Devine Scripture

Ephesians 1:4

What does Ephesians 1:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 1:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 1:4 means

God’s choice of believers “in him” before the foundation of the world shows salvation’s origin in God’s eternal purpose, not human initiative. Election’s goal is moral transformation: that we be “holy and without blemish before him in love.” God’s plan is not merely to rescue from judgment but to present a people conformed to his character, living in love because they were loved first. The phrase “in him” safeguards humility and assurance; our standing was established in Christ from eternity, and its outworking is a life marked by holiness. Election and sanctification are inseparable in God’s design of grace.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Even as he made selection of us in him from the first, so that we might be holy and free from all evil before him in love:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

according as He did choose us in him before the foundation of the world, for our being holy and unblemished before Him, in love,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

As he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and unspotted in his sight in charity.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

according as he has chosen us in him before [the] world's foundation, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love;

Context

Following the opening doxology (verse 3), Paul begins with the earliest vantage point—eternity past. Verse 4 locates the origin of our blessings in God’s pre-creation choice. This sets up the next step in the plan: predestination to adoption (verse 5). The movement is deliberate: chosen in Christ, then destined for sonship, all to the praise of God’s grace (verse 6). Understanding election as unto holiness helps the reader see the ethical shape of the gospel that Paul will later apply in the practical sections of the letter.

v.3Blessedbethe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ:

v.4This passage

v.5having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Galatians 5:13

    For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.

  • 1 Peter 1:2

    according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:8

    who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye be unreproveable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • John 17:24

    Father, I desire that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

  • Acts 13:48

    And as the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

  • Ephesians 2:10

    For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.

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