Ephesians 1: Every Blessing in Christ
Paul blesses the triune God for choosing, redeeming, and sealing his people, then prays they would know their hope, inheritance, and the power that raised Christ.
Ephesians 1 (WEB)
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 bestowed favor on us in the Beloved,
7 in whom 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 in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works 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 whom 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 Holy Spirit of promise,
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, and authority, and power, and 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.
Ephesians 1 (KJV)
1 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:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According 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:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That 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:
11 In 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:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In 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,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not 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 unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The 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,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far 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:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Ephesians 1 (ASV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints that 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 Blessedbethe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath 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 should be holy and without blemish before him in love:
5 having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved:
7 in whom 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 unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
10 unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, I say,
11 in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will;
12 to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:
13 in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,—in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God’s own possession, unto 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 ye show toward all the saints,
16 cease not 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 unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;
18 having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
20 which he wrought 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, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Summary
Paul opens with grace and peace to the saints at Ephesus, then bursts into one of Scripture's grandest songs of praise. He blesses the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. The blessing is the work of the whole Trinity: the Father chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world and predestined us for adoption as his children; the Son redeemed us through his blood and revealed the mystery of God's will to sum up all things in himself; and the Holy Spirit sealed us as a pledge of our inheritance. All of it is “to the praise of the glory of his grace.” Having heard of the Ephesians' faith and love, Paul turns to prayer, asking that God would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know him, with the eyes of their hearts enlightened. He prays they would grasp the hope of their calling, the riches of their inheritance, and the immeasurable greatness of God's power—the very power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him far above every rule and authority. Christ is now head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Key Figures
- Paul — An apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, writing to the saints with thanksgiving and an outpouring of praise, then interceding for the church's spiritual sight.
- The Father — The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who chose and predestined his people before creation and works all things after the counsel of his will.
- Christ Jesus — The Beloved in whom we have redemption and every spiritual blessing, raised from the dead and seated far above all rule as head over all things for the church.
- The Holy Spirit — The promised Spirit who seals believers as God's own possession and is the pledge guaranteeing their inheritance until the day of redemption.
Key Verse
Ephesians 1:7 (WEB)
in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Lessons Learned
- Our salvation originates in the Father's choice before the foundation of the world, not in our own initiative.
- Every spiritual blessing is already ours in Christ; the Christian life is learning to live in what God has given.
- The whole Trinity is at work in our redemption—chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, sealed by the Spirit.
- The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work toward those who believe.
- God's ultimate aim in all of history is to sum up all things in Christ, to the praise of his glory.
- Praise is the right response to grace. Paul does not begin with our needs but with worship: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing” (Ephesians 1:3, WEB).
- Election is for holiness and love. God “chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4, WEB). His choice has a purpose, not merely a privilege.
- Redemption is by Christ's blood and God's riches. “In whom we have our redemption through his blood… according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7, WEB). Forgiveness is costly to God and free to us.
- The Spirit guarantees our inheritance. Believers “were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is a pledge of our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:13-14, WEB). God's own Spirit is the down payment of all that is to come.
- We need God to open our eyes. Paul prays for “the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling” (Ephesians 1:18, WEB). Spiritual truth must be revealed, not merely studied.
- What does it mean that God “chose us in him before the foundation of the world” (1:4), and how does that shape your sense of security?
- Trace the work of Father, Son, and Spirit in verses 3-14. How does each person of the Trinity contribute to our salvation?
- Paul says we already have “every spiritual blessing” (1:3). What might change if you lived as though that were true?
- Why does Paul pray for knowledge and enlightened hearts rather than for the Ephesians' circumstances?
- Which of the three things Paul prays we would know—hope, inheritance, or power (1:18-19)—do you most need to grasp right now?
- God's choice before creation means our standing rests on his eternal, settled love, not on our shifting performance (1:4-5). Help the group hear this as comfort rather than puzzle: the One who chose us will surely keep us. The purpose of that choice is holiness and love, not passivity.
- The Father chooses and predestines (1:4-5), the Son redeems and reveals the mystery of God's will (1:7-10), and the Spirit seals and guarantees (1:13-14). The whole passage is one long sentence of praise; invite the group to notice how salvation is the cooperative work of the triune God, all to his glory.
- We often live as spiritual paupers when we are in fact rich in Christ. This is partly personal application; encourage members to name a blessing—forgiveness, adoption, the Spirit—they tend to forget, and to live in the confidence it should give.
- Paul's deepest concern is that they would truly know God and grasp what is already theirs (1:17-19). Circumstances change; knowing God anchors us through them. This models a way of praying for ourselves and others that goes beyond mere problem-solving.
- This is a personal-application question. Hope steadies the discouraged, the inheritance lifts the eyes of the weary, and power encourages the weak—the same power that raised Christ (1:19-20). As leader, let members name their need and pray Paul's prayer back to God for one another.