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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

Ephesians 1:9

God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Atonement;   Grace of God;   Mysteries;   Predestination;   Salvation;   Scofield Reference Index - Church;   Gospel;   Holy Spirit;   Thompson Chain Reference - Mysteries-Revelations;   Mystery of Christ;   Purposes, Divine;   Revelations, Devine;   Secret Things;   The Topic Concordance - Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ;   Gathering;   Predestination;   Resurrection;   Will of God;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Counsels and Purposes of God, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Church;   Election;   God;   Kingdom of god;   Mystery;   Paul;   Race;   Revelation;   Trinity;   Wisdom;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Animals;   Church, the;   Elect, Election;   Knowledge of God;   Mystery;   Providence of God;   Salvation;   Time;   Wages;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Church;   Covenant;   Eternity of God;   Mystery;   Universalists;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Mystery;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jeshua;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Election;   Ephesians, Book of;   Hymn;   King, Christ as;   Knowledge;   Mystery;   Revelation of God;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Canon of the New Testament;   Children (Sons) of God;   Enoch;   Evil;   Peter, First Epistle of;   Predestination;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Assumption of Moses;   Atonement (2);   Christian Life;   Complacency;   Decree;   Ear (2);   Election;   Ephesians Epistle to the;   Fall (2);   God;   Mediation Mediator;   Mystery ;   Praise;   Praise (2);   Restitution;   Sin (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Mystery;   11 To Desire, Will, Purpose;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Mystery;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ephesians, Epistle to the;   Foreknow;   Good;   Mystery;   Pleasure;   Predestination;   Quotations, New Testament;   Restoration;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for November 25;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ
King James Version (1611)
Hauing made knowen vnto vs the mysterie of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he had purposed in himselfe,
King James Version
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
English Standard Version
making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
New American Standard Bible
He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him,
New Century Version
let us know his secret purpose. This was what God wanted, and he planned to do it through Christ.
Amplified Bible
He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
Legacy Standard Bible
making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him
Berean Standard Bible
And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ
Contemporary English Version
and by what Christ has done, God has shown us his own mysterious ways.
Complete Jewish Bible
he has made known to us his secret plan, which by his own will he designed beforehand in connection with the Messiah
Darby Translation
having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself
Easy-to-Read Version
he let us know his secret plan. This was what God wanted, and he planned to do it through Christ.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And hath opened vnto vs the mysterie of his will according to his good pleasure, which he had purposed in him,
George Lamsa Translation
And because he has made known to us the mystery of his will, as he has ordained from the very beginning, to work through it;
Lexham English Bible
making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in him,
Literal Translation
making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
American Standard Version
making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
Bible in Basic English
Having made clear to us the secret of his purpose, in agreement with the design which he had in mind, to put into his hands
Hebrew Names Version
making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
International Standard Version
when he made known to us the secret of his will. This was according to his plan that he set forth in Christhim">[fn]Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:4,9, 11; Colossians 1:26; 2 Timothy 1:9;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
and hath made known to us the mystery of his will, which before he had determined in himself should be done:
Murdock Translation
And he hath made us know the mystery of his pleasure, which he had before determined in himself to accomplish,
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And hath opened vnto vs the misterie of his wyll, accordyng to his good pleasure which he had purposed in himselfe.
English Revised Version
having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
World English Bible
making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
in all wisdom and prudence, Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself,
Weymouth's New Testament
when He made known to us the secret of His will. And this is in harmony with God's merciful purpose
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
to make knowun to vs the sacrament of his wille, bi the good plesaunce of hym; the which sacrament he purposide in
Update Bible Version
making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
Webster's Bible Translation
Having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
New English Translation
He did this when he revealed to us the secret of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,
New King James Version
having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
New Living Translation
God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan.
New Life Bible
God 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.
New Revised Standard
he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
making known to us the sacred secret of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him, -
Douay-Rheims Bible
That he might make known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in him,
Revised Standard Version
For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And hath openned vnto vs the mistery of his will accordinge to his pleasure and purposed the same in hym silfe
Young's Literal Translation
having made known to us the secret of His will, according to His good pleasure, that He purposed in Himself,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and hath opened vnto vs the mystery of his wil acordinge to his pleasure, which he had purposed in himselfe,
Mace New Testament (1729)
for he has discover'd to us the secret of his will, that out of his meer good pleasure, he had purposed in himself,
Simplified Cowboy Version
God did something we never saw coming. He'd planned it from the very beginning. It all hinged on the life, death, and resurrection of his only boy.

Contextual Overview

3 Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. 4 Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him. Because of his love 5 God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children—this was his pleasure and purpose. 6 Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear Son! 7 For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God, 8 which he gave to us in such large measure! In all his wisdom and insight 9 God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. 10 This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head. 11 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. 12 Let us, then, who were the first to hope in Christ, praise God's glory!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

made: Ephesians 1:17, Ephesians 1:18, Ephesians 3:3-9, Matthew 13:11, Romans 16:25-27, 1 Corinthians 2:10-12, Galatians 1:12, Galatians 1:16, Colossians 1:26-28, 1 Timothy 3:16

according: Ephesians 1:5

purposed: Ephesians 1:11, Ephesians 3:11, Job 23:13, Job 23:14, Psalms 33:11, Isaiah 14:24-27, Isaiah 46:10, Isaiah 46:11, Jeremiah 2:29, Lamentations 3:37, Lamentations 3:38, Acts 2:23, Acts 4:28, Acts 13:48, Romans 8:28, 2 Timothy 1:9

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 7:21 - according 1 Chronicles 17:19 - according Psalms 25:14 - secret Psalms 51:18 - thy Isaiah 53:10 - the pleasure Isaiah 55:11 - it shall accomplish Jeremiah 4:28 - because Jonah 1:14 - for Matthew 11:26 - for Mark 4:11 - Unto you Luke 4:25 - many John 11:52 - gather John 15:15 - all Romans 9:11 - that the Romans 16:26 - now 1 Corinthians 4:1 - mysteries 1 Corinthians 12:18 - as it 1 Corinthians 15:51 - I show Galatians 1:15 - it Ephesians 3:4 - the mystery Ephesians 3:9 - fellowship Ephesians 6:19 - the mystery Philippians 2:13 - good 2 Thessalonians 1:11 - the good 1 Timothy 2:6 - in 2 Timothy 1:10 - now Hebrews 2:4 - according

Cross-References

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, when God created the universe,
Genesis 1:2
the earth was formless and desolate. The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the Spirit of God was moving over the water.
Genesis 1:5
and he named the light "Day" and the darkness "Night." Evening passed and morning came—that was the first day.
Genesis 1:6
Then God commanded, "Let there be a dome to divide the water and to keep it in two separate places"—and it was done. So God made a dome, and it separated the water under it from the water above it.
Genesis 1:8
He named the dome "Sky." Evening passed and morning came—that was the second day.
Genesis 1:9
Then God commanded, "Let the water below the sky come together in one place, so that the land will appear"—and it was done.
Genesis 1:11
Then he commanded, "Let the earth produce all kinds of plants, those that bear grain and those that bear fruit"—and it was done.
Genesis 1:28
blessed them, and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals.
Genesis 1:29
I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat;
Job 26:7
God stretched out the northern sky and hung the earth in empty space.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will,.... The Gospel, which is a mystery, a hidden mystery, the mystery of God and of Christ, and the mystery of the Gospel; the several doctrines of it are called the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; such as are concerning the trinity of persons in the Godhead, the union of the two natures in Christ, his sonship and incarnation, the saints' union and communion with him, the work of the Spirit of God upon the soul, the calling of the Gentiles, and the conversion of the Jews, the resurrection of the dead, and the change of living saints: and the Gospel is the mystery of the will of God; of his will in saving sinners by Christ; and it declares that he does all things in salvation, according to his sovereign will and pleasure; chooses, redeems, justifies, pardons, and calls whom he pleases; and this is made known by the ministry of the word, and by the Spirit, as a spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the knowledge of Christ and his Gospel: the discovery of which is,

according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in himself; both with respect to the persons to whom it is made known, and with respect to the time when he makes it known; both these are as he pleases, and as he has purposed in his own breast; the Gospel is sent when and where he has determined within himself it shall go; and persons are called by it according to his purpose and grace.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Having made known to us the mystery of his will - The word “mystery” (μυστήριον mustērion) means literally something into which one must be “initiated” before it is fully known (from μυέω mueō, to initiate, to instruct); and then anything which is concealed or hidden. We commonly use the word to denote that which is above our comprehension or unintelligible. But this is never the meaning of the word in the New Testament. It means there some doctrine or fact which has been concealed, or which has not before been fully revealed, or which has been set forth only by figures and symbols. When the doctrine is made known, it may be as clear and plain as any other. Such was the doctrine that God meant to call the Gentiles, which was long concealed, at least in part, and which was not fully made known until the Saviour came, and which had been until that time “a mystery - a concealed truth” - though when it was revealed, there was nothing incomprehensible in it. Thus, in Colossians 1:26, “The mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.” So it was in regard to the doctrine of election. It was a mystery until it was made known by the actual conversion of those whom God had chosen. So in regard to the incarnation of the Redeemer; the atonement; the whole plan of salvation. Over all these great points there was a veil thrown, and people did not understand them until God revealed them. When they were revealed, the mystery was removed, and men were able to see clearly the manifestation of the will of God.

Which he hath purposed in himself - Without foreign aid or counsel. His purposes originated in his own mind, and were concealed until he chose to make them known; see 2 Timothy 1:9.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 9. Having made known unto us the mystery — That the Gentiles should ever be received into the Church of God, and have all the privileges of the Jews, without being obliged to submit to circumcision, and perform the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish law was a mystery-a hidden thing which had never been published before; and now revealed only to the apostles. It was God's will that it should be so, but that will he kept hidden to the present time. A mystery signifies something hidden, but it ceases to be a mystery as soon as it is revealed. Matthew 13:11; and particularly that on, Romans 11:25.

Good pleasure — την ευδοκιαν. That benevolent design which he had purposed in himself, not being induced by any consideration from without.


 
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