Ephesians Chapter 1

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Introduction

(1.) The salutation, verse 1, 2.

(2.) The doctrine of predestination, and its bearing and design, verses 3-14.

(a.) It is the foundation of praise to God, and is a source of gratitude, verse 3.

(b.) Christians have been chosen before the foundation of the world, verse 4.

(c.) The object was that they should be holy and blameless, verse 4.

(d.) They were predestinated to be the children of God, verse 5.

(e.) The cause of this was the good pleasure of God, or he did it according to the purpose of his will, verse 6.

(f.) The object of this was his own glory, verse 6.

(3.) The benefits of the plan of predestination to those who are thus chosen, verses 7-14.

(a.) They have redemption and the forgiveness of sins, verses 7, 8.

(b.) They are made acquainted with the mystery of the Divine will, verses 9, 10.

(c.) They have obtained an inheritance in Christ, verse 11.

(d.) The object of this was the praise of the glory of God, verse 12.

(e.) As the result of this, or in the execution of this purpose, they were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, verses 13, 14.

(4.) An earnest prayer that they might have a full understanding of the great and glorious plan of redemption, verses 15-23.

(a.) Paul says that he had been informed of their faith, verse 15.

(b.) He always remembered them in his prayers, verse 16.

(c.) His especial desire was that they might see the glory of the Lord Jesus, whom God had exalted to his own right hand in heaven, verses 17-23.

Text

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: edit

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

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: edit

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: edit

5: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, edit

6: To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. edit

7: In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; edit

8: Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; edit

9: Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: edit

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: edit

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: edit

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

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, edit

14: Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. edit

15: Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, edit

16: Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; edit

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: edit

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, edit

19: And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, edit

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, edit

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: edit

22: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, edit

23: Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. edit