessing in Christ

About Ephesians 1Paul blesses "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ": he "hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world," predestinated us "unto the adoption of children," and in Christ "we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins." Those who believed were "sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance." Paul prays that they may receive "the spirit of wisdom and revelation" and know "the hope of his calling" and the power God showed when "he raised him from the dead," setting Christ "head over all things to the church, Which is his body." Ephesians 1:3Ephesians 1:4Ephesians 1:5Ephesians 1:7Ephesians 1:13Ephesians 1:14Ephesians 1:17Ephesians 1:18Ephesians 1:19Ephesians 1:20Ephesians 1:22Ephesians 1:23

Why this verse matters here"He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." 2 Timothy 1:9 speaks of grace "given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." Ephesians 1:42 Timothy 1:9

Who, where and when in this chapter

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
even asκαθὼςkathōsG2531
as/just as

καθώς (kathōs) καθώς, (i.e. καθ᾽ ὡς), Hellenistic for καθά, which see, καθάπερ, καθό, καθότι (Mayser, 485; Eutherford, NPhr., 495; Bl., §78, 1), according as, even as, just as, as: Luk.1:2 (see: καθά), 24:39, Jhn.5:23, Act.7:48, 1Co.8:2, Gal.3:6, al.; before οὕτως, Luk.11:30, Jhn.3:14, 2Co.1:5, Col.3:13, 1Jn.2:6, al.; before καί, Jhn.15:9, 1Co.15:49, 1Jn.2:18, al.; οὕτως . . . κ., Luk.24:24; id. with ellipsis of οὕτως, Mat.21:6, Mrk.16:7, Rom.1:13, al.; with other elliptical constructions, Jhn.6:58 17:21, 22 Act.15:8, 1Th.2:13, 1Ti.1:3, 1Jn.3:2, 3 12; καθὼς γέγραπται (Deiss., BS, 249), Mat.26:24, Mrk.9:13, …

He choseἐξελέξατοexelexatoG1586
to select

ἐκλέγω (eklegō) ἐκ-λέγω [in LXX chiefly for בָּחַר ;] to pick out, choose. In NT always mid. (exc. Luk.9:35, ἐκλελεγμένος, WH, ἀγαπητός, R, mg.), to pick out for oneself, choose (cf. M, Pr., 157 f.): with accusative of thing(s), Luk.10:42 14:7; with accusative of person(s), Act.6:5 15:22, 25; of Christ (see supr.), Luk.9:35; of Christ's choice of disciples, Luk.6:13, Jhn.6:70 13:18 15:16, 19 Act.1:2; of the Divine choice: of persons, Mrk.13:20, Act.1:24 13:17 15:7, Eph.1:4, Jas.2:5; of things, 1Co.1:27-28 (Cremer, 402, 773).† (AS)

usἡμᾶςhēmasG3165
me

μέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML)

inἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

HimαὐτῷautōG0846
it/s/he

αὐτός (autos) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

beforeπρὸproG4253
before

πρό (pro) πρό prep. with genitive, [in LXX chiefly for פָּנִים ;] before; (a) of place: Act.12:6, 14 14:13, Jas.5:9; π. προσώπου (= Heb. פָּנִים, Deu.3:18, Mal.3:1, al.; Bl., § 40, 9), Mat.11:10, Mrk.1:2, Luk.1:76 7:27 9:52 10:1, Act.14:13; …

[the] foundationκαταβολῆςkatabolēsG2602
beginning

καταβολή (katabolē) κατα-βολή, -ῆς, ἡ (καταβάλλω), [in LXX: 2Ma.2:29 * ;] 1. a laying down: εἰς κ. σπέρματος, Heb.11:11 (EV, to conceive seed). 2. a foundation (of a house, ii Mac, l.with): metaphorically, ἀπὸ κ. κόσμου, Mat.13:35 (LXX) (om. ἀπὸ κ. κόσμου, WH, R, mg.), Mat.25:34, Luk.11:50, Heb.4:3 9:26, Rev.13:8 17:8; πρὸ κ. κόσμου, Jhn.17:24, Eph.1:4, 1Pe.1:20.† (AS)

of [the] worldκόσμουkosmouG2889
world

κόσμος (kosmos) κόσμος, -ου, ὁ [in LXX: Gen.2:1, Deu.4:19 17:3, Isa.24:21 40:26 (צבא), Exo.33:5, 6 Jer.2:32 4:30, Eze.7:20 16:11 23:40 (עֲדִי), Isa.61:10 (כְּלִי), al., Wis.2:24 and freq., Sir.6:30, al ;] 1. order (Hom., Plat., al.). 2. ornament, adornment, esp. of women (Hom., al.): 1Pe.3:3. 3. Later, the world or universe, as an ordered system (Plat., al.): Act.17:24, Rom.4:13, 1Co.3:22, Php.2:15, Heb.4:3, al. 4. In late writers only, the world, i.e. the earth (= ἡ οἰκουμένη, cf. Mat.4:8 with Luk.4:5): Mat.4:8, Mrk.16:[15], Col.2:20, 1Ti.6:7, al.; hence by meton., …

to beεἶναιeinaiG1511
to exist

εἶναι (einai) εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. I. As substantive verb. 1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. 2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. …

for usἡμᾶςhēmasG3165
me

μέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML)

holyἁγίουςhagiousG0040G
holy

ἅγιος (hagios) ἅγιος, -α, ον (τό ἅγός, religious awe; ἅζω, to venerate), [in LXX chiefly for קֹ֫דֶשׁ ;] primarily, dedicated to the gods, sacred (Hdt.; rare in Att., never in Hom., Hes. and Trag., who use ἁγνός), hence, holy, characteristic of God, separated to God, worthy of veneration. 1. Its highest application is to God himself, in his purity, majesty, and glory: Luk.1:49, Jhn.17:11, Rev.4:8. Hence (a) of things and places which have a claim to reverence as sacred to God, e.g. the Temple: Mat.24:15, Heb.9:1; (b) of persons employed by him, as angels: 1Th.3:13; prophets, Luk.1:70; apostles, Eph.3:5. …

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

blamelessἀμώμουςamōmousG0299
blameless

ἄμωμος (amōmos) ἄ-μωμος, -ον (μῶμος, which see), [in LXX chiefly for תָּמִים ]; of sacrificial victims, without blemish: of Christ, Heb.9:14, 1Pe.1:19; etbically, unblemished, faultless: Eph.1:4 5:27, Php.2:15, Col.1:22, Ju 24, Rev.14:5 (Cremer, 425, 788; MM, VGT, see word).† SYN.: ἀμίαντος, ἄσπιλος (AS)

beforeκατενώπιονkatenōpionG2714
before

κατενώπιον (katenōpion) κατενώπιον adv. (= Hom., κατένωπα), [in LXX: Psa.44:15, al. ;] over against, before: with genitive, τ. δόξης, Ju 24; metaphorically (cf. κατέναντι, and see Lft., Col., l.with), τ. θεοῦ, Eph.1:4, Col.1:22.† (AS)

HimαὐτοῦautouG0846
it/s/he

αὐτός (autos) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

inἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

loveἀγάπῃagapēG0026
love

ἀγάπη (agapē) ἀγάπη, -ης, ἡ [in LXX for אַהֲבָה, which is also rendered by ἀγάπησις and φιλία ;] love, goodwill, esteem. Outside of bibl. and eccl. books, there is no clear instance (with Deiss., LAE, 18:4, 70:2, cf. the same writer in Constr. Quar., ii, 4; and with MM, VGT, see word, cf. Dr. Moulton in Exp. Times, xxvi, 3, 139). In NT, like ἀγαπάω, -ῶ, 1. Of men's love: (a) to one another, Jhn.13:35; (b) to God, 1Jn.2:5. 2. Of divine love; (a) God's love: to men, Rom.5:8; to Christ, Jhn.17:26; (b) Christ's love to men: Rom.8:35. 3. In pl., love feasts: Ju 12 (DB, iii, 157). …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.