1 T his letter is from Paul. I am a missionary for Jesus Christ. God wanted me to work for Him. This letter is to those who belong to Christ in the city of Ephesus and to you who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.

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 M ay you have loving-favor and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 L et us honor and thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has already given us a taste of what heaven is like.

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 E ven before the world was made, God chose us for Himself because of His love. He planned that we should be holy and without blame as He sees us.

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 G od already planned to have us as His own children. This was done by Jesus Christ. In His plan God wanted this done.

having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 W e thank God for His loving-favor to us. He gave this loving-favor to us through His much-loved Son.

to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 B ecause of the blood of Christ, we are bought and made free from the punishment of sin. And because of His blood, our sins are forgiven. His loving-favor to us is so rich.

in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

8 H e was so willing to give all of this to us. He did this with wisdom and understanding.

wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 G od told us the secret of what He wanted to do. It is this: In loving thought He planned long ago to send Christ into the world.

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

10 T he plan was for Christ to gather us all together at the right time. If we are in heaven or still on earth, He will bring us together and will be head over all.

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 W e were already chosen to be God’s own children by Christ. This was done just like the plan He had.

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 W e who were the first to put our trust in Christ should thank Him for His greatness.

that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 T he truth is the Good News. When you heard the truth, you put your trust in Christ. Then God marked you by giving you His Holy Spirit as a promise.

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 T he Holy Spirit was given to us as a promise that we will receive everything God has for us. God’s Spirit will be with us until God finishes His work of making us complete. God does this to show His shining-greatness. Paul’s Prayer for the Christians in Ephesus

which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all Christians.

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

16 S ince then, I always give thanks for you and pray for you.

cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 I pray that the great God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ may give you the wisdom of His Spirit. Then you will be able to understand the secrets about Him as you know Him better.

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 I pray that your hearts will be able to understand. I pray that you will know about the hope given by God’s call. I pray that you will see how great the things are that He has promised to those who belong to Him.

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 I pray that you will know how great His power is for those who have put their trust in Him.

and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 I t is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. This same power put Christ at God’s right side in heaven.

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 T his place was given to Christ. It is much greater than any king or leader can have. No one else can have this place of honor and power. No one in this world or in the world to come can have such honor and power.

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 G od has put all things under Christ’s power and has made Him to be the head leader over all things of the church.

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

23 T he church is the body of Christ. It is filled by Him Who fills all things everywhere with Himself.

which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.