Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1, the opening chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church, written around AD 60–62 from Rome during his imprisonment, establishes the spiritual blessings believers have in Christ. Paul praises God for His eternal plan of salvation, emphasizes the role of the Trinity in redemption, and prays for the Ephesians to grasp the magnitude of God’s power and their inheritance in Christ.
Key Sections
Greeting (1:1–2): Paul, an apostle by God’s will, greets the saints in Ephesus, wishing them grace and peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ.
Blessings in Christ (1:3–14): Paul blesses God for spiritual blessings in Christ, including:
Chosen before creation to be holy, adopted as sons through Christ (1:4–6).

Redeemed by Christ’s blood, forgiven of sins, according to God’s grace (1:7–8).

Revealed God’s mystery: uniting all things in Christ (1:9–10).

Inheriting salvation, predestined by God’s purpose, sealed by the Spirit as a guarantee (1:11–14).
This Trinitarian plan—Father’s choosing, Son’s redeeming, Spirit’s sealing—brings glory to God.
Prayer for Wisdom and Revelation (1:15–23): Hearing of the Ephesians’ faith and love, Paul prays they receive wisdom and revelation to know God, understanding the hope of their calling, the riches of their inheritance, and God’s immense power. This power raised Christ, seated Him above all authorities, and made Him head over the church, His body, filling all things.
Cross-References
Greeting: 
Romans 1:7: Grace and peace.

Colossians 1:2: Faithful saints.

2 Corinthians 1:1: Apostle by God’s will.
Chosen and Adopted: 
Romans 8:29–30: Predestined, called.

1 Peter 1:2: Chosen by God.

John 1:12: Children of God.
Redemption and Forgiveness: 
Colossians 1:14: Redemption, forgiveness.

Romans 3:24: Justified by grace.

Hebrews 9:12: Eternal redemption.
Mystery of Unity: 
Colossians 1:26–27: Mystery revealed.

Romans 16:25: Hidden, now disclosed.

Isaiah 45:23: All bow to God.
Sealed by the Spirit: 
2 Corinthians 1:22: Sealed, guaranteed.

Romans 8:16: Spirit bears witness.

Acts 2:38: Gift of the Spirit.
Prayer for Wisdom: 
Colossians 1:9–10: Knowledge of God’s will.

Philippians 1:9–11: Insight and love.

Psalm 119:18: Open my eyes.
Christ’s Exaltation: 
Philippians 2:9–11: Name above all.

Colossians 1:18: Head of the church.

Psalm 110:1: Sit at My right hand.
Theological Meaning
Spiritual Blessings: All blessings—election, redemption, inheritance—are in Christ, secured by God’s grace (1:3; Romans 8:32).

Trinitarian Salvation: The Father plans, the Son redeems, the Spirit seals, uniting believers with God (1:13–14; Titus 3:4–6).

Eternal Election: God chose believers before creation for holiness, ensuring salvation’s certainty (1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13).

Redemption’s Cost: Christ’s blood forgives sins, displaying God’s lavish grace (1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19).

Cosmic Unity: God’s plan reconciles all creation under Christ’s rule (1:10; Colossians 1:20).

Church’s Role: As Christ’s body, the church expresses His fullness, empowered by His authority (1:23; Matthew 16:18).
Questions and Answers
What are “spiritual blessings” (1:3)?
Divine gifts in Christ, like election, redemption, and the Spirit, for believers’ salvation (1:3; 2 Corinthians 9:15).

Why chosen “before the foundation” (1:4)?
To show God’s eternal plan for holiness and adoption, independent of human merit (1:4; Romans 9:11).

What is the “mystery” (1:9)?
God’s plan to unite all things in Christ, especially Jews and Gentiles in one body (1:10; Ephesians 3:6).

What does “sealed with the Spirit” mean (1:13)?
The Spirit marks believers as God’s, guaranteeing their inheritance (1:13; Ephesians 4:30).

Why pray for wisdom (1:17)?
To deepen the Ephesians’ understanding of God’s plan, hope, and power in Christ (1:17; Colossians 2:2–3).

What is Christ’s role over the church (1:22–23)?
He is head, ruling and filling the church, His body, with His presence (1:23; Colossians 1:18).

How does this apply today?
Praise God for salvation, seek spiritual insight, and live as Christ’s body, united under His rule (1:3; Philippians 1:27).
Additional Notes for Readers
Historical Context: Written during Paul’s Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:16–31), this chapter addresses Ephesus’s diverse church (Acts 19:10), uniting Jewish and Gentile believers (Ephesians 2:11–13). Ephesus’s pagan culture, with its Artemis worship (Acts 19:24–27), contrasted with the gospel’s cosmic scope (1:10). Paul’s imprisonment (3:1) underscores his commitment (Acts 20:22–24).

Cultural Questions: “In the heavenly places” (1:3) reflects Jewish cosmology, where blessings are secured (Ephesians 6:12). “Adoption” (1:5) uses Roman legal terms, granting full heirship (Romans 8:15). “Mystery” (1:9) echoes Jewish apocalyptic ideas, now revealed (Daniel 2:28). “Sealed” (1:13) evokes Roman ownership marks, assuring salvation (2 Timothy 2:19). “Powers and authorities” (1:21) align with Ephesus’s spiritual worldview (Acts 19:13–16). “Church as body” (1:23) counters Greco-Roman individualism (1 Corinthians 12:27).

Application: Ephesians 1 calls believers to rejoice in God’s eternal blessings, seek deeper knowledge of Christ, and embody His church. It challenges self-reliance and division, urging awe at God’s plan and unity in a fragmented world (Romans 12:5; Colossians 3:16).