Ephesians 1:2
What does Ephesians 1:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Ephesians 1:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ephesians 1:2 means
Paul’s standard yet profound blessing—“Grace … and peace”—summarizes the gospel’s benefits. Grace is God’s unmerited favor, the fountain from which salvation and every gift flows. Peace is the reconciled relationship with God and the wholeness that results. Both come “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,” showing a united divine source and affirming the lordship and deity of Jesus. This is more than polite greeting; it invokes God’s active kindness and covenant shalom upon the believers. As they hear what God has done in Christ, Paul wants them to receive it as grace that produces real peace in their lives and community.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Grace be to you and peace, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Grace to you and peace fromGod our Father, and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.
Context
Verse 2 completes the formal salutation and sets a gracious tone for the entire letter. Having named himself and his readers, Paul now speaks God’s favor over them. This prepares the way for the next section, where Paul praises God’s lavish grace in salvation (verses 3–14). The flow moves from blessing invoked to blessings explained. Without this framing of grace and peace, the following doxology might feel heavy; with it, readers are primed to hear of election, adoption, redemption, and revelation as gifts, not achievements.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Titus 1:4
to Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.
- 2 Corinthians 1:2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Romans 1:7
to all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Galatians 1:3
Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,
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