Greetings from Paul

1From:a Paul, an apostle of the Messiahb Jesus by God’s will.

To: His holy and faithful peoplec in Ephesusd who are in union with the Messiahe Jesus.

2May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah,f be yours!

The Many Blessings of Salvation

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah!g He has blessed us in the Messiahh with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm, 4just as he chose us in the Messiahi before the creation of the universej to be holy and blameless in his presence. In love 5he predestined us for adoption to himself through Jesus the Messiah,k according to the pleasure of his will, 6so that we would praisel his glorious grace that he gave us in the Beloved One. 7In union with him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of God’sm grace 8that he lavished on us, along with all wisdom and understanding, 9when he made known to us the secret of his will. This was according to his plan that he set forth in the Messiahn 10to usher ino the fullness of the times and to bring together in the Messiahp all things in heaven and on earth.

11In the Messiahq we were also chosen when we were predestined according to the purpose of the one who does everything that he wills to do, 12so that we who had already fixed our hope on the Messiahr might live for his praise and glory. 13You, too, have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed in the Messiah,s you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until God redeems his own possessiont for his praise and glory.

Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians

15Therefore, because I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your loveu for all the saints, 16I never stop giving thanks for you as I mention you in my prayers. 17I prayv that the God of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,w the most glorious Father, would give you a wise spirit, along with revelation that comes through knowing the Messiahx fully. 18Then, with the eyes of your hearts enlightened, you will know the confidencey that is produced by Godz having called you,aa the rich glory that is his inheritance among the saints, 19and the unlimited greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his mighty strength, 20which he brought about in the Messiahbb when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realm. 21He is far above every ruler, authority, power, dominion, and every name that can be named, not only in the present age, but also in the one to come. 22Godcc has put everything under the Messiah’sdd feet and has made him the head of everything for the good ofee the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills everything in every way.ff