Section 1:15–23
Paul prayed for the believers at Ephesus
Paul started the next section by thanking God for the faith and love of the Christians in Ephesus. Then he prayed that they might know God better. Specifically, he prayed that they might know the good things that they can hope for in the future, the blessings that God has promised to his people and the greatness of God’s power. This is the power that raised Jesus from death and put him in the place of highest honor in heaven.
In Greek this whole section is one very long sentence. You will probably need to break it into several shorter sentences in your translation.
Here are some other examples for a heading for this section:
Paul’s prayer (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)
-or-
Paul’s prayer for spiritual wisdom (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Thanksgiving and prayer (New International Version)
Paragraph 1:15–23
1:15a
For this reason: The Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek phrase here as For this reason. It refers to everything that God has done for us in 1:3–14.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
That is why (New Century Version)
-or-
Because of all this
-or-
Because of everything that God has done
-or-
Therefore
The phrase For this reason is connected to 1:16a. The meaning is:
1:15a Because of all this…1:16a I have not stopped giving thanks for you.
Here are some other ways to translate this verse:
• Repeat some form of 1:16a after 1:15a. For example:
1:15a Because of everything that God has done, ⌊I thank him⌋. 1:15b–c Ever since I heard that you believe in the Lord Jesus and love all the saints, 1:16a I never stop giving thanks for you.
• Translate it literally. For example:
1:15a Because of everything that God has done, 1:15b-c and ever since I heard that you believe in the Lord Jesus and love all the saints, 1:16a I never stop giving thanks for you.
• Move 1:15a to the end of verse 15. For example:
1:15b I, too, have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus 1:15c and your love for all of God’s people. 1:15a For this reason… (God’s Word)
• Move 1:15a to the beginning of verse 1:16. The Contemporary English Version does this by translating For this reason as “So” at the beginning of 1:16:
1:15b I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus 1:15c and your love for all of God’s people. 1:16a So I never stop being grateful for you,… (Contemporary English Version)
1:15b
your faith in the Lord Jesus: The word faith refers here to the action of trusting and believing in Jesus.
Here are some other ways to translate the word faith in this context:
confidence
-or-
trust
In many languages, the noun faith will be clearer if you translate it as a verb. For example:
you trusted/believed in the Lord Jesus
See faith, Meaning 1, in the Glossary for more information.
Lord Jesus: The word Lord is a translation of the Greek word that means “lord, master or leader.” It is a term of respect. In this verse, it is a title associated with Jesus.
1:15c
your love for all the saints: The word love here is a noun in the Greek text. It refers to man’s affection and concern for other believers. If it is more natural in your language to translate love as a verb, you can say:
you love all of God’s people
See love, Meaning 2 in the Glossary for more information.
saints: The word saints means “people set apart for God.” It does not refer to a special group of “holy people.” All Christians are saints.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
God’s people
-or-
people who belong to God
See Holy, Meaning 1, special use, in the Glossary for more information.
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