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Ephesians 1:5
ESV he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
NIV he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
NASB He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
CSB He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
NLT God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
KJV Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
NKJV having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

What does Ephesians 1:5 mean?

The apostle Paul continues to discuss the theme of predestination, connecting it to the themes of love and adoption. Because of His love, God chose in advance for us to become His children. Jesus came at just the right time for Paul's readers to hear the gospel message and believe. When they did, they became members in God's family. Though they were not Jews, they were adopted as sons through Jesus. Paul speaks of salvation elsewhere as adoption (Romans 8:15, 23; 9:4; Galatians 4:5).

Paul also teaches why God chose believers to be His children. It was "according to the purpose of his will." In an act of love and as part of His divine plan, God designed a way for all men, even those not part of the Jewish people, to come into the family of God. These Gentile believers would have especially appreciated this note from Paul, a devout Jew turned Gentile missionary. This "Hebrew of the Hebrews" (Philippians 3:4–7) considered his Gentile readers as equals, as brothers and sisters in the family of God.
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