EPH 1:15-23

Spiritual Wisdom

15For this reason I also, having heard of the faith among you in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the holy ones, [1:16] do not cease giving thanks for you, mentioning you in my prayers — [1:17] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of the unveiling of hidden things in the knowledge of him, [1:18] the eyes of your heart having been enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of the glory of his inheritance among the holy ones, [1:19] and what is the surpassing greatness of his active, result-producing power toward us who believe — according to the working of the might of his strength, [1:20] which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, [1:21] far above all rule and authority and power and lordship and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. [1:22] And he put all things in subjection under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the assembly, [1:23] which is his body — the fullness, the completion of the one who fills all things in all.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Greco-Roman world, wisdom and revelation were highly valued, often associated with divine insight and the unveiling of hidden truths. For Jewish listeners, wisdom was deeply rooted in the Torah and the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10), while revelation evoked the prophetic tradition where God disclosed His will. The mention of 'the eyes of the heart' would resonate with Jewish thought, where the 'heart' was the seat of understanding and moral decision-making. The 'hope of His calling' would remind Jewish believers of God’s covenant promises, while Gentile converts would hear echoes of their own calling out of idolatry into a new identity. The 'riches of the glory of His inheritance' would evoke the Jewish expectation of a promised inheritance, now extended to all in Christ. The 'fullness' of Christ filling the church would challenge both Jewish and Gentile listeners to see the church as the embodiment of God’s presence and power in the world.

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How other translations render this

EPH 1:15

KJV: Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
BSB: For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
Koinōnos: For this reason I also, having heard of the faith among you in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the holy ones,

EPH 1:16

KJV: Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
BSB: I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
Koinōnos: do not cease giving thanks for you, mentioning you in my prayers —

EPH 1:17

KJV: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
BSB: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
Koinōnos: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of the unveiling of hidden things in the knowledge of him,

EPH 1:18

KJV: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
BSB: I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
Koinōnos: the eyes of your heart having been enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of the glory of his inheritance among the holy ones,

EPH 1:19

KJV: And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
BSB: and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
Koinōnos: and what is the surpassing greatness of his active, result-producing power toward us who believe — according to the working of the might of his strength,

EPH 1:20

KJV: Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
BSB: which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms,
Koinōnos: which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

EPH 1:21

KJV: Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
BSB: far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
Koinōnos: far above all rule and authority and power and lordship and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

EPH 1:22

KJV: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
BSB: And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church,
Koinōnos: And he put all things in subjection under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the assembly,

EPH 1:23

KJV: Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
BSB: which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Koinōnos: which is his body — the fullness, the completion of the one who fills all things in all.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

EPH 1:17

[a] spirit:The word translated 'spirit' here can refer to a non-physical part of a person, but it also carries the sense of a powerful, unseen force, like wind or breath, that animates and gives life.
revelation:The term translated 'revelation' literally means an 'uncovering' or 'unveiling,' suggesting something previously hidden is now being made visible or known.

EPH 1:19

working:The word translated 'working' refers to an active, effective power or energy that produces results, rather than just a general activity.

EPH 1:23

fullness:The word translated 'fullness' can mean that which fills something up, but it also carries the sense of completion or that which makes something whole and perfect.