Ephesians 1:5

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Translations sourced from the public-domain WEB, KJV, and ASV. See all sources.

“having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,”

— WEB

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

— KJV

“having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”

— ASV

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Bible Verses About Adoption

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Bible Verses About Identity in Christ

Cross-references

Related verses via the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Romans 8:29-30 "For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.The…"
Ephesians 1:11 "in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who does all things after the coun…"
Galatians 4:5-6 "that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children."
John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:"
1 John 3:1 "See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, beca…"
Romans 8:14-17 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God."
Galatians 3:26 "For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus."
Romans 8:23 "Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption,…"

Commentary

predestinated--more special in respect to the end and precise means, than "chosen" or elected. We are "chosen" out of the rest of the world; "predestinated" to all things that secure the inheritance for us (Eph 1:11; Rom 8:29). "Foreordained." by Jesus--Greek, "through Jesus." to himself--the Father (Col 1:20). ALFORD explains, "adoption . . . into Himself," that is, so that we should be partakers of the divine nature (Pe2 1:4). LACHMANN reads, "unto Him." The context favors the explanation of CALVIN: God has regard to Himself and the glory of His grace (Eph 1:6, Eph 1:12, Eph 1:14) as His ultimate end. He had one only-begotten Son, and He was pleased for His own glory, to choose out of a lost world many to become His adopted sons. Translate, "unto Himself." the good pleasure of his will--So the Greek (Mat 11:26; Luk 10:21). We cannot go beyond "the good pleasure of His will" in searching into the causes of our salvation, or of any of His works (Eph 1:9). (Job 33:13.) Why needest thou philosophize about an imaginary world of optimism? Thy concern is to take heed that thou be not bad. There was nothing in us which deserved His love (Eph 1:1, Eph 1:9, Eph 1:11) [BENGEL].

— Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary (public domain)

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