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.

1Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ by the will of God, to the Saincts which are at Ephesus, and to the faithfull in Christ Iesus.

2Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, who hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in heauenly places in Christ:

4According as he hath chosen vs in him, before the foundation of the world, that wee should bee holy, and without blame before him in loue:

5Hauing predestinated vs vnto the adoption of children by Iesus Christ to himselfe, according to the good pleasure of his will:

6To the praise of the glorie of his grace, wherein he hath made vs accepted in the beloued:

7In whom wee haue redemption through his blood, the forgiuenesse of sinnes, according to the riches of his grace,

8Wherein hee hath abounded toward vs in all wisedome and prudence:

9Hauing made knowen vnto vs the mysterie of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he had purposed in himselfe,

10That in the dispensation of the fulnesse of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heauen, and which are on earth, euen in him:

11In whom also we haue obteined an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsell of his owne will:

12That we should be to the praise of his glorie, who first trusted in Christ.

13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of trueth, the Gospel of your saluation: in whom also after that yee beleeued, yee were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14Which is the earnest of our inheritance, vntill the redemption of the purchased possession, vnto the praise of his glorie.

15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Iesus, and loue vnto all the Saints,

16Cease not to giue thankes for you, making mention of you in my prayers,

17That the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glorie, may giue vnto you the Spirit of wisedome and reuelation in the knowledge of him:

18The eyes of your vnderstanding being inlightned: that yee may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glorie of his inheritance in the Saints:

19And what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to vs-ward who beleeue, according to the working of his mightie power:

20Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his owne right hand in the heauenly places,

21Farre aboue all principalitie, and power, and might, and dominion, and euery name that is named, not onely in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22And hath put all things vnder his feete, and gaue him to be the head ouer all things to the Church,

23Which is his body, the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all.

 

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the holy ones who are (in Ephesus) 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 in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, 4 as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love 5 he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, 6 for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. 7 In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him 10 as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth. 11 In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, 12 so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. 13 In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, 14 which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory. 15 Therefore, I, too, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. 18 May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, 20 which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, 21 far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Ephesians is a family letter addressed to believers. While specified in some manuscripts to the Ephesians, none are mentioned by name, and it was probably a circular letter read at least in Colosse and Laodicea. It was probably the first of the prison epistles written from Rome in A.D. 60-62. It is called the “Alps” of the N.T. because of it’s mountain peak truths. In it we see the Church as the Body and Bride of Christ. In Acts 20:29,30, Paul warned Ephesians about evil teachers without and professing teachers within, but one sixth of all Paul’s references to love are in this epistle. He may have foreseen what John told them in Rev. 2:4, they had left their first love. Chapters 1-3 are doctrine, the believer’s stand in Christ. 4-6 are practical, the believer’s walk with Christ. The church at Ephesus started after Paul came with Priscilla and Aquila,returing from his second missionary journey, Acts 18:10-21. He entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews just a short time. Then on third journey, returned and taught in the school of Tyranius for about 2 years, Acts 19:10. After touring other churches, he just came past on ship and called elders to meet him, Ac. 20:17-38. 
v 1. Paul was an apostle by God’s choosing, not his own. The saints “set apart” are any sinners who have received Christ as their Savior. Believers are “in Christ”.
v 2. Grace expresses God’s love to man, and peace the result of that grace.
v 3. The first “blessed” means we are to eulogize God for Who He is. The second “blessed” is God’s blessings on believers: a. From eternity past. b. Every spiritual blessing needed c. Not material but in heavenly realm. d. In Christ.
v 4,5. We were chosen or elected before the world was created so that we could be holy and blameless for eternity. God picked out at a point of time some from among mankind for Himself. We need election because we are lost. Election has to do with our choosing, predestination with how we use our calling.
His love is seen in predestination, predetermined destiny. Not so much the person as what he is ordained to. We are adopted, placed as a son of God, more by position than relationship, the moment we believe in Christ. In the Roman adoption, a son brought into the family had the same rights as one born in the family. It was God’s desire to impart His spiritual benefits to His children, accepted in the beloved (positionally). We are made worthy in Christ. This accounts for our eternal security. We cannot be separated. Compare the order in Romans 8:29,30:       a. Foreknow  b. Predestinate  c. Called  d. Justified  e. Glorified.
v 6. We should praise God for His grace in providing salvation through Christ.
v 7,8. Redemption, as bought out of the slave market of sin and never to go back again. Forgiveness of sins was by God’s abounding grace in making Christ our substitute by the sacrifice of His blood.
v 9. Mystery..... God saving the Jew and Gentile alike according to His desire. It probably goes beyond this as we see in v 10, to bring all things under one head, Christ. This will be completed during the Millennium, though not all will be saved then.
v 10. Dispensation. From words house and law. Stewardship or administration. It is not a period of time, but how God uses specific means to manage the affairs of man during a given time. The fullness of time, Gal. 4:4 is at the end of this dispensation when the Church is raptured, believers are gathered together unto Him. The fullness of the times here, is the completion of all the times and seasons in God’s plan.
v 11,12. Better, we have been made an inheritance. This choosing is not just a whim, but God had specific plan and purpose. Those who first trusted in Christ were  Jews. They believed the Messiah would come, and they believed Him when he did. They were especially glorifying to Him. 
v 13.  Ye refers to Gentiles who also, after they heard the Word, believed and were sealed. The Holy Spirit himself is the seal of a completed transaction and ownership.
v 14. At the moment of salvation He is the down payment of what is to come. Our salvation is in three parts, justification, sanctification and glorification.
v 15,16. Wherefore looks back to the spiritual blessings. Not their saving faith, but the faith they are now living. Love unto all saints, regardless of denomination or status. For this Paul gives thanks in daily prayer. He stresses need of love in 1:4; 3:17; 4:2 4:16 and 5:2, 25, 28 33. Perhaps he feared they might lose beginning love, Rev. 2:4.
v 17-23. This is Paul’s prayer, and a first mentioned principal of wisdom and revelation, wisdom to know and what to do with what we know. This is a prayer  for one thing, that the Holy Spirit will reveal God to us. This is not a prayer for the Spirit, we already have Him. Results:
v 18. (1) The eyes of our understanding (eyes of our heart and life) may be enlightened, opened so that we may know what is the hope of His calling, the present assurance (hope) of our past salvation.
(2) We may realize the glory of His inheritance. He wants us to know the wealth and treasure we are to God when we are presented faultless before Him. We are the most beautiful thing in the world to God, a pearl of great price, Mt. 13.
v 19,20. (3) Know what is the abundance of God’s super abounding power, the power that raised Christ from the dead and set Him at His right hand in heaven.
v 21. Above all:  Principalities. Christ is chief ruler.
Power. Rom. 1:16 Miraculous power (dynamite), delegated power.
Might. Angelic beings.
Dominion. Lordship or ruler.
Every name named. Nothing can be named that Christ is not above. 
v 22.23. All things are put under Him, and he is head of the Church, synonymous with His body.