Read the Bible

¹ From[fn] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, to his holy and faithful people[fn] in Ephesus[fn] who are in union with Christ Jesus.[xr] ² May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be yours![xr]

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm,[xr] ⁴ just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in his presence. In love[xr] ⁵ he predestined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will,[xr] ⁶ so that we would praise[fn] his glorious grace that he gave us in the Beloved One.[xr] ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of God's[fn] grace[xr] ⁸ that he lavished on us, along with all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ when he made known to us the secret of his will. This was according to his plan that he set forth in Christ[fn][xr] ¹⁰ to usher in[fn] the fullness of the times and to gather up all things in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth.[xr] ¹¹ In Christ[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,[xr] ¹² so that we who had already fixed our hope on Christ might live for his praise and glory.[xr] ¹³ You, too, have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed in him you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,[xr] ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of God's own possession,[fn] to his praise and glory.[xr]

¹⁵ Therefore, because I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[fn] for all the saints,[xr] ¹⁶ I never stop giving thanks for you as I mention you in my prayers.[xr] ¹⁷ I pray[fn] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father most glorious,[fn] would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation through knowing Christ[fn] fully.[xr] ¹⁸ Then, with the eyes of your hearts enlightened, you will know the hope of his calling, the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,[xr] ¹⁹ and the unlimited greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his mighty strength,[xr] ²⁰ which he put to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realm.[xr] ²¹ He 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.[xr] ²² God[fn] has put everything under his feet and has made him the head of everything for the good of[fn] the church,[xr] ²³ which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills everything in every way.[fn][xr]