New International Version NIV
New International Reader's Version NIRV
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
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I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. I am sending this letter to you, God's people in Ephesus. Because you belong to Christ Jesus, you are faithful.
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
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Give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. Those blessings come from the heavenly world. They belong to us because we belong to Christ.
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
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God chose us to belong to Christ before the world was created. He chose us to be holy and without blame in his eyes. He loved us.
5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
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So he decided long ago to adopt us as his children. He did it because of what Jesus Christ has done. It pleased God to do it.
6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
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All those things bring praise to his glorious grace. God freely gave us his grace because of the One he loves.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
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We have been set free because of what Christ has done. Through his blood our sins have been forgiven. We have been set free because God's grace is so rich.
8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,
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He poured his grace on us by giving us great wisdom and understanding.
9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
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He showed us the mystery of his plan. It was in keeping with what he wanted to do. It was what he had planned through Christ.
10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
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It will all come about when history has been completed. God will then bring together all things in heaven and on earth under one ruler. The ruler is Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
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We were also chosen to belong to him. God decided to choose us long ago in keeping with his plan. He works out everything to fit his plan and purpose.
12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
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We were the first to put our hope in Christ. We were chosen to bring praise to his glory.
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
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You also became believers in Christ. That happened when you heard the message of truth. It was the good news about how you could be saved. When you believed, he marked you with a seal. The seal is the Holy Spirit that he promised.
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
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The Spirit marks us as God's own. We can now be sure that someday we will receive all that God has promised. That will happen after God sets all of his people completely free. All of those things will bring praise to his glory.
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,
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I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus. I have also heard about your love for all of God's people. That is why
16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
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I have not stopped thanking God for you. I always remember you in my prayers.
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
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I pray to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the glorious Father. I keep asking him to give you the wisdom and understanding that come from the Holy Spirit. I want you to know God better.
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,
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I also pray that your mind might see more clearly. Then you will know the hope God has chosen you to receive. You will know that the things God's people will receive are rich and glorious.
19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength
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And you will know his great power. It can't be compared with anything else. It is at work for us who believe. It is like the mighty strength
20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
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God showed when he raised Christ from the dead. He seated him at his right hand in his heavenly kingdom.
21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
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There Christ sits far above all who rule and have authority. He also sits far above all powers and kings. He is above every title that can be given in this world and in the world to come.
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
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God placed all things under Christ's rule. He appointed him to be ruler over everything for the church.
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
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The church is Christ's body. It is filled by Christ. He fills everything in every way.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.