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 (KJV)

Context

Ephesians is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus. In the opening chapter, Paul praises God for His blessings and redemption through Christ. Ephesians 1:9 is part of a larger passage that emphasizes God’s plan of salvation and the blessings bestowed upon believers.

Meaning

The verse declares that God has made known to us the mystery of His will. In the New Testament, the word “mystery” (Greek: mustērion) does not mean something unintelligible, but rather a divine truth or plan that was once hidden and has now been revealed by God. This mystery is the Gospel itself—the hidden plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, which was previously unknown but is now disclosed to believers through the Holy Spirit and apostolic teaching.

The revelation is not something humanity discovered on its own; God graciously chose to make it known. The phrase “according to his good pleasure” emphasizes that this unveiling is in harmony with God’s sovereign, merciful intention and is not arbitrary. God takes pleasure in revealing His plan to His people, demonstrating His loving nature and desire for humanity’s redemption.

The KJV rendering “which he hath purposed in himself” (rendered “in Christ” in many translations such as NIV, NASB, ESV) indicates that God’s plan was purposed and set forth in Christ, showing that Christ is the sphere and agent of this divine purpose. This connects to the broader context of Ephesians 1:10, which explains that this mystery involves the summing up of all things in Christ.

Application

Ephesians 1:9 reminds us of the incredible privilege and blessing we have as believers to know the mystery of God’s will. It underscores that salvation is not merely a human accomplishment but a divine plan initiated by God’s own good pleasure. As we reflect on this verse, we can appreciate the depth of God’s love and His desire to reconcile humanity to Himself through Jesus Christ.

• God has made known to us the mystery of His will, motivated by His own good pleasure.

• God’s plan of salvation originated within Himself and was purposed in His own nature.

• As believers, we can rejoice in the knowledge of this mystery and marvel at the depth of God’s love and grace toward us.