Ephesians 1

Paul opens with a single, soaring sentence of praise, blessing God for “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” in Christ: the Father chose us before the foundation of the world and predestined us for adoption; the Son redeemed us by His blood and will unite all things in Himself; the Spirit sealed us as the guarantee of our inheritance — “to the praise of his glory.” Paul then prays that the church would be given the Spirit of wisdom to know the hope of their calling, the riches of their inheritance, and the immeasurable greatness of God’s power, the same power that raised Christ and seated Him above all rule as head over the church, His body.