EPH 1:3-14

Spiritual Blessings

3Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the One having blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ — [1:4] even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, to be us holy and blameless before Him in love — [1:5] having predestined us for divine adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, [1:6] to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He graced us with in the Beloved. [1:7] In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, [1:8] which He lavished upon us with all wisdom and insight, [1:9] having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him, [1:10] for the administration of the fullness of the times: to sum up all things in Christ — the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth — in Him; [1:11] in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of the One working all things according to the counsel of His will, [1:12] for us to be to the praise of His glory — those having hoped beforehand in Christ. [1:13] In whom also you yourselves, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation — in whom also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, [1:14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance, toward the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Greco-Roman world, adoption was a formal legal act that conferred full inheritance rights and familial status, often used to secure a family line or honor. For Jewish listeners, the idea of divine adoption would resonate with Israel’s identity as God’s chosen people, now extended to all in Christ. The term (blessing) carried the weight of tangible benefits, not just verbal praise, reflecting the concrete gifts of grace bestowed by God. The (administration) of God’s plan evokes the image of a household steward carefully managing resources, emphasizing divine intentionality. The (pledge) of the Spirit would be understood as a legal guarantee, akin to a down payment securing future fulfillment. For both Jewish and Gentile audiences, this passage underscores the cosmic scope of God’s redemptive plan, rooted in Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection, and the assurance of inheritance in Him.

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How other translations render this

EPH 1:3

KJV: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
BSB: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.
Koinōnos: Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the One having blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ —

EPH 1:4

KJV: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
BSB: For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
Koinōnos: even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, to be us holy and blameless before Him in love —

EPH 1:5

KJV: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
BSB: He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,
Koinōnos: having predestined us for divine adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

EPH 1:6

KJV: To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
BSB: to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
Koinōnos: to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He graced us with in the Beloved.

EPH 1:7

KJV: In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
BSB: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
Koinōnos: In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,

EPH 1:8

KJV: Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
BSB: that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
Koinōnos: which He lavished upon us with all wisdom and insight,

EPH 1:9

KJV: Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
BSB: And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ
Koinōnos: having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him,

EPH 1:10

KJV: 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:
BSB: as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.
Koinōnos: for the administration of the fullness of the times: to sum up all things in Christ — the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth — in Him;

EPH 1:11

KJV: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
BSB: In Him we were also chosen as Godʼs own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
Koinōnos: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of the One working all things according to the counsel of His will,

EPH 1:12

KJV: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
BSB: in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.
Koinōnos: for us to be to the praise of His glory — those having hoped beforehand in Christ.

EPH 1:13

KJV: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
BSB: And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Koinōnos: In whom also you yourselves, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation — in whom also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

EPH 1:14

KJV: Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
BSB: who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are Godʼs possession, to the praise of His glory.
Koinōnos: who is the guarantee of our inheritance, toward the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.

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

Translator's notes

EPH 1:3

blessing:The word translated 'blessing' here carries the sense of speaking well of someone, often in praise or commendation, rather than simply receiving a benefit.

EPH 1:5

divine adoption as sons:The term 'divine adoption as sons' refers to the legal act of formally adopting a child, granting them full rights and inheritance within a new family, not merely a spiritual affiliation.

EPH 1:10

[the] administration:The word translated 'administration' originally referred to the management of a household or estate, implying careful planning, stewardship, and execution of a plan.

EPH 1:14

[the] guarantee:The word translated 'guarantee' was a commercial term for an initial payment or deposit that secured a future transaction, serving as a binding pledge and down payment.