1 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of our Father, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Every Blessing in the Beloved
3 Blessed be the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms, a a v3 Paul's blessing opens an extended doxology running through verse 14 — our Father blesses us in the Son, and the Holy Spirit seals us. The whole shape of salvation is family. 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us to be his own sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, b b v5 Our Father's eternal purpose isn't rescue alone — it's restoration to sonship. He set out from before the world existed to bring us home as his children through Jesus. 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has freely favored us in the Beloved — Jesus. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of our Father's grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight, 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for when all the ages reach their fullness, to bring all things together in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth — in him. c c v10 God's whole plan culminates in everything — in heaven and on earth — being brought together under Christ. 11 In him we have also obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of our Father, who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who first put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Praying for Eyes to See
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 with the eyes of your hearts enlightened, so you can know the hope to which he has called you, and the riches of his glorious inheritance in our Father's people, 19 and the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.