(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Greetings From Paul
- Paul, an apostle of Jesus the Anointed through the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Jesus the Anointed.
- Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Anointed Lord Jesus.
- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, the One who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens through the Anointed.
- Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, for us to be holy and blameless before Him in ^love,
- having appointed us beforehand to the adoption as sons for Himself through Jesus the Anointed, according to the good pleasure of His will,
- to praise the glory of His grace, which He graced to us in the One who is ^*loved.
- In whom we have the repurchase payment1“repurchase payment” is one word in Greek, typically translated “redemption”. It properly refers to the price paid to “buy back” something that had been lost. through His blood; the forgiveness of missteps2“missteps”. The Greek word used here doesn’t quite mean “sin”. It’s the word “παράπτωμα” (paraptóma) which is also used in Ephesians 2:1 in the phrase: “dead in your ‘paraptóma’ and sins”. It carries the connotation of a “slip-up” with the strong implication – but not certainty – that it was unintentional. according to the riches of His grace,
- which He abundantly supplied to us in all wisdom and prudence,
- having made known the mystery of His will to us, according to His good pleasure which He planned beforehand in Him,
- for the stewardship of the fullness of the opportune time, to gather together all things in the Anointed; both the things in the heavens and the things on the earth.
- In whom we also received a share in Him, having been appointed beforehand according to the set forth purpose of the One working all things according to the plan of His will,
- for us (the men who first *hoped in the Anointed) to be for the praise of His glory.
- In whom you also (having heard the true message of the gospel of your salvation, in whom you also believed) were sealed3“were sealed” is one word in Greek. Commonly, this was done by melting wax and using a signet ring to make an impression before the wax had fully cooled. If the wax seal was broken, it was impossible to fix without using the signet ring again. This served as a form of signature in the ancient world. with the promised Holy Spirit,
- who is the down payment4“down payment” is literal. The Greek word here is imported from Hebrew and refers to “earnest money” given as a surety that the rest of the payment will be given. of our inheritance; a repurchase payment5“repurchase payment” is one word in Greek, typically translated “redemption”. It properly refers to the price paid to “buy back” something that had been lost. for a purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
- Because of this, having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your ^love towards all the saints, I also
- don’t stop giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,
- so the God of our Lord Jesus the Anointed – the Father of glory – might give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him,
- *enlightening the eyes of your heart for you to have seen what is the hope of His calling; what is the richness of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
- and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us (the men believing) according to the mighty work of His strength,
- which He has worked in the Anointed, having raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavens,
- far above every ruler, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name being named; not only in this age, but also in the age about to come.
- And He made all things subject under His feet and placed Him as head over all things for the sake of the church,
- which is His body, the fullness of the One filling all in all.
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