Ephesians 1:5 kjv

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Ephesians 1:5 nkjv

having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Ephesians 1:5 niv

he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will?

Ephesians 1:5 esv

he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

Ephesians 1:5 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.

Ephesians 1 verses

Ephesians 1 5 Meaning

Ephesians 1:5 reveals the Father's pre-existent, sovereign plan for believers, detailing His deliberate act to predestine them for a new family identity. This pre-decision by God was specifically to grant them adoption into sonship, an exalted position involving full legal and familial rights. Crucially, this magnificent purpose is accomplished exclusively through Jesus Christ, the unique mediator. The ultimate motivation for this profound spiritual transformation is entirely rooted in God's inherent "good pleasure" and His perfect, benevolent "will," underscoring that it is a gift of pure grace, not dependent on human merit.

Ephesians 1 5 Context

Ephesians 1:5 is an integral part of Paul's profound opening doxology (Eph 1:3-14), a theological poem praising God the Father for His redemptive plan revealed "in Christ." This section overflows with the grand, eternal scope of God's purposes for humanity. Following verse 4's declaration of God's choice to make believers holy and blameless before the foundation of the world, verse 5 reveals the specific pre-ordained outcome of that election: adoption into sonship. The immediate context underscores that all these spiritual blessings originate from God, are mediated through Christ, and are accomplished according to God's benevolent will, providing a secure and gracious foundation for the believers' identity and inheritance. Historically, for the Gentile converts in Ephesus, this truth about their new identity as "sons" of God directly countered the pagan beliefs where deities were capricious or indifferent, and access to them was often through appeasement or inherited status. Paul declares their status is a gift, established by God's eternal love and divine decree.

Ephesians 1 5 Word analysis

• He: Refers to God the Father (as established in Eph 1:3), emphasizing His divine initiative and sovereignty as the primary author of this grand plan.
• predestined: Greek proorizo (προορίζω). This verb means "to determine beforehand," "to mark out in advance," or "to decide in anticipation." It signifies God's deliberate and sovereign choice made prior to creation or human existence. This action is not reactive but proactive, originating solely from God's own counsel.
• us: Refers collectively to believers in Christ, both Jewish and Gentile, who constitute the Church. It highlights the inclusive nature of God's predetermined plan for those "in Christ."
• for adoption to sonship: Greek eis huiothesian (εἰς υἱοθεσίαν). Huiothesia literally means "the placing of a son" or "adoption." In the Greco-Roman world, adoption was a significant legal process, granting the adopted individual full legal rights, status, and inheritance of the new family, often even superseding biological heirs. This term profoundly elevates believers' status from spiritual alienation to full familial rights within God's family, securing their future inheritance and identity as rightful heirs, not merely children by creation, but "sons" by deliberate divine act.
• through Jesus Christ: Greek dia Iēsou Christou (διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ). The preposition dia signifies the instrumental cause or means. This phrase emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the sole and indispensable mediator through whom this adoption is made possible. All divine blessings flow to humanity solely through Him, underscoring His centrality in God's redemptive purpose.
• according to: Greek kata (κατὰ). Indicates the standard, basis, or governing principle. God's action is aligned with or is consistent with the ensuing phrase.
• the good pleasure: Greek tēn eudokian (τὴν εὐδοκίαν). Eudokia denotes "good will," "delight," "satisfaction," "benevolent intention," or "purposeful desire." It stresses that God's predestining act is not arbitrary, grudging, or necessitated by external forces, but flows from His own intrinsic, loving, and deliberate joy.
• of his will: Greek tou thelēmatos autou (τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ). Thelēma means "will" or "desire." This phrase reinforces eudokia, asserting that God's predestination and adoption are fully consistent with and expressive of His intentional, deliberate, and sovereign purpose. It underscores the unchangeable, divine resolve behind this salvific act.

Words-group Analysis:

• He predestined us: This phrase powerfully asserts God's ultimate sovereignty and divine initiative in the salvation and destiny of believers. It highlights that our position in Christ is not a human achievement but a divine pre-arrangement.
• for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ: This group of words clarifies the specific glorious outcome of God's predestination and the indispensable means by which it is achieved. It underscores that becoming God's adopted sons, with full rights and inheritance, is solely through Christ's redemptive work.
• according to the good pleasure of his will: This final clause reveals the profound and gracious motivation behind God's entire plan. It asserts that His actions stem from His intrinsic benevolent desire and purposeful will, not from any external compulsion or foreseen merit in humanity, grounding the believer's security in the unchanging character of God Himself.

Ephesians 1 5 Bonus section

The concept of huiothesia (adoption to sonship) goes beyond mere forgiveness or reconciliation; it signifies a complete legal transfer and change of identity and inheritance. In the Roman context, an adopted son was effectively given a new identity, severing ties with the old family and acquiring all the rights, responsibilities, and inheritances of the new. This legal permanence assures believers of their secure place in God's family, implying they are full heirs with Christ. This verse highlights the proactive and purposeful nature of God's redemptive work, emphasizing His pre-creational planning alongside His loving election in verse 4, laying a firm foundation for the entirety of God's plan of salvation elaborated in Ephesians. It implicitly serves as a polemic against pagan determinism where fate might be indifferent or cruel, contrasting it with the benevolent, intentional eudokia (good pleasure) of the one true God.

Ephesians 1 5 Commentary

Ephesians 1:5 unveils the foundational truth of the believer's identity, established by the Father before time began. It asserts that God, in His ultimate sovereignty, pre-ordained believers to be adopted into His family, a process initiated solely by His grace and fulfilled entirely through the person and work of Jesus Christ. This adoption is not merely a name change but a profound elevation to full familial status with all rights of inheritance, demonstrating the richness of God's love. The motivation for such an immense blessing is found in God Himself—His "good pleasure" and deliberate "will," confirming that salvation is not a reward for human merit but a spontaneous, loving, and purposeful gift from a gracious God. This understanding should inspire profound gratitude, assurance of salvation, and confidence in God's unchanging plan for His people.