Ephesians 1:11

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

In Him we were also chosen as God's own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
In Christ we were chosen to be God's people. God had already planned for us to be his people, because that is what he wanted. And he is the one who makes everything agree with what he decides and wants.

Revised Standard Version
In him, according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
that is to saye in him in whom we are made heyres and were therto predestinate accordynge to the purpose of him which worketh all thinges after the purpose of his awne will:

Hebrew Names Version
in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will;

New American Standard Bible
In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will,

New Century Version
In Christ we were chosen to be God's people, because from the very beginning God had decided this in keeping with his plan. And he is the One who makes everything agree with what he decides and wants.

Update Bible Version
in whom also we were made a heritage, having been preappointed according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will;

Webster's Bible Translation
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:

English Standard Version
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

World English Bible
in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
In him through whom we also have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him that worketh all things after the counsel of his own will,

Weymouth's New Testament
In Him we Jews have been made heirs, having been chosen beforehand in accordance with the intention of Him whose might carries out in everything the design of His own will,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
In whom we ben clepid bi sort, bifor ordeyned bi the purpos of hym that worchith alle thingis bi the counsel of his wille;

English Revised Version
in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will;

Contemporary English Version
God always does what he plans, and that's why he appointed Christ to choose us.

Amplified Bible
In Him also we have received an inheritance [a destiny—we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will,

American Standard Version
in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will;

Bible in Basic English
In whom we have a heritage, being marked out from the first in his purpose who does all things in agreement with his designs;

Complete Jewish Bible
Also in union with him we were given an inheritance, we who were picked in advance according to the purpose of the One who effects everything in keeping with the decision of his will,

Darby Translation
in whom we have also obtained an inheritance, being marked out beforehand according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his own will,

International Standard Version
In Christhim">[fn] we were also chosen when we were predestined according to the purpose of the one who does everything according to the intention of his will,Isaiah 46:10-11; Acts 20:32; 26:18; Romans 8:17; Ephesians 1:5; Colossians 1:12; 3:24; Titus 3:7; James 2:5; 1 Peter 1:4;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
we have been chosen, even as he predesignated and willed, who worketh all according to the mind of his will;

Murdock Translation
And in him we are elected, according as he predestined us and willed, who worketh all things according to the counsel of his pleasure;

King James Version (1611)
In 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:

New Living Translation
Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

New Life Bible
We were already chosen to be God's own children by Christ. This was done just like the plan He had.

New Revised Standard
In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will,

Geneva Bible (1587)
In whom also we are chosen when we were predestinate according to ye purpose of him, which worketh all things after the counsell of his owne will,

George Lamsa Translation
By whom we have been chosen, as he had marked us from the beginning so he wanted to carry out everything according to the good judgment of his will:

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
In whom also we were taken as an inheritance, according to the purpose of him who energiseth all things according to the counsel of his will,

Douay-Rheims Bible
In whom we also are called by lot, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his will.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
In whom also we are chosen, beyng predestinate accordyng to the purpose of hym who worketh all thynges after the councell of his owne wyll:

Good News Translation
All things are done according to God's plan and decision; and God chose us to be his own people in union with Christ because of his own purpose, based on what he had decided from the very beginning.

Christian Standard Bible®
In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,

King James Version
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:

Lexham English Bible
in whom also we were chosen, having been predestined according to the purpose of the One who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

Literal Translation
in whom we also have been chosen to an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of the One working all things according to the counsel of His own will,

Young's Literal Translation
in whom also we did obtain an inheritance, being foreordained according to the purpose of Him who the all things is working according to the counsel of His will,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
euen by him, by whom also we are come to the inheritaunce we that were therto predestinate before, acordinge to ye purpose of him, which worketh all thinges after ye councell of his owne wyll,

Mace New Testament (1729)
It is by him, that we have a share in the inheritance, which was before allotted to us, in consequence of his design, who executes the whole plan, as he himself had contriv'd it:

THE MESSAGE
It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

New English Translation
In Christ we too have been claimed as God's own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will

New King James Version
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

Simplified Cowboy Version
Because we ride for this brand already, we've received an inheritance from God. He chose us before we were born and everything works according to his plan.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

Legacy Standard Bible
In Him, we also have been made an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

Contextual Overview

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. ⁴For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love ⁵He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One. ⁷In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, ⁸that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. ⁹And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ ¹⁰as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ. ¹¹In Him we were also chosen as God's own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,¹²in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

we: Ephesians 1:14, Psalms 37:18, Acts 20:32, Acts 26:18, Romans 8:17, Galatians 3:18, Colossians 1:12, Colossians 3:24, Titus 3:7, James 2:5, 1 Peter 1:4, 1 Peter 3:9

being: Ephesians 1:5

according: Isaiah 46:10, Isaiah 46:11

the purpose: Ephesians 1:9

the counsel: Ephesians 1:8, Job 12:13, Proverbs 8:14, Isaiah 5:19, Isaiah 28:29, Isaiah 40:13, Isaiah 40:14, Jeremiah 23:18, Jeremiah 32:19, Zechariah 6:13, Acts 2:23, Acts 4:28, Acts 20:27, Romans 11:34, Hebrews 6:17

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 25:16 - determined Job 9:12 - he taketh Job 33:29 - all Job 36:23 - Who hath Job 42:2 - can be withholden from thee Psalms 33:11 - The counsel Psalms 115:3 - he hath Proverbs 8:12 - I wisdom Proverbs 8:23 - General Proverbs 19:21 - nevertheless Ecclesiastes 7:13 - who Ecclesiastes 9:11 - but Isaiah 23:9 - Lord Isaiah 25:1 - thy counsels Isaiah 43:13 - I will work Jeremiah 4:28 - because Jeremiah 25:28 - Ye Jeremiah 49:20 - the counsel Jeremiah 50:45 - hear Lamentations 3:37 - saith Daniel 4:35 - and he Daniel 11:3 - do Jonah 1:14 - for Matthew 11:26 - for Matthew 20:15 - it Luke 4:25 - many Luke 7:30 - the counsel Luke 10:21 - even Acts 15:18 - General Romans 1:6 - are ye also Romans 8:15 - the Spirit Romans 8:29 - he also 1 Corinthians 12:11 - as Galatians 1:4 - according Ephesians 1:18 - the riches Ephesians 3:11 - General Philippians 2:13 - good 2 Timothy 1:9 - according to his

Cross-References

Genesis 1:9
And God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered into one place, so that the dry land may appear." And it was so.

Genesis 1:13
And there was evening, and there was morning-the third day.

Genesis 1:14
And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years.

Genesis 1:16
God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well.

Genesis 1:17
God set these lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth,

Genesis 1:20
And God said, "Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky."

Genesis 1:29
Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food.

Genesis 2:5
Now no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth, nor had any plant of the field sprouted; for the LORD God had not yet sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.

Genesis 2:9
Out of the ground the LORD God gave growth to every tree that is pleasing to the eye and good for food. And in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:16
And the LORD God commanded him, "You may eat freely from every tree of the garden,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance,.... Or a part and lot; that is, have obtained one in Christ, in his person, and in his fulness of grace, in the blessings and promises which are in him; or have obtained to be the Lord's clergy, or heritage, to be his portion and inheritance; or rather to have an inheritance in him by lot, meaning the incorruptible and eternal inheritance of glory and happiness in heaven; to which elect men are chosen in Christ, and are begotten to a lively hope of through his resurrection from the dead; and which his righteousness gives a right unto, and his grace a meetness for; and which is now in his hands, and will be given to them through him: and this is said to be obtained by lot, as the word signifies, in allusion to the land of Canaan, which was divided by lot to the children of Israel; and to show that it is not by works of righteousness done by men, but by the sovereign disposal of God; and that everyone shall have his share, and that certainly; for this is not designed to represent it as a casual, or contingent thing. The Alexandrian copy reads, "in whom also we are called"; and so the Vulgate Latin version, "in whom also we are called by lot"; and the Syriac version, "in him", or "by him we are chosen", which agrees with the next clause:

being predestinated according to the purpose of him, who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: predestination is not only to sonship, but to an inheritance; it not only secures the grace of adoption, but prepares and provides an heavenly portion: and this act of predestination proceeds according to a purpose; according to a purpose of God, which can never be frustrated; and according to the purpose of "that God", as one of Stephens's copies reads, that is the author of all things but sin; of the works of creation and of providence, and of grace and salvation; and who works all these according to his will, just as he pleases, and according to the counsel of it, in a wise and prudent manner, in the best way that can be devised; for he is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working; wherefore his counsel always stands, and he does all his pleasure: and hence the inheritance which the saints obtain in Christ, and are predestinated to, is sure and certain.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance - We who are Christians. Most commentators suppose that by the word “we” the Jews particularly are intended, and that it stands in contradistinction from “ye,” as referring to the Gentiles, in Ephesians 1:13. This construction, they suppose is demanded by the nature of the passage. The meaning may then be, that the Jews who were believers had “first” obtained a part in the plan of redemption, as the offer was first made to them, and then that the same favor was conferred also on the Gentiles. Or it may refer to those who had been first converted, without particular reference to the fact that they were Jews; and the reference may be to the apostle and his fellow-laborers. This seems to me to be the correct interpretation. “We the ministers of religion first believed, and have obtained an inheritance in the hopes of Christians, that we should be to the praise of God’s glory; and you also, after hearing the word of truth, believed;” Ephesians 1:13. The word which is rendered “obtained our inheritance” - κληρόω klēroō - means literally “to acquire by lot,” and then to obtain, to receive. Here it means that they had received the favor of being to the praise of his glory for having first trusted in the Lord Jesus.

Being predestinated - Ephesians 1:5.

According to the purpose - On the meaning of the word “purpose,” see the notes, Romans 8:28.

Of him who worketh all things - Of God, the universal agent. The affirmation here is not merely that God accomplishes the designs of salvation according to the counsel of his own will, but that “he does everything.” His agency is not confined to one thing, or to one class of objects. Every object and event is under his control, and is in accordance with his eternal plan. The word rendered “worketh” - ἐνεργέω energeō - means to work, to be active, to produce; Ephesians 1:20; Galatians 2:8; Philippians 2:13. A universal agency is ascribed to him. “The same God which “worketh” all in all;” 1 Corinthians 12:6. He has an agency in causing the emotions of our hearts. “God, who worketh in you both to Will and to do of his good pleasure;” Philippians 2:13. He has an agency in distributing to people their various allotments and endowments. “All these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will;” 1 Corinthians 12:11.

The agency of God is seen everywhere. Every leaf, flower, rose-bud, spire of grass; every sun-beam, and every flash of lightning; every cataract and every torrent, all declare his agency; and there is not an object that we see that does not bespeak the control of an All-present God. It would be impossible to affirm more explicitly that God’s agency is universal, than Paul does in the passage before us. He does not attempt to prove it. It is one of those points on which he does not deem it necessary to pause and reason, but which may be regarded as a conceded point in the discussion of other topics, and which may be employed without hesitation in their illustration. Paul does not state the “mode” in which this is done. He affirms merely the fact. He does not say that he “compels” men, or that he overbears them by mere physical force. His agency he affirms to be universal; but it is undoubtedly in accordance with the nature of the object, and with the laws which he has impressed on them.

His agency in the work of creation was absolute and entire; for there was nothing to act on, and no established laws to be observed. Over the mineral kingdom his control must also be entire, yet in accordance with the laws which he has impressed on matter. The crystal and the snow are formed by his agency; but it is in accordance with the laws which he has been pleased to appoint. So in the vegetable world his agency is everywhere seen; but the lily and the rose blossom in accordance with uniform laws, and not in an arbitrary manner. So in the animal kingdom. God gives sensibility to the nerve, and excitability and power to the muscle. He causes the lungs to heave, and the arteries and veins to bear the blood along the channels of life; but it is not in an arbitrary manner. It is in accordance with the laws which he has ordained and he never disregards in his agency over these kingdoms.

So in his government of mind. He works everywhere. But he does it in accordance with the laws of mind. His agency is not exactly of the same kind on the rose-bud that it is on the diamond nor on the nerve that it is on the rose-bud, nor on the heart and will that it is on the nerve. In all these things he consults the laws which he has impressed on them; and as he chooses that the nerve should be affected in accordance with its laws and properties, so it is with mind. God does not violate its laws. Mind is free. It is influenced by truth and motives. It has a sense of right and wrong. And there is no more reason to suppose that God disregards these laws of mind in controlling the intellect and the heart, than there is that he disregards the laws of crystalization in the formation of the ice, or of gravitation in the movements of the heavenly bodies. The general doctrine is, that God works in all things, and controls all; but that “his agency everywhere is in accordance with the laws and nature of that part of his kingdom where it is exerted.” By this simple principle we may secure the two great points which it is desirable to secure on this subject:

(1) The doctrine of the universal agency of God; and,

(2) The doctrine of the freedom and responsibility of man.

After the counsel of his own will - Not by consulting his creatures, or conforming to their views, but by his own views of what is proper and right. We are not to suppose that this is by “mere” will, as if it were arbitrary, or that he determines anything without good reason. The meaning is, that his purpose is determined by what “he” views to be right, and without consulting his creatures or conforming to their views. His dealings often seem to us to be arbitrary. We are incapable of perceiving the reasons of what he does. He makes those his friends who we should have supposed would have been the last to have become Christians. He leaves those who seem to us to be on the borders of the kingdom, and they remain unmoved and unaffected. But we are not thence to suppose that he is arbitrary. In every instance, we are to believe that there is a good reason for what he does, and one which we may be permitted yet to see, and in which we shall wholly acquiesce.

The phrase “counsel of his own will” is remarkable. It is designed to express in the strongest manner the fact that it is not by human counsel or advice. The word “counsel” - βουλή boulē - means “a council” or “senate;” then a determination, purpose, or decree; see Robinson’s Lexicon. Here it means that his determination was formed by his own will, and not by human reasoning. Still, his will in the case may not have been arbitrary. When it is said of man that he forms his own purposes, and acts according to his own will, we are not to infer that he acts without reason. He may have the highest and best reasons for what he does, but he does not choose to make them known to others, or to consult others. So it may be of God, and so we should presume it to be. It may be added, that we ought to have such confidence in him as to believe that he will do all things well. The best possible evidence that anything is done in perfect wisdom and goodness, is the fact that God does it. When we have ascertained that, we should be satisfied that all is right.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 11. In whom — Christ Jesus; also we-believing Jews have obtained an inheritance-what was promised to Abraham and his spiritual seed, viz. the adoption of sons, and the kingdom of heaven, signified by the privileges under the Mosaic dispensation, and the possession of the promised land, but all these privileges being forfeited by the rebellion and unbelief of the Jews, they are now about to be finally cut off, and the believing part to be re-elected, and put in possession of the blessings promised to Abraham and his spiritual seed, by faith; for without a re-election, they cannot get possession of these spiritual privileges.

Being predestinated — God having determined to bring both Jews and Gentiles to salvation, not by works, nor by any human means or schemes, but by Jesus Christ; that salvation being defined and determined before in the Divine mind, and the means by which it should be brought about all being according to his purpose, who consults not his creatures, but operates according to the counsel of his own will, that being ever wise, gracious, and good.

The original reference is still kept up here in the word προορισθεντες, being predestinated, as in the word προορισας Ephesians 1:5. And as the apostle speaks of obtaining the inheritance, he most evidently refers to that of which the promised land was the type and pledge. And as that land was assigned to the Israelites by limit and lot, both of which were appointed by God so the salvation now sent to the Gentiles was as expressly their lot or portion, as the promised land was that of the people of Israel. All this shows that the Israelites were a typical people; their land, the manner of possessing it, their civil and religious code, c., c., all typical and that in, by, and through them, God had fore-determined, fore-described, and fore-ascertained a greater and more glorious people, among whom the deepest counsels of his wisdom should be manifested, and the most powerful works of his eternal mercy, grace, holiness, goodness, and truth, be fully exhibited. Thus there was nothing fortuitous in the Christian scheme all was the result of infinite counsel and design. Ephesians 1:5; Ephesians 1:5.