Ephesians 1:9

Ephesians 1:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
• New International Version (NIV)he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
• English Standard Version (ESV)making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
• New King James Version (NKJV)having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

Context of Ephesians 1:9

7In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace 8which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and understanding [with practical insight] He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, 10with regard to the fulfillment of the times [that is, the end of history, the climax of the ages]—to bring all things together in Christ, [both] things in the heavens and things on the earth. 11In Him also we have received an inheritance [a destiny—we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will,

Ephesians 1:9 word by word

γνωρίσας ἡμῖν τὸ μυστήριον τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὴν εὐδοκίαν αὐτοῦ, ἣν προέθετο ἐν αὐτῷRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Having made knownγνωρίζωgnōrizō · to make knownG1107
• unto usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• the mysteryὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the mysteryμυστήριονmustērion · mysteryG3466
• of hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• willθέλημαthelēma · will/desireG2307
• according toκατάkata · according toG2596
• good pleasureεὐδοκίαeudokia · goodwillG2107
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• he hath purposedπροτίθημιprotithemai · to plan/presentG4388
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722

Cross-references for Ephesians 1:9

• Ephesians 1:17[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son].
• Ephesians 3:3and that by [divine] revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I have already written in brief.
• Matthew 13:11Jesus replied to them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.
• Romans 16:25Now to Him who is able to establish and strengthen you [in the faith] according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [of the plan of salvation] which has been kept secret for long ages past,
• 1 Corinthians 2:10For God has unveiled them and revealed them to us through the [Holy] Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things [diligently], even [sounding and measuring] the [profound] depths of God [the divine counsels and things far beyond human understanding].
• Galatians 1:12For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a [direct] revelation of Jesus Christ.
• Colossians 1:26that is, the mystery which was hidden [from angels and mankind] for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people).
• 1 Timothy 3:16And great, we confess, is the mystery [the hidden truth] of godliness: He (Jesus Christ) who was revealed in human flesh, Was justified and vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.
• Ephesians 1:5He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will—
• Ephesians 1:11In Him also we have received an inheritance [a destiny—we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will,
• Ephesians 3:11This is in accordance with [the terms of] the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
• Job 23:13But He is unique and unchangeable, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does.
• Psalms 33:11The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The thoughts and plans of His heart through all generations.
• Isaiah 14:24The Lord of hosts has sworn [an oath], saying, “Just as I have intended, so it has certainly happened, and just as I have planned, so it will stand—
• Isaiah 46:10Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, And from ancient times the things which have not [yet] been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will do all that pleases Me and fulfills My purpose,’
• Jeremiah 2:29“Why do you complain and contend with Me? You have all rebelled (transgressed) against Me,” says the Lord.

Commentaries on Ephesians 1:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Having made known unto us the mystery - That the Gentiles should ever be received into the Church of God, and have all the privileges of the Jews, without being obliged to submit to circumcision, and perform the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish law was a mystery - a hidden thing which had never been published before; and now revealed only to the apostles. It was God's will that it should be so, but that will he kept hidden to the present time. A mystery…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Having made known to us the mystery of his will - The word “mystery” ( ́ mustērion) means literally something into which one must be “initiated” before it is fully known (from ́ mueō to initiate, to instruct); and then anything which is concealed or hidden. We commonly use the word to denote that which is above our comprehension or unintelligible. But this is never the meaning of the word in the New Testament. It means there some doctrine or fact which…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-14Verses 9-14 Blessings were made known to believers, by the Lord's showing to them the mystery of his sovereign will, and the method of redemption and salvation. But these must have been for ever hidden from us, if God had not made them known by his written word, preached gospel, and Spirit of truth. Christ united the two differing parties, God and man, in his own person, and satisfied for that wrong which caused the separation. He wrought, by his Spirit…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-10Wisdom and understanding come from God revealing his mysterious plan about Christ. In Paul's writings, mysterious will (traditionally mystery) often means a divine truth once hidden but now revealed in the good news (see 3:9). Here, it refers to how God will unite everything under Christ's authority, so he is universally recognized and respected as Lord (see Philippians 2:9–11; Colossians 1:16–20, 26–27; 2:2, 19; 4:3). Ephesians specifically highlights…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. "He hath abounded," or "made (grace) to abound toward us" (Ep 1:8), in that He made known to us, namely, experimentally, in our hearts. the mystery--God's purpose of redemption hidden heretofore in His counsels, but now revealed (Ep 6:19; Ro 16:25; Col 1:26, 27). This "mystery" is not like the heathen mysteries, which were imparted only to the initiated few. All Christians are the initiated. Only unbelievers are the uninitiated. according to his good…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 1:9

• Atonement
• Grace of God
• Mysteries
• Predestination
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• Blame
• Ephesians, Epistle to
• Eye
• Mystery
• Obtain
• Predestinate
• Purpose
• Redemption
• Riches
• Understanding

Commentaries on Ephesians 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings