Ephesians 1 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~AD 60-62
Location
Written from Rome to Ephesus, a major port city in the Roman province of Asia (modern-day Turkey)
Audience
Primarily Gentile Christians in Ephesus and possibly surrounding churches in Asia Minor
Situation
Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned in Rome, addressing believers he had previously ministered to for three years. The letter appears to be a circular epistle meant for multiple churches in the region.
Key Background
Ephesus was a wealthy commercial hub and center of pagan worship, home to the famous Temple of Artemis. The church there had been founded by Paul around AD 52-55 and consisted largely of former pagans who had turned from idolatry and magical practices. Chapter 1 serves as a theological foundation, emphasizing the believers' spiritual blessings and identity in Christ, which was crucial for these converts navigating their new faith in a heavily pagan culture.
From Paul, an of the Jesus — sent by own decision and will — to in Ephesus who are and joined to the Jesus:
May you experience and from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus, the One.
All to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the One — he has given us every in the because we are to the One.
Even before the world was made, God us to be joined to the One — so that we would be and in his eyes, surrounded by his
He of to us as own through Jesus, the One. This was what he wanted — what —
all to the praise of his that he on us through the One he loves.
Through the One, and because of we have been and our have been — that's how rich undeserved kindness is.
He poured this out on us with all and
revealing to us the he had been to set in motion through the One —
a plan for when the was to — the — everything in the heavens and on the earth.
And because we are joined to the One, we were as own — decided on of by the one who according to what he decides to do —
so that we — the ones who in the One — would bring praise to his
And you also — when you heard the of the of your — you believed and were with the of
who is the down guaranteeing our until God those who to — all to the praise of his magnificence.
That's why, ever since I heard about your in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God's people,
I haven't stopped for you, always mentioning you when I to
I keep asking the God of our Lord Jesus, the One — the who is — to give you a of and so you can
I'm asking him to flood the of with light so you'll understand the his has opened up for you, just how rich and magnificent the inheritance is that he's sharing with his people,
and just how his is toward us who believe. This is the same that he put to work
when he the One from the dead and at in the heavenly realms —
far above every and — above every that can be given, not only in this but in the to come.
God the One's and made him the over for the
which is his — the of the one who in every