Ephesians 1 · Verse 9

Ephesians 1:9

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Ephesians 1:9, King James Version

Ephesians 1:9 in other translations

BSB	And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ
WEB	making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
ASV	making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
YLT	having made known to us the secret of His will, according to His good pleasure, that He purposed in Himself,
DARBY	having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself
BBE	Having made clear to us the secret of his purpose, in agreement with the design which he had in mind, to put into his hands
Webster	Having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

What does Ephesians 1:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

9. "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 pleasure--showing the cause why "He hath made known to us the mystery," namely, His own loving "good pleasure" toward us; also the time and manner of His doing so, are according to His good pleasure. purposed--(Ep 1:11). in himself--God the Father. Bengel takes it, "in Him," that is, Christ, as in Ep 1:3, 4. But the proper name, "in Christ," Ep 1:10, immediately after, is inconsistent with His being here meant by the pronoun.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 9. Having made known to us the mystery of his will. The word mystery (μυστηριον) means, literally, something into which one must be initiated before it is fully known (from μυεω, 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 has been concealed, or which has not before been fully revealed, or which has been set forth only by figures and symbols. When the doctrine is made known, it may be as clear and plain as any other. Such was the doctrine that God meant to call the Gentiles, which was long concealed, at least in part, and which was not fully made known until the Saviour came, and which had been till that time a mystery-- concealed truth-- though, when it was revealed, there was nothing incomprehensible in it. Thus in Col 1:26, "The mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints." So it was in regard to the doctrine of election. It was a mystery until it was made known by the actual conversion of those whom God had chosen. So in regard to the incarnation of the Redeemer; the atonement; the whole plan of salvation. Over all these great points there was a veil thrown and men did not understand them until God revealed them. When they were revealed, the mystery was removed, and men were able to see clearly the manifestation of the will of God.

Which he hath purposed in himself. Without foreign aid or counsel. His purposes originated in his own mind, and were concealed until he chose to make them known. See 2Ti 1:9.

(+) "mystery" "secret" (d) "hath purposed" 2Ti 1:9

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 9 Having 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 signifies something hidden, but it ceases to be a mystery as soon as it is revealed. See the note on Mat 13:11; and particularly that on Rom 11:25 (note). Good pleasure - Την ευδοκιαν· That benevolent design which he had purposed in himself, not being induced by any consideration from without.

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. He wrought, by his Spirit, those graces of faith and love, whereby we are made one with God, and among ourselves. He dispenses all his blessings, according to his good pleasure. His Divine teaching led whom he pleased to see the glory of those truths, which others were left to blaspheme. What a gracious promise that is, which secures the gift of the Holy Ghost to those who ask him! The sanctifying and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit seal believers as the children of God, and heirs of heaven. These are the first-fruits of holy happiness. For this we were made, and for this we were redeemed; this is the great design of God in all that he has done for us; let all be ascribed unto the praise of his glory.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ephesians 1:9 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.

γνωρίσαςgnōrisashaving made knownG1107

ἡμῖνhēminto usG3165

τὸtotheG3588

μυστήριονmustērionmysteryG3466

τοῦtouof theG3588

θελήματοςthelēmatoswillG2307

αὐτοῦautouof HimG846

κατὰkataaccording toG2596

τὴνtēntheG3588

εὐδοκίανeudokianpleasureG2107

αὐτοῦ,autouof Him,G846

ἣνhēnwhichG3739

προέθετοproethetoHe purposedG4388

ἐνeninG1722

αὐτῷautōHimG846

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

Cross references for Ephesians 1:9

Colossians 1:26-28
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Romans 16:25-27
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.
Ephesians 3:3-9
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: …
2 Timothy 1:9
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Ephesians 1:11
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Galatians 1:12
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Ephesians 3:11
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
1 Corinthians 2:10-12
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Ephesians 1:17-18
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Matthew 13:11
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

made.
17,18; 3:3-9; Mt 13:11; Ro 16:25-27; 1Co 2:10-12; Ga 1:12,16
Col 1:26-28; 1Ti 3:16
according.
5
purposed.
11; 3:11; Job 23:13,14; Ps 33:11; Isa 14:24-27; 46:10,11; Jer 2:29
La 3:37,38; Ac 2:23; 4:28; 13:48; Ro 8:28; 2Ti 1:9

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

Context

Ephesians 1:8
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Ephesians 1:9
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Ephesians 1:10
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Read all of Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1:9 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Descubriéndonos el misterio de su voluntad, según su beneplácito, que se había propuesto en sí mismo,
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	nous ayant fait connaître le mystère de sa volonté selon son bon plaisir, qu’il s’est proposé en lui-même
German Elberfelder 1871	indem er uns kundgetan hat das Geheimnis seines Willens, nach seinem Wohlgefallen, das er sich vorgesetzt hat in sich selbst
Latin Clementine Vulgate	ut notum faceret nobis sacramentum voluntatis suæ, secundum beneplacitum ejus, quod proposuit in eo,