Introduction
Introduction to the Epistle to the Ephesian Qadoshim
The text presented here is the profound, foundational letter written by Sha'ul (Paul), an emissary of Yeshua the Messiah, addressed to the qadoshim (set-apart ones) in Ephesos. Restored to its native Hebraic framework, this epistle strips away centuries of Westernized theological detachment to expose the cosmic reality of the Besorah (Good News). Sha'ul writes not merely to address localized congregational disputes, but to unveil the majestic, eternal blueprint of Yahuah Elohim, who operates all things according to the counsel of His own will.
Written from the stark constraints of physical imprisonment, Sha'ul reveals himself as an "ambassador in chains," yet his vision remains entirely unbound. He charts the sweeping path of redemption: beginning before the foundations of the world, breaking through the historic enmities of humanity, and culminating in a final, glorious administration where all things in the heavens and on the earth are summed up under one Head—Messiah Yeshua. Through this text, the kehillah (assembly) is re-established not as a mere human institution, but as a living, breathing cosmic temple, fueled by the Ruach haQodesh (the Holy Spirit) and armed to withstand the spiritual principalities of darkness.
Chapter 1 The Heavenly Inheritance and the Sealed Pledge of the Ruach
1
Sha'ul, an emissary (apostle) of Yeshua the Messiah by the will of Yahuah, to the qadoshim who are in Ephesos (Ephesians), and the faithful in Messiah Yeshua—
2
Favor (grace) to you, and shalom from Yahuah our Father and the Master Yeshua the Messiah.
3
Blessed be Yahuah, the Elohim and Father of our Master Yeshua the Messiah, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Messiah,
4
Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be set-apart and blameless before Him in love.
5
In love, He predestined us for adoption as sons through Yeshua the Messiah to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
6
To the praise of the esteem of His favor, with which He favored us in the Beloved.
7
In Him we have redemption through His blood—the forgiveness of trespasses—according to the riches of His favor,
8
which He lavished upon us in all wisdom and understanding,
9
Making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself,
10
For an administration of the fullness of the times: to sum up all things in Messiah—things in the heavens and things on the earth—in Him.
11
In Him we also were chosen as an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
12
So that we, who first hoped in the Messiah, would be to the praise of His esteem.
13
In Him you also—having heard the word of truth, the besorah of your salvation, and having put trust in Him—were sealed with the Ruach haQodesh of promise,
14
Who is the pledge of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His esteem.
15
For this reason, I, too, having heard of your trust in the Master Yeshua and your love for all the qadoshim,
16
Do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,
17
That the Elohim of our Master Yeshua the Messiah, the Father of esteem, may give to you the Ruach of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18
The eyes of your heart being enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the esteem of His inheritance in the qadoshim,
19
And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of the might of His strength,
20
Which He worked in Messiah when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies,
21
Above all principality, and power, and virtue, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come., and every name that is named—not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22
And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the kehillah,
23
Which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Chapter 2 The Shattered Partition: Made Alive and Brought Near by the Blood
1
And you—being dead in your trespasses and sins,
2
in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience—
3
among whom we also all once conducted ourselves in the cravings of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, as also the rest—
4
but Yahuah, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5
even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Messiah—by favor you have been saved—
6
and raised us up together, and seated us together in the heavenlies in Messiah Yeshua,
7
so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His favor in kindness toward us in Messiah Yeshua.
8
For by favor you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves—it is the gift of Elohim—
9
not of works, so that no one should boast.
10
For we are His workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua for good works, which Elohim prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
11
Therefore remember that formerly you, the nations (gentiles) in the flesh—called “uncircumcision” by what is called “circumcision” in the flesh made by hands—
12
that you were at that time without Messiah, alienated from the commonwealth of Yisrael and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without Elohim in the world.
13
But now in Messiah Yeshua, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah.
14
For He is our shalom, who made both one and broke down the middle wall of partition—the enmity—
15
having abolished in His flesh the law of commandments in decrees, that He might create in Himself the two into one new man, making shalom,
16
and might reconcile both to Elohim in one body through the execution-stake, having put to death the enmity in Himself.
17
And He came and proclaimed shalom to you who were far off and shalom to those who were near,
18
for through Him we both have access by one Ruach to the Father.
19
So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the qadoshim and members of the household of Elohim,
20
having been built on the foundation of the emissaries and prophets, Messiah Yeshua Himself being the chief cornerstone,
21
in whom all the building, being fitted together, grows into a qadosh temple in Adonai,
22
in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of Elohim in the Ruach.
Chapter 3 The Administration of the Hidden Mystery and the Unsearchable Riches
1
For this reason, I, Sha'ul, the prisoner of Messiah Yeshua on behalf of you of the nations—
2
if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of the favor of Elohim that was given to me for you—
3
that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in brief.
4
By reading this you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Messiah,
5
which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed to His set-apart emissaries and prophets by the Ruach,
6
that the nations are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Messiah Yeshua through the besorah,
7
of which I became a servant according to the gift of the favor of Elohim given to me by the working of His power.
8
To me, the least of all the qadoshim, this favor was given: to proclaim to the nations the unsearchable riches of Messiah,
9
and to bring to light for all what is the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in Elohim, who created all things,
10
so that through the kehillah the manifold wisdom of Elohim might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenlies,
11
according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Messiah Yeshua our Master,
12
in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through trust in Him.
13
Therefore I ask you not to lose heart over my tribulations for you, which are your glory.
14
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father of our Master Yeshua the Messiah,
15
from whom every family in the heavens and on earth is named,
16
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His esteem, to be strengthened with power through His Ruach in the inner person,
17
that Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith; being rooted and grounded in love,
18
that you may have strength to grasp with all the qadoshim what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19
and to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled unto all the fullness of Elohim.
20
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21
to Him be esteem in the kehillah and in Messiah Yeshua throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amein.
Chapter 4 The Unity of the Body, the Descent of the Messiah, and the New Man
1
I, therefore, the prisoner in Adonai, urge you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,
2
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
3
being eager to keep the unity of the Ruach in the bond of shalom.
4
One body and one Ruach, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling;
5
one Master, one faith, one immersion;
6
one Elohim and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in you all.
7
But to each one of us favor was given according to the measure of the gift of Messiah.
8
Therefore it says, “Having ascended on high, He led captivity captive; He gave gifts to men.”
9
Now that He ascended, what does it mean but that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10
He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.
11
And He Himself gave some as emissaries, and some as prophets, and some as proclaimers of the Good News, and some as shepherds and teachers,
12
for the equipping of the qadoshim for the work of service, for the building up of the body of Messiah,
13
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of Elohim, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Messiah,
14
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of teaching, by the trickery of men, in craftiness with deceitful scheming.
15
But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all respects into Him who is the Head—Messiah—
16
from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each single part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
17
This I say, therefore, and testify in Adonai, that you should no longer walk as the nations walk, in the futility of their mind,
18
being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of Elohim because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
19
who, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every uncleanness with greediness.
20
But you have not so learned Messiah—
21
if indeed you heard Him and were taught in Him, as truth is in Yeshua—
22
that you put off, with regard to your former way of life, the old man which is being corrupted according to the deceitful desires,
23
and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24
and put on the new man, which according to Elohim is created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
25
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, because we are members of one another.
26
“Be angry, and do not sin.” Do not let the sun set on your anger,
27
nor give place to the adversary (ha-satan).
28
Let the one who steals steal no longer, but rather let him labor, doing what is good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
29
Let no corrupt word proceed from your mouth, but only what is good for building up as fits the need, that it may give favor to those who hear.
30
And do not grieve the Ruach haQodesh of Elohim, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be removed from you, along with all malice.
32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as also Elohim in Messiah forgave you.
Chapter 5 Walking as Children of Light and the Great Mystery of Marriage
1
Be therefore imitators of Elohim, as beloved children,
2
and walk in love, as Messiah also loved us and gave Himself up for us—an offering and a sacrifice to Elohim for a pleasing aroma.
3
But sexual immorality and all impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper for qadoshim;
4
nor filthiness, foolish talk, or crude jesting—which are out of place—but rather thanksgiving.
5
For you know this, being certain, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person (who is an idolater) has an inheritance in the kingdom of Messiah and Elohim.
6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of Elohim comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7
Therefore do not become partners with them.
8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in Adonai. Walk as children of light—
9
for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth—
10
testing what is well-pleasing to Adonai.
11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
12
For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret;
13
but all things exposed by the light are made visible, for whatever is made visible is light.
14
Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Messiah will shine on you.”
15
Look carefully, then, how you walk—not as unwise but as wise—
16
redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of Yahuah is.
18
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is debauchery, but be filled with the Ruach,
19
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to Adonai,
20
giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Master Yeshua the Messiah, to Elohim—even the Father—
21
submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of Messiah.
22
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to Adonai,
23
for the husband is head of the wife as also Messiah is Head of the kehillah—He Himself being Savior of the body.
24
Therefore, as the kehillah is subject to Messiah, so also wives should be to their husbands in everything.
25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Messiah also loved the kehillah and gave Himself up for her, that He might set her apart, cleansing her by the washing of water with the word,
26
that He might present the kehillah to Himself glorious, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be set-apart and blameless.
27
In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
28
For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Messiah does the kehillah,
29
because we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.
30
“For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
31
This mystery is great—but I speak with reference to Messiah and the kehillah.
32
Nevertheless, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife respect her husband.
Chapter 6 Honor in the Household and the Whole Armor of Elohim
1
Children, obey your parents in Adonai, for this is right.
2
“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—
3
“that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
4
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of Adonai.
5
Servants, obey those who are your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Messiah,
6
not by way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Messiah, doing the will of Elohim from the heart,
7
with good will rendering service, as to Adonai and not to men,
8
knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from Adonai, whether slave or free.
9
And you, masters, do the same to them, giving up threatening, knowing that the Master of both them and you is in the heavens, and there is no partiality with Him.
10
Finally, be strengthened in Adonai and in the might of His strength.
11
Put on the whole armor of Elohim, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the Adversary (ha-satan).
12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, and against the worldly governors, the princes of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness, which are in the high places.
13
Therefore, take up the whole armor of Elohim, so that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14
Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15
and having shod your feet with the preparation of the besorah of shalom;
16
in all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.
17
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Ruach—which is the word of Elohim—
18
praying at all times in the Ruach with all prayer and supplication, and to this end keeping watch with all perseverance and supplication for all the qadoshim,
19
and for me, that a word may be given to me when I open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the besorah,
20
for which I am an ambassador in chains, that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21
But that you also may know about me and what I am doing, Tychikos, the beloved brother and faithful servant in Adonai, will make everything known to you—
22
whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs and that he may encourage your hearts.
23
Shalom to the brothers, and love with faith, from Elohim the Father and the Master Yeshua the Messiah.
24
May favor (grace) be with all who love our Master Yeshua the Messiah in incorruptibility. Amein.