1:18a–19a

In 1:18–19a Paul prayed that the Christians in Ephesus would come to know three things. In the Display these are marked by repeating “I also pray that…”

1:18a

that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened: This is a figure of speech. In Jewish culture, the heart of a person represented his ability to think and understand. It also represented the person himself. The clause that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened means “that you may be enabled to understand.”

Here are some ways to translate figure of speech:

• Use a figure of speech that communicates this in your language:

I pray also that you will have greater understanding in your heart (New Century Version)
-or-
I pray that God will cause you to see his light

• Translate the meaning directly. For example:

that you may be enabled to understand

that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened is a passive clause. In some languages it may be more natural for you to use an active clause and supply God as the agent. For example:

that ⌊God⌋ will help you to understand
-or-
that ⌊God⌋ will give you special insight

In some languages a verb like “understand” may require an object. 1:18b indicates what God wanted them to know and understand. Consider how you can connect 1:18a and 1:18b in a natural way in your language. For example:

That ⌊God⌋ would help you understand the hope…

1:18b

so that: The phrase so that introduces the reason why Paul prayed for the Ephesians to have greater understanding. It was so that they would understand “the hope to which he had called them.”

the hope of His calling: The phrase the hope of His calling refers to the blessings that God promised to give to us. We can hope to receive these blessings, which He promised to give us when he called us to be his people.

hope: The Greek word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as hope means “to confidently expect and wait for something that we know will happen.” Christian hope includes the ideas that God is actively working in the lives of all believers and that they will live forever with him in heaven. The Greek meaning of hope is different from the modern English meaning. In modern English, hope means little more than “wish.” This is not the Greek meaning.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

confidence (God’s Word)
-or-
confidently expect

calling: The word calling here means that “God called (invited, summoned) us to be his people.” In some languages, it is clearer to make this explicit. For example:

he chose us ⌊to be his own people⌋

1:18c

the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints: This is the second thing that Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know.

riches: Paul used the word riches in a figurative sense to mean “abundant” or “great.”

glorious inheritance: The words glorious inheritance refer to all the spiritual blessings that God will give to us.

One translation model to follow for 1:18c is the Good News Translation, which says:

how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people (Good News Translation)

See how you translated glorious in 1:17a and 1:14a for inheritance.

Also see glory, Meaning 4 in the Glossary for more information.

in the saints: The phrase in the saints means that God has given the glorious inheritance “to” or “for” the people set apart for God.” For example:

how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people (Good News Translation)

For more information on the word “saints,” see the note on 1:15c and Holy, Meaning 1, special use, in the Glossary for more information.

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