Ephesians 1:4 - Printer Friendly

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,

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.

Ephesians 1:3–14 praises God for the blessings He has provided. Paul ties together the ideas of predestination, God's glory, the salvation of His people, and the rights we have as children of God. In particular, believers are blessed because God chose, before creation, to save us. That salvation came at a great cost: the death of Jesus Christ. As children of God, we can be confident that God will give us what He has promised: namely, an eternity with Him in heaven.

The first chapter of Ephesians contains two main passages. The first describes the blessings Christians have been given as a result of our salvation through Christ. Paul explains these through praises directed to God the Father. The second section both commends the Ephesians for their reputation, and prays that Christ would bring them into an even fuller and more aware faith.

The first three chapters of Ephesians are doctrinal, while the last three are practical. Chapter 1 establishes Paul's view on the value of our salvation in Christ, and the blessings we obtain from it. He does this in the form of praise, directed at God, and describing in detail what it means to have an inheritance in heaven. Later chapters will build on these ideas as Paul connects who we are in Christ to how we should live as Christians.

Ephesians follows a theme common in Paul's writings: connecting theory with practice. In this book, however, he goes into greater depth before making the transition. As a letter meant to be read by more than just the believers at Ephesus, this is an important look at how Christian belief should translate into Christian action. The first three chapters lay out spiritual ideas, the last three chapters show how these truths should be applied in the life of a mature believer. Paul focuses heavily on love, the unity of the Christian church, and the incredible value of our salvation through Christ.

Accessed 5/6/2024 11:10:55 PM