Chapter
1 2 3 4 5 6
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Ephesians 1:4
ESV even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
NIV For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
NASB just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
CSB For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.
NLT Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
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:
NKJV just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

What does Ephesians 1:4 mean?

Paul continues his thought from verse 3. God chose every person who would believe in Him before He created. These words have tremendous implications regarding the wisdom and plan of God. His wisdom and power are so great that He knew the present, even from the beginning. Likewise, He knew the end before the start. God exists outside of time, and created time. He is the only being able to know all things because He created all things.

Paul also notes a few important applications of God choosing us to be His children. Because of God's wisdom, power, and love, our proper response as His children is to live in obedience to Him. We are to be "holy," a word meaning "set apart." We are also to live in a way which is without blame, an important characteristic for all believers, especially church leaders (1 Timothy 3:2).

The reference to "love" is typically considered to be part of a new sentence, not the end of the previous one. The concept is better connected with the thought which continues in verse 5.
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