Ephesians 1 · Verse 13

Ephesians 1:13

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 1:13, King James Version

Ephesians 1:13 in other translations

BSBAnd in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
WEBIn him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
ASVin whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,—in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
YLTin whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth--the good news of your salvation--in whom also having believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise,
DARBYin whom ye also have trusted, having heard the word of the truth, the glad tidings of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, ye have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
BBEIn whom you, having been given the true word, the good news of your salvation, and through your faith in him, were given the sign of the Holy Spirit of hope,
WebsterIn whom ye also trusted, after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

What does Ephesians 1:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. In whom ye also--Ye Gentiles. Supply as English Version, "trusted," from Ep 1:12; or "are." The priority of us Jews does not exclude you Gentiles from sharing in Christ (compare Ac 13:46). the word of truth--the instrument of sanctification, and of the new birth (Joh 17:17; 2Ti 2:15; Jas 1:18). Compare Col 1:5, where also, as here, it is connected with "hope." Also Ep 4:21. sealed--as God's confirmed children, by the Holy Spirit as the seal (Ac 19:1-6; Ro 8:16, 23; 1Jo 3:24; see on 2Co 1:22). A seal impressed on a document gives undoubted validity to the contract in it (Joh 3:33; 6:27; compare 2Co 3:3). So the sense of "the love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost" (Ro 5:5), and the sense of adoption given through the Spirit at regeneration (Ro 8:15, 16), assure believers of God's good will to them. The Spirit, like a seal, impresses on the soul at regeneration the image of our Father. The "sealing" by the Holy Spirit is spoken of as past once for all. The witnessing to our hearts that we are the children of God, and heirs (Ep 1:11), is the Spirit's present testimony, the "earnest of the (coming) inheritance" (Ro 8:16-18). that Holy Spirit of promise--rather, as the Greek, "The Spirit of promise, even the Holy Spirit": The Spirit promised both in the Old and New Testaments (Joe 2:28; Zec 12:10; Joh 7:38, 39). "The word" promised the Holy Spirit. Those who "believed the word of truth" were sealed by the Spirit accordingly.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. In whom ye also trusted. This stands in contrast with those who had first embraced the gospel.

Heard the word of truth. The gospel; called the word or message of truth, the word of God, etc. See Rom 10:17. The phrase, "the word of truth," means "the true word or message." It was a message unmixed with Jewish traditions or Gentile philosophy.

The gospel of your salvation. The gospel bringing salvation to you.

In whom also. In the Lord Jesus. A little different translation of this verse will convey more clearly its meaning. "In whom also ye, having heard the word of truth, (the gospel of your salvation,) in whom having also believed, ye were sealed," etc. The sealing was the result of believing, and that was the result of hearing the gospel. Comp. Rom 10:14,15.

Ye were sealed. On the meaning of the word seal, Jn 3:33. Jn 6:27

With that holy Spirit of promise. With the Holy Spirit that was promised. See Jn 16:7-11,13; 15:26, 14:16,17. It is not improbable, I think, that the apostle here refers particularly to the occurrence of which we have a record in Acts 19:1-6. Paul, it is there said, having passed through the upper provinces of Asia Minor, came to Ephesus. He found certain persons who were the disciples of John, and he asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost since they "believed," Eph 1:2. They replied that they had not heard whether there was any Holy Ghost, and that they had been baptized unto John's baptism. Paul taught them the true nature of the baptism of John; explained to them the Christian system; and they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and "the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." They were thus sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, "after they had believed," (Eph 1:13;) they had the full evidence of the favour of God in the descent of the promised Holy Spirit, and in his miraculous influences. If this be the true interpretation, it constitutes a striking coincidence between the epistle and the Acts, of such a nature as constitute the arguments in Paley's Horae Paulinae, (though he has not referred to this,) which shows that the epistle was not forged, The circumstance is such that it would not have been alluded to in this manner by one who should forge the epistle; and the mention of it in the epistle is so slight, that no one, from the account there, would think of forging the account in the Acts. The coincidence is just such as would occur on the supposition that the transaction actually occurred, and that both the Acts and the epistle are genuine. At the same time, there is a sealing of the Holy Spirit which is common to all Christians. 2Cor 1:22.

(a) "heard the word of truth" Rom 10:17 (b) "sealed with that Holy Spirit" 2Cor 1:22 (*) "promise" "The promised Holy Spirit"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 In whom ye also trusted - Ye Gentiles, having heard from us the word, τον λογον, the doctrine, of the truth, which is the Gospel, or glad tidings, of your salvation, have believed, as we Jews have done, and received similar blessings to those with which God has favored us. In whom also, εν ὡ, through whom, Christ Jesus, after that ye had believed, viz. that he was the only Savior, and that through his blood redemption might be obtained, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise; that is, The Holy Spirit, which is promised to them who believe on Christ Jesus, was given to you, and thus you were ascertained to be the children of God, for God has no child who is not a partaker of the Holy Ghost, and he who has this Spirit has God's seal that he belongs to the heavenly family. It was customary among all nations, when a person purchased goods of any kind, to mark with his seal that which he had bought, in order that he might know it, and be able to claim it if mixed with the goods of others; to this custom the apostle may here allude but it was also customary to set a seal upon what was dedicated to God, or what was to be offered to him in sacrifice. See this proved in the note on Joh 6:27. The Jews themselves speak of the seal of God, which they term אמת emeth, truth, and which they consider as a representation of the unoriginated and endless perfections of God. As the apostle is here speaking of the doctrine of truth, which came by the Holy Spirit, and is sealed on the souls of believers by this Spirit, he may have in view the Jewish notion, which is at once both correct and elevated. This Spirit of truth, Joh 14:17, who leads into all truth, Joh 16:13, and teaches all things, Joh 14:26, makes the impression of his own eternal purity and truth in the souls of them who believe, and thus they bear the seal of God Almighty. And they who in the day of judgment are found to bear this seal - Truth; truth in the inward parts, having truly repented, truly believed, and having been in consequence truly justified, and truly sanctified; and having walked in truth and sincerity towards God and man; these are sealed to the day of redemption; for, having this seal, they are seen to have a right to eternal life.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 1:9-14

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…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 1:9-14 →

Ephesians 1:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐνeninG1722
ᾧhōwhomG3739
καὶkaialsoG2532
ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771
ἀκούσαντεςakousanteshaving heardG191
τὸνtontheG3588
λόγονlogonwordG3056
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
ἀληθείας,alētheiasof truth,G225
τὸtotheG3588
εὐαγγέλιονeuangeliongospelG2098
τῆςtēsof theG3588
σωτηρίαςsōtēriassalvationG4991
ὑμῶν,humōnof you,G4771
ἐνeninG1722
ᾧhōwhomG3739
καὶkaialsoG2532
πιστεύσαντεςpisteusanteshaving believedG4100
ἐσφραγίσθητεesphragisthēteyou were sealedG4972
τῷtōwith theG3588
πνεύματιpneumatiSpiritG4151
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
ἐπαγγελίαςepangeliasof promiseG1860
τῷtō<the>G3588
ἁγίῳhagiōHolyG40

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ephesians 1:13

  • 2 Corinthians 1:22

    Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

  • Ephesians 4:30

    And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

  • 2 Timothy 2:19

    Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:13

    For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

  • Galatians 3:14

    That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

  • Romans 4:11

    And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

  • Romans 1:16

    For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

  • Titus 2:11

    For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

  • Acts 2:33

    Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

  • Joel 2:28

    And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

  • Colossians 1:21-23

    And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

  • John 14:16-17

    And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
ye also.
2:11,12; Col 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:10
after that ye heard.
4:21; Joh 1:17; Ro 6:17; 10:14-17; Col 1:4-6,23; 1Th 2:13
the word.
Ps 119:43; 2Co 6:7; 2Ti 2:15; Jas 1:18
the gospel.
Mr 16:15,16; Ac 13:26; Ro 1:16; 2Ti 3:15; Tit 2:11; Heb 2:3
ye were.
4:30; Joh 6:27; Ro 4:11; 2Co 1:22; 2Ti 2:19; Re 7:2
holy.
Joe 2:28; Lu 11:13; 24:49; Joh 14:16,17,26; 15:26; 16:7-15; Ac 1:4
Ac 2:16-22,33; Ga 3:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ephesians 1:12

    That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

  • Ephesians 1:13

    In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

  • Ephesians 1:14

    Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Read all of Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		En el cual esperasteis también vosotros en oyendo la palabra de verdad, el evangelio de vuestra salud: en el cual también desde que creísteis, fuisteis sellados con el Espíritu Santo de la promesa,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		en qui vous aussi vous avez espéré, ayant entendu la parole de la vérité, l’évangile de votre salut; auquel aussi ayant cru, vous avez été scellés du Saint Esprit de la promesse,
German
Elberfelder 1871		auf welchen auch ihr gehofft, nachdem ihr gehört habt das Wort der Wahrheit, das Evangelium eures Heils, in welchem ihr auch, nachdem ihr geglaubt habt, versiegelt worden seid mit dem Heiligen Geiste der Verheißung,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		in quo et vos, cum audissetis verbum veritatis, Evangelium salutis vestræ, in quo et credentes signati estis Spiritu promissionis Sancto,