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Ephesians 1:9

for he has discover'd to us the secret of his will, that out of his meer good pleasure, he had purposed in himself,

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;
Good News Translation
God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ.
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,
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 Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all the spiritual blessings in Christ's kingdom. 4 according as he had chosen us in himself before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, free from vice, and devoted to virtue. 5 having predetermin'd to adopt us by Jesus Christ to be his children, according to the good pleasure of his own will, 6 to display the glory of his grace, which has render'd us acceptable by his beloved son: 7 who has by his blood obtained for us the redemption, even the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of his grace, 8 out of the over-flowing treasures of his comprehensive wisdom and contrivance. 9 for he has discover'd to us the secret of his will, that out of his meer good pleasure, he had purposed in himself, 10 when the full time of the dispensation was come, to reduce all things both in heaven and on earth, under one head in Christ. 11 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: 12 that we should celebrate his glory, who were the first that plac'd our hopes in Christ.

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

2 Peter 3:5
but they are wilfully ignorant, that the heavens were originally form'd by the divine Logos, and likewise the earth, which was separated from the water, and still subsists upon it.
Revelation 10:6
and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and all that is therein, the earth and all that is therein, the sea and all that is therein, "that the time should be no longer defer'd."

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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