Ephesians 1:10

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
God's goal was to finish his plan when the right time came. He planned that all things in heaven and on earth be joined together with Christ as the head.

Revised Standard Version
as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
to have it declared when the tyme were full come yt all thynges bothe ye thynges which are in heven and also the thynges which are in erthe shuld be gaddered togedder even in Christ:

Hebrew Names Version
to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Messiah, the things in the heavens, and the things on the eretz, in him;

New American Standard Bible
regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

New Century Version
His goal was to carry out his plan, when the right time came, that all things in heaven and on earth would be joined together in Christ as the head.

Update Bible Version
to a dispensation of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth; in him, [I say,]

Webster's Bible Translation
That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might collect in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him:

English Standard Version
as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

World English Bible
to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
That in the dispensation of the fulness of the times, he might gather together into one in Christ all things which are in heaven, and which are in earth,

Weymouth's New Testament
for the government of the world when the times are ripe for it--the purpose which He has cherished in His own mind of restoring the whole creation to find its one Head in Christ; yes, things in Heaven and things on earth, to find their one Head in Him.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
hym in the dispensacioun of plente of tymes to enstore alle thingis in Crist, whiche ben in heuenes, and whiche ben in erthe, in hym.

English Revised Version
unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, I say,

Berean Standard Bible
as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.

Contemporary English Version
Then when the time is right, God will do all that he has planned, and Christ will bring together everything in heaven and on earth.

Amplified Bible
with regard to the fulfillment of the times [that is, the end of history, the climax of the ages]—to bring all things together in Christ, [both] things in the heavens and things on the earth.

American Standard Version
unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, I say,

Bible in Basic English
The ordering of the times when they are complete, so that all things might come to a head in Christ, the things in heaven and the things on the earth; in him, I say,

Complete Jewish Bible
and will put into effect when the time is ripe — his plan to place everything in heaven and on earth under the Messiah's headship.

Darby Translation
for [the] administration of the fulness of times; to head up all things in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth; in him,

International Standard Version
to usher inadminister">[fn] the fullness of the times and to gather up all things in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth.1 Corinthians 3:22-23; 11:3; Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 2:15; 3:15; Philippians 2:9-10; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 1:2; 9:10; 1 Peter 1:20;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
that in the dispensation of the fulness of the times, every thing from the first might be renovated in the Meshiha, in heaven and in earth. And by him

Murdock Translation
in the dispensation of the fullness of times; that all things might again be made new in the Messiah, things in heaven and [fn] on earth.

King James Version (1611)
That in the dispensation of the fulnesse of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heauen, and which are on earth, euen in him:

New Living Translation
And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.

New Life Bible
The plan was for Christ to gather us all together at the right time. If we are in heaven or still on earth, He will bring us together and will be head over all.

New Revised Standard
as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Geneva Bible (1587)
That in the dispensation of the fulnesse of the times, he might gather together in one all things, both which are in heauen, and which are in earth, euen in Christ:

George Lamsa Translation
As a dispensation of the fulness of times, that all things might be made new in heaven and on earth through Christ:

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For an administration of the fulness of the seasons, to reunite for himself (under one head) the all things in the Christ, the things upon the heavens, and the things upon the earth, in him:

Douay-Rheims Bible
In the dispensation of the fulness of times, to re-establish all things in Christ, that are in heaven and on earth, in him.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
That in the dispensation of the fulnesse of the tymes, he myght gather together in one all thinges in Christe, both which are in heauen, and which are in earth, in hym.

Good News Translation
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.

Christian Standard Bible®
as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.

King James Version
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Lexham English Bible
for the administration of the fullness of times, to bring together all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in him

Literal Translation
for the administration of the fullness of the times to head up all things in Christ, both the things in the heavens, and the things on earth, in Him,

Young's Literal Translation
in regard to the dispensation of the fulness of the times, to bring into one the whole in the Christ, both the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth -- in him;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
yt it shulde be preached wha the tyme was full come, that all thinges shulde be gathered together by Christ, both the thinges which are in heauen, and also the thinges that are vpon earth,

Mace New Testament (1729)
when the full time of the dispensation was come, to reduce all things both in heaven and on earth, under one head in Christ.

New English Translation
toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ—the things in heaven and the things on earth.

New King James Version
that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both [fn] which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.

Simplified Cowboy Version
But that plan ain't done yet! When the right time comes, everything will be brought together under the brand of Jesus. Everything in heaven and everything on earth will wear Christ's brand.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him

Legacy Standard Bible
for an administration of the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth in Him.

Contextual Overview

³How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. ⁷Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. ¹¹It'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. ¹³It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

in the: Isaiah 2:2-4, Daniel 2:44, Daniel 9:24-27, Amos 9:11, Micah 4:1, Micah 4:2, Malachi 3:1, 1 Corinthians 10:11, Galatians 4:4, Hebrews 1:2, Hebrews 9:10, Hebrews 11:40, 1 Peter 1:20

he: Ephesians 1:22, Ephesians 2:15, Ephesians 3:15, Genesis 49:10, Matthew 25:32, 1 Corinthians 3:22, 1 Corinthians 3:23, 1 Corinthians 11:3, Philippians 2:9, Philippians 2:10, Colossians 1:20, Colossians 3:11, Hebrews 12:22-24, Revelation 5:9, Revelation 7:4-12, Revelation 19:4-6

heaven: Gr. the heavens

Reciprocal: Leviticus 3:6 - a sacrifice Proverbs 8:23 - General Isaiah 54:7 - with Isaiah 56:8 - Yet Matthew 24:31 - gather Mark 1:15 - The time John 11:52 - gather Acts 1:7 - It Acts 10:11 - and a Romans 8:28 - the called Romans 11:15 - the reconciling 1 Corinthians 1:30 - in Ephesians 1:3 - in Christ Ephesians 3:9 - fellowship Ephesians 3:18 - with Colossians 1:16 - in heaven Colossians 1:18 - he is 2 Thessalonians 2:1 - and by 1 Timothy 2:6 - in Titus 1:3 - in Hebrews 9:26 - in

Cross-References

Psalms 104:31
The glory of God —let it last forever! Let God enjoy his creation! He takes one look at earth and triggers an earthquake, points a finger at the mountains, and volcanoes erupt.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times,.... Or "according to the dispensation", c. as the Alexandrian copy reads the fulness of time appointed by God, and fixed in the prophets; after many times and seasons were elapsed, from the creation of the world; at the most suitable and convenient time, when a new economy or dispensation began, within which all this was to be effected, hereafter mentioned:

he might gather together in one all things in Christ; this supposes, that all things were once united together in one; angels and men were united to God by the ties of creation, and were under the same law of nature, and there were peace and friendship between them; and this union was in Christ, as the beginning of the creation of God, in whom all things consist: and it supposes a disunion and scattering of them; as of men from God, and from good angels, which was done by sin; and of Jews and Gentiles from one another; and of one man from another, everyone turning to his own way; and then a gathering of them together again: the word here used signifies to restore, renew, and reduce to a former state; and so the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions render it; and according to this sense, it may seem to have respect to the times of the restitution of all things, the restoration and renovation of the universe; when there will be new heavens and a new earth, and new inhabitants in them: the word is also used to recapitulate, or sum up the heads of a discourse; and according to this sense, it may intend the meeting together, and summing up of all things in Christ, that had been before; as of all the promises and blessings of the covenant; of all the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament; of all the types and shadows, and sacrifices of the former dispensation; yea, all the sins of Old Testament saints, and all the curses of the law, met on him: the word is likewise used for the collection of numbers into one sum total; and Christ is the sum total of elect angels and men; or the whole number of them is in him; God has chosen a certain number of persons unto salvation; these he has put into the hands of Christ, who has a particular and personal knowledge of them; and the exact number of them will be gathered and given by him: once more, it signifies to reduce, or bring under one head; and Christ is an head of eminence and of influence, both to angels and men: and there is a collection of these together in one, in Christ; by virtue of redemption by Christ, and grace from him, there is an entire friendship between elect angels and elect men; they are social worshippers now, and shall share in the same happiness of the vision of God and of Christ hereafter: hence it follows,

both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even

in him; by things in heaven are not meant the souls of saints in heaven; though it is true that the souls of departed saints are in heaven; and that the saints in heaven and on earth were gathered together in Christ, and represented by him, when he hung upon the cross; and that they all make up one body, of which Christ is the head; and that they will be all collected together one day; and that their souls which are in heaven, and their bodies which are in the earth, will come together and be reunited, and dwell with Christ for ever; but rather the angels are meant, whose origin is heaven; where they have their residence, and from whence they never fell; and whose employment is in heaven, and of an heavenly nature: and by things on earth, are not intended every creature on earth, animate and inanimate; nor all men, but all elect men, whether Jews or Gentiles, and some of all sorts, ranks, and degrees; whose origin is of the earth, and who are the inhabitants of it: all these angels in heaven, and elect men on earth, are brought together under one head, even in him, in Christ Jesus, and by him; and none but he was able to do it, and none so fit, who is the Creator of all, and is above all; and was typified by Jacob's ladder, which reached heaven and earth, and joined them together, and on which the angels of God ascended and descended.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That in the dispensation - The word rendered here as “dispensation,” οἰκονομία oikonomia, means properly “the management of household affairs.” Then it means stewardship or administration; a dispensation or arrangement of things: a scheme or plan. The meaning here is, that this plan was formed in order (εἰς eis) or “unto” this end, that in the full arrangement of times, or in the arrangements completing the filling up of the times, God might gather together in one all things. Tyndale renders it: “to have it declared when the time was full come,” etc.

The fulness of times - When the times were fully completed; when all the periods should have passed by which he had prescribed, or judged necessary to the completion of the object. The period referred to here is that when all things shall be gathered together in the Redeemer at the winding up of human affairs, or the consummation of all things. The arrangement was made with reference to that, and embraced all things which conduced to that. The plan stretched from before “the foundation of the world” to the period when all times should be completed; and of course all the events occurring in that intermediate period were embraced in the plan.

He might gather together in one - The word used here - ἀνακεφαλαιόω anakephalaioō - means literally, to sum up, to recapitulate, as an orator does at the close of his discourse. It is from κεφαλή kephalē, the head; or κεφάλαιον kephalaion, the sum, the chief thing, the main point. In the New Testament, the word means to collect under one head, or to comprehend several things under one; Romans 13:9. “It is briefly comprehended,” i. e., summed up under this one precept,” sc., “love.” In the passage before us, it means that God would sum up, or comprehend all things in heaven and earth through the Christian dispensation; he would make one empire, under one head, with common feelings, and under the same laws. The reference is to the unity which will hereafter exist in the kingdom of God, when all his friends on earth and in heaven shall be united, and all shall have a common head. Now there is alienation. The earth has been separated from other worlds by rebellion. It has gone off into apostasy and sin. It refuses to acknowledge the Great Head to which other worlds are subject, and the object is to restore it to its proper place, so that there shall be one great and united kingdom.

All things - τὰ παντά ta panta. It is remarkable that Paul has used here a word which is in the neuter gender. It is not all “persons,” all angels, or all human beings, or all the elect, but all “things.” Bloomfield and others suppose that “persons” are meant, and that the phrase is used for τοὺς πάντας tous pantas. But it seems to me that Paul did not use this word without design. All “things” are placed under Christ, Ephesians 1:22; Matthew 28:18, and the design of God is to restore harmony in the universe. Sin has produced disorder not not only in “mind,” but in “matter.” The world is disarranged. The effects of transgression are seen everywhere; and the object of the plan of redemption is to put things on their pristine footing, and restore them as they were at first. Everything is, therefore, put under the Lord Jesus, and all things are to be brought under his control, so as to constitute one vast harmonious empire. The amount of the declaration here is, that there is hereafter to be one kingdom, in which there shall be no jar or alienation; that the now separated kingdoms of heaven and earth shall be united under one head, and that henceforward all shall be harmony and love. The things which are to be united in Christ, are those which are “in heaven and which are on earth.” Nothing is said of “hell.” Of course this passage cannot teach the doctrine of universal salvation, since there is one world which is not to have a part in this ultimate union.

In Christ - By means of Christ, or under him, as the great head and king. He is to be the great agent in effecting this, and he is to preside over this united kingdom. In accordance with this view the heavenly inhabitants, the angels as well as the redeemed, are uniformly represented as uniting in the same worship, and as acknowledging the Redeemer as their common head and king; Revelation 5:9-12.

Both which are in heaven - Margin, as in Greek, “in the heavens.” Many different opinions have been formed of the meaning of this expression. Some suppose it to mean the saints in heaven, who died before the coming of the Saviour; and some that it refers to the Jews, designated as “the heavenly people,” in contradistinction from the Gentiles, as having nothing divine and heavenly in them, and as being of the “earth.” The more simple and obvious interpretation is, however, without doubt, the correct one, and this is to suppose that it refers to the holy inhabitants of other worlds. The object of the plan of salvation is to produce a harmony between them and the redeemed on earth, or to produce out of all, one great and united kingdom. In doing this, it is not necessary to suppose that any change is to be produced in the inhabitants of heaven. All the change is to occur among those on earth, and the object is to make out of all, one harmonious and glorious empire.

And which are on earth - The redeemed on earth. The object is to bring them into harmony with the inhabitants of heaven. This is the great object proposed by the plan of salvation. It is to found one glorious and eternal kingdom, that shall comprehend all holy beings on earth and all in heaven. There is now discord and disunion. Man is separated from God, and from all holy beings. Between him and every holy being there is by nature discord and alienation. Unrenewed man has no sympathy with the feelings and work of the angels; no love for their employment; no desire to be associated with them. Nothing can be more unlike than the customs, feelings, laws, and habits which prevail on earth, from those which prevail in heaven. But the object of the plan of salvation is to restore harmony to those alienated communities, and produce eternal concord and love. Hence, learn:

(1) The greatness and glory of the plan of salvation. It is no trifling undertaking to “reconcile worlds,” and of such discordant materials to found one great and glorious and eternal empire.

(2) The reason of the interest which angels feel in the plan of redemption; 1 Peter 1:12. They are deeply concerned in the redemption of those who, with them, are to constitute that great kingdom which is to be eternal. Without envy at the happiness of others; without any feeling that the accession of others will diminish “their” felicity or glory, they wait to hail the coming of others, and rejoice to receive even one who comes to be united to their number.

(3) This plan was worthy of the efforts of the Son of God. To restore harmony in heaven and earth; to prevent the evils of alienation and discord; to rear one immense and glorious kingdom, was an object worthy the incarnation of the Son of God.

(4) The glory of the Redeemer. He is to be exalted as the Head of this united and ever-glorious kingdom, and all the redeemed on earth and the angelic hosts shall acknowledge him as their common Sovereign and Head.

(5) This is the greatest and most important enterprise on earth. It should engage every heart, and enlist the powers of every soul. It should be the earnest desire of all to swell the numbers of those who shall constitute this united and ever-glorious kingdom, and to bring as many as possible of the human race into union with the holy inhabitants of he other world.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 10. In the dispensation of the fulness of times — εις οικονομιαν του πληρωματος των καιρων. The word οικονομια, which is the same as our word economy, signifies, as Dr. Macknight has well observed, "the plan which the master of a family, or his steward, has established for the management of the family;" it signifies, also, a plan for the management of any sort of business: and here it means the dispensation of the Gospel, that plan by which God has provided salvation for a lost world; and according to which he intends to gather all believers, both Jews and Gentiles, into one Church under Jesus Christ, their head and governor. Matthew 24:45, where the word and the office are particularly explained.

The fulness of times-By this phrase we are to understand either the Gospel dispensation, which is the consummation of all preceding dispensations, and the last that shall be afforded to man; or that advanced state of the world which God saw to be the most proper for the full manifestation of those benevolent purposes which he had formed in himself relative to the salvation of the world by Jesus Christ.

That he might gather together in one — ανακεφαλαιωσασθαι, from ανα, again, and κεφαλαιοω, to reduce to one sum; to add up; to bring different sums together, and fractions of sums, so as to reduce them under one denomination; to recapitulate the principal matters contained in a discourse. Here it means the gathering together both Jews and Gentiles, who have believed in Christ, into one Church and flock. See the preceding note.

All things-which are in heaven, and which are on earth — This clause is variously understood: some think, by things in heaven the Jewish state is meant and by things on earth the Christian. The Jews had been long considered a Divine or heavenly people; their doctrine, their government, their constitution, both civil and ecclesiastical, were all Divine or heavenly: as the powers of the heavens, Matthew 24:29, Luke 21:26, mean the Jewish rulers in Church and state, it is very possible that the things which are in heaven mean this same state; and as the Gentiles were considered to have nothing Divine or heavenly among them, they may be here intended by the earth, out of the corruption of which they are to be gathered by the preaching of the Gospel. But there are others who imagine that the things in heaven mean the angelical hosts; and the things on earth believers of all nations, who shall all be joined together at last in one assembly to worship God throughout eternity. And some think that the things in heaven mean the saints who died before Christ's advent, and who are not to be made perfect till the resurrection, when the full power and efficacy of Christ shall be seen in raising the bodies of believers and uniting them with their holy souls, to reign in his presence for ever. And some think that, as the Hebrew phrase שמים והארץ shamayim vehaarets, the heavens and the earth, signifies all creatures, the words in the text are to be understood as signifying all mankind, without discrimination of peoples, kindreds, or tongues; Jews, Greeks, or barbarians. All that are saved of all nations, (being saved in the same way, viz. by faith in Christ Jesus, without any distinction of nation or previous condition,) and all gathered into one Church or assembly.

I believe that the forming one Church out of both Jews and Gentiles is that to which the apostle refers. This agrees with what is said, Ephesians 2:14-17.