Ephesians 1

1From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful in Christ Jesus. 2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ he has blessed us with every blessing the Spirit gives in the heavenly places. 4Even before the world was founded, God chose us in Christ, so that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love. 5He marked us out beforehand to be adopted as his own sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. That was what he gladly willed, 6so that his glorious grace would be praised, the grace he has freely given us in the Beloved. 7In him and through his blood we have redemption, the forgiveness of our wrongdoing. We have it because God’s grace is so rich, 8grace that he has poured out on us in abundance, with all wisdom and understanding. 9He has made known to us the mystery of his will, as it pleased him to do. He set out this purpose in Christ 10as his plan for when the times reach their fullness: to bring all things together under one head in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth, all in him. 11In him we too have been claimed as God’s own portion. We were marked out for this beforehand by the purpose of God, who works out everything as his will determines, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ would bring praise to his glory. 13And you also are in him. You heard the message of truth, the gospel that brings you salvation, and you believed; and in him you were sealed with the Holy Spirit God had promised. 14The Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance, until God redeems those who are his own possession, so that his glory will be praised.

15For this reason, since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s holy people, 16I have never stopped thanking God for you. I mention you whenever I pray, 17asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, to give you the Spirit who brings wisdom and revelation as you come to know him. 18With the eyes of your heart opened to the light, you will know what hope his call holds out to you, how rich and glorious an inheritance he has in his holy people, 19and how far beyond all measure is his power at work for us who believe. It is the working of his mighty strength, 20which he put to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21high above every ruler and authority, every power and dominion, and every name that can be named, not only in this age but in the age to come as well. 22God has put all things under the feet of Christ, and has given him to the church to be head over all things. 23The church is his body. It is his fullness, filled by him who fills everything in every place and every way.