Ephesians - Chapter One

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God. To the saints in Ephesus,
the faithful in Christ Jesus.
2 Grace and peace to you from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Praise be to the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us in the heaven realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
4 For he chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless
in his sight. In love
5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance
with his please and will --
6 to the praise of his glorious grace which he has freely given us in the One he
loves.
7 In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in
accordance with the riches of God\'s grace,
8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure,
which he purposed in Christ,
10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment - to
bring everything in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
11In him, we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of
him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
12in order that we ,who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise
of his glory.
13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth , the
gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal ,
the promised Holy Spirit,
14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who
are God\'s possession, - to the praise of his glory.
15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your
love for all the saints,
16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious father , may
give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you
may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious
inheritance,
19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the
working of his mighty strength,
20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at
his right hand in the heaven realms,
21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that
can be given , not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
22And God put all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over
everything for the Church,
23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.