The Meaning of Ephesians 1:7 Explained

Ephesians 1:7

KJV: In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

YLT: in whom we have the redemption through his blood, the remission of the trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,

Darby: in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of offences, according to the riches of his grace;

ASV: in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

In  whom  we have  redemption  through  his  blood,  the forgiveness  of sins,  according  to the riches  of his  grace; 

What does Ephesians 1:7 Mean?

Study Notes

sins
Sin.
grace Grace (in salvation). Ephesians 1:6 ; Ephesians 1:7 ; Ephesians 2:5 ; Ephesians 2:7 ; Ephesians 2:8 ; Romans 3:24 .
sinned
Sin, Summary: The literal meanings of the Heb. and (Greek - ἀλεκτοροφωνία sin," "sinner," etc)., disclose the true nature of sin in its manifold manifestations. Sin is transgression, an overstepping of the law, the divine boundary between good and evil Psalms 51:1 ; Luke 15:29 , iniquity, an act inherently wrong, whether expressly forbidden or not; error, a departure from right; Psalms 51:9 ; Romans 3:23 , missing the mark, a failure to meet the divine standard; trespass, the intrusion of self-will into the sphere of divine authority Ephesians 2:1 , lawlessness, or spiritual anarchy 1 Timothy 1:9 , unbelief, or an insult to the divine veracity John 16:9 .
Sin originated with Satan Isaiah 14:12-14 , entered the world through Adam Romans 5:12 , was, and is, universal, Christ alone excepted; Romans 3:23 ; 1 Peter 2:22 , incurs the penalties of spiritual and physical death; Genesis 2:17 ; Genesis 3:19 ; Ezekiel 18:4 ; Ezekiel 18:20 ; Romans 6:23 and has no remedy but in the sacrificial death of Christ; Hebrews 9:26 ; Acts 4:12 availed of by faith Acts 13:38 ; Acts 13:39 . Sin may be summarized as threefold: An act, the violation of, or want of obedience to the revealed will of God; a state, absence of righteousness; a nature, enmity toward God.
grace
Grace. Summary:
(1) Grace is "the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man.. . not by works of righteousness which we have done" Titus 3:4 ; Titus 3:5 .
It is, therefore, constantly set in contrast to law, under which God demands righteousness from man, as, under grace, he gives righteousness to man Romans 3:21 ; Romans 3:22 ; Romans 8:4 ; Philippians 3:9 . Law is connected with Moses and works; grace with Christ and faith; John 1:17 ; Romans 10:4-10 . Law blesses the good; grace saves the bad; Exodus 19:5 ; Ephesians 2:1-9 . Law demands that blessings be earned; grace is a free gift; Deuteronomy 28:1-6 ; Ephesians 2:8 ; Romans 4:4 ; Romans 4:5 .
(2) As a dispensation, grace begins with the death and resurrection of Christ Romans 3:24-26 , Romans 4:24 ; Romans 4:25 . The point of testing is no longer legal obedience as the condition of salvation, but acceptance or rejection of Christ, with good works as a fruit of salvation,; John 1:12 ; John 1:13 ; John 3:36 ; Matthew 21:37 ; Matthew 22:24 ; John 15:22 ; John 15:25 ; Hebrews 1:2 ; 1 John 5:10-12 . The immediate result of this testing was the rejection of Christ by the Jews, and His crucifixion by Jew and Gentile Acts 4:27 . The predicted end of the testing of man under grace is the apostasy of the professing church: See "Apostasy" (See Scofield " 2 Timothy 3:1 ") 2 Timothy 3:1-8 and the resultant apocalyptic judgments.
(3) Grace has a twofold manifestation: in salvation Romans 3:24 and in the walk and service of the saved Romans 6:15 .
See, for the other six dispensations:
Innocence, (See Scofield " Genesis 1:28 ")
Conscience, (See Scofield " Genesis 3:23 ")
Human Government, (See Scofield " Genesis 8:21 ")
Promise, (See Scofield " Genesis 12:1 ")
Law, (See Scofield " Exodus 19:8 ")
Kingdom, (See Scofield " Ephesians 1:10 ") .

Verse Meaning

The "Him" in view is the beloved Son ( Ephesians 1:6). God can pour out His grace on us only because of what Christ has done for us.
Redemption (Gr. apolytrosin) means release from slavery (cf. Ephesians 1:14; Ephesians 4:30; Luke 21:28; Romans 3:24; Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 11:35). It involves buying back and setting free by paying a ransom price. Jesus Christ has redeemed us from sin ( Hebrews 9:15), namely, set us free from slavery to it (cf. Romans 6). The blood, representative of the life, of the perfect Sacrifice had to flow out of Him for this to happen ( Romans 3:24-25; cf. Hebrews 9:22).
New Testament Words for Redemption [1] Greek WordsEnglish MeaningsReferencesagorazo (verb)To buy, to purchase in the market (or slave market) 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23; 2 Peter 2:1; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 14:3-4exagorazo (verb)To buy out, to purchase out of the market (or slave market) Galatians 3:13; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5lytron (noun)Ransom, price of release Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45lytroomai (verb)To ransom, to free by paying a ransom price Luke 24:21; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18lytrosis (noun)Act of freeing by paying a ransom price Luke 1:68; Luke 2:38; Hebrews 9:12apolytrosis (noun)A buying back, a setting free by paying a ransom price Luke 21:28; Romans 3:24; Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 1:14; Ephesians 4:30; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 11:35
The immediate result of our liberation from sin"s slavery is that God has forgiven our sins (Gr. paraptoma, false steps, transgressions).
Jesus Christ"s death accomplished our redemption. This was the extent to which God was willing to go for us. God"s grace was that great. The gift of Jesus Christ did not exhaust the supply of God"s grace, however (cf. Philippians 4:19). Rather that gift is an evidence of the extent of God"s favor to us (cf. Ephesians 1:5).

Context Summary

Ephesians 1:1-14 - Our Riches In Christ
This has been called the "Epistle of In-ness,"because it is so full of the preposition in. Saints are flesh and blood like ourselves, and we may be saints. The word means "set apart." We are in Christ and He is in us, and any goodness we have is due to our giving room and scope to Him to realize His own ideals. To be in the heavenlies, Ephesians 1:3, means to live a spiritual life and to draw our reinforcements from the unseen and eternal world, which is focused in our Lord. We are in Him so far as justification is concerned-that is our standing; and He is in us for sanctification-that is the source of a holy and useful life. The condition of a blessed life is the conscious maintenance of this oneness.
The source of all we are, and have, and hope to be, so far as salvation is concerned, is the will of God for us; but the stream flows to us through our Lord, and the end to which all things are moving is the summing-up of all in Christ. As He was the Alpha, so He will be the Omega. The sealing of the Holy Spirit is of incalculable advantage, because it means that we are stamped with the likeness of Christ and so kept inviolate among all the vicissitudes of life. See Esther 8:8; John 6:27. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ephesians 1

1  After Paul's salutation,
3  and thanksgiving for the Ephesians,
4  he treats of our election,
6  and adoption by grace;
11  which is the true and proper fountain of man's salvation
13  And because the height of this mystery cannot be easily attained unto,
16  he prays that they may come to the full knowledge and possession thereof in Christ

Greek Commentary for Ephesians 1:7

In whom [εν ωι]
Just like Colossians 1:14 with παραπτωματων — paraptōmatōn (trespasses) in place of αμαρτιων — hamartiōn (sins) and with the addition of δια του αιματος αυτου — dia tou haimatos autou (through his blood) as in Colossians 1:20. Clearly Paul makes the blood of Christ the cost of redemption, the ransom money See note on Colossians 1:9. [source]
We have []
Or are having. The freely bestowed (Ephesians 1:6) is thus illustrated by experience. The divine purpose is being accomplished in the lives of believers. [source]
Redemption [τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν]
See on Romans 3:24. Note the article: our redemption. [source]
Through His blood []
Further defining and explaining in whom. [source]
Forgiveness [ἄφεσιν]
See on Luke 3:3; see on James 5:15; see on Romans 3:25. Forgiveness specifies the peculiar quality of redemption. [source]
Sins [παραπτωμάτων]
Rev., better, trespasses. See on Matthew 6:14. [source]
Riches []
See on glory, Ephesians 1:6, and Romans 2:4. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 1:7

Romans 2:4 Riches [πλούτου]
A favorite word with Paul to describe the quality of the divine attributes and gifts. See 2 Corinthians 8:9; Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 2:4, Ephesians 2:7; Ephesians 3:8, Ephesians 3:16; Philemon 4:19; Colossians 1:27. [source]
Romans 1:1 A servant [δοῦλος]
Lit., bond-servant or slave. Paul applies the term to himself, Galatians 1:10; Philemon 1:1; Titus 1:1; and frequently to express the relation of believers to Christ. The word involves the ideas of belonging to a master, and of service as a slave. The former is emphasized in Paul's use of the term, since Christian service, in his view, has no element of servility, but is the expression of love and of free choice. From this stand-point the idea of service coheres with those of freedom and of sonship. Compare 1 Corinthians 7:22; Galatians 4:7; Ephesians 6:6; Philemon 1:16. On the other hand, believers belong to Christ by purchase (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18; Ephesians 1:7), and own Him as absolute Master. It is a question whether the word contains any reference to official position. In favor of this it may be said that when employed in connection with the names of individuals, it is always applied to those who have some special work as teachers or ministers, and that most of such instances occur in the opening salutations of the apostolic letters. The meaning, in any case, must not be limited to the official sense. [source]
Ephesians 2:13 Afar off [μακραν]
Adverb (accusative feminine adjective with οδον — hodon understood). From the πολιτεια — politeia and its hope in God. Are made nigh (εγενητητε εγγυς — egenēthēte eggus). First aorist passive indicative of γινομαι — ginomai a sort of timeless aorist. Nigh to the commonwealth of Israel in Christ. In the blood of Christ Not a perfunctory addition, but essential (Ephesians 1:7), particularly in view of the Gnostic denial of Christ‘s real humanity. [source]
Ephesians 2:13 In the blood of Christ [εν τωι αιματι του Χριστου]
Not a perfunctory addition, but essential (Ephesians 1:7), particularly in view of the Gnostic denial of Christ‘s real humanity. [source]
Colossians 1:14 In whom [εν ωι]
In Christ as in Ephesians 1:7. This great sentence about Christ carries on by means of three relatives (εν ωι — en hōi Colossians 1:14, ος — hos Colossians 1:15, ος — hos Colossians 1:18) and repeated personal pronoun (αυτος — autos), twice with οτι — hoti (Colossians 1:15, Colossians 1:19), thrice with και — kai (Colossians 1:17, Colossians 1:18, Colossians 1:20), twice alone (Colossians 1:16, Colossians 1:20). [source]
Colossians 1:14 Our redemption [την απολυτρωσιν]
See note on Romans 3:24 for this great word (Koiné{[28928]}š), a release on payment of a ransom for slave or debtor (Hebrews 9:15) as the inscriptions show (Deissmann, Light, etc., p. 327). The forgiveness of our sins (tēn aphesin tōn hamartiōn). Accusative case in apposition with apolutrōsin as in Ephesians 1:7 (remission, sending away, την απεσιν των αμαρτιων — aphesis after the redemption απολυτρωσιν — apolutrōsis buying back). Only here we have απεσις — hamartiōn (sins, from απολυτρωσις — hamartanō to miss) while in Ephesians 1:7 we find αμαρτιων — paraptōmatōn (slips, fallings aside, from αμαρτανω — parapiptō). [source]
Colossians 1:14 The forgiveness of our sins [tēn aphesin tōn hamartiōn)]
Accusative case in apposition with apolutrōsin as in Ephesians 1:7 (remission, sending away, την απεσιν των αμαρτιων — aphesis after the redemption απολυτρωσιν — apolutrōsis buying back). Only here we have απεσις — hamartiōn (sins, from απολυτρωσις — hamartanō to miss) while in Ephesians 1:7 we find αμαρτιων — paraptōmatōn (slips, fallings aside, from αμαρτανω — parapiptō). [source]
Revelation 7:14 My lord [Κυριε μου]
“An address of reverence to a heavenly being” (Vincent), not an act of worship on John‘s part.Thou knowest (συ οιδας — su oidas). “At once a confession of ignorance, and an appeal for information” (Swete), not of full confidence like συ οιδας — su oidas in John 21:15.They which come out of the great tribulation Present middle participle with the idea of continued repetition. “The martyrs are still arriving from the scene of the great tribulation” (Charles). Apparently some great crisis is contemplated (Matthew 13:19.; Matthew 24:21; Mark 13:10), though the whole series may be in mind and so may anticipate final judgment.And they washed (και επλυναν — kai eplunan). First aorist active indicative of πλυνω — plunō old verb, to wash, in N.T. only Luke 5:2; Revelation 7:14; Revelation 22:14. This change of construction after οι ερχομενοι — hoi erchomenoi from οι πλυνησαντες — hoi plunēsantes to και επλυναν — kai eplunan is common in the Apocalypse, one of Charles‘s Hebraisms, like και εποιησεν — kai epoiēsen in Revelation 1:6 and και πλαναι — kai planāi in Revelation 2:20.Made them white First aorist active indicative of λευκαινω — leukainō to whiten, old verb from λευκος — leukos (Revelation 7:13), in N.T. only here and Mark 9:3. “Milligan remarks that robes are the expression of character and compares the word habit used of dress” (Vincent). The language here comes partly from Genesis 49:11 and partly from Exodus 19:10, Exodus 19:14. For the cleansing power of Christ‘s blood see also Romans 3:25; Romans 5:9; Colossians 1:20: Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2; Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 22:14. “The aorists look back to the life on earth when the cleansing was effected” (Swete). See Philemon 2:12. for both divine and human aspects of salvation.In the blood of the Lamb (εν τωι αιματι του αρνιου — en tōi haimati tou arniou). There is power alone in the blood of Christ to cleanse from sin (1 John 1:7), not in the blood of the martyrs themselves. The result is “white,” not “red,” as one might imagine. [source]
Revelation 7:14 They which come out of the great tribulation [οι ερχομενοι εκ της τλιπσεως της μεγαλης]
Present middle participle with the idea of continued repetition. “The martyrs are still arriving from the scene of the great tribulation” (Charles). Apparently some great crisis is contemplated (Matthew 13:19.; Matthew 24:21; Mark 13:10), though the whole series may be in mind and so may anticipate final judgment.And they washed (και επλυναν — kai eplunan). First aorist active indicative of πλυνω — plunō old verb, to wash, in N.T. only Luke 5:2; Revelation 7:14; Revelation 22:14. This change of construction after οι ερχομενοι — hoi erchomenoi from οι πλυνησαντες — hoi plunēsantes to και επλυναν — kai eplunan is common in the Apocalypse, one of Charles‘s Hebraisms, like και εποιησεν — kai epoiēsen in Revelation 1:6 and και πλαναι — kai planāi in Revelation 2:20.Made them white First aorist active indicative of λευκαινω — leukainō to whiten, old verb from λευκος — leukos (Revelation 7:13), in N.T. only here and Mark 9:3. “Milligan remarks that robes are the expression of character and compares the word habit used of dress” (Vincent). The language here comes partly from Genesis 49:11 and partly from Exodus 19:10, Exodus 19:14. For the cleansing power of Christ‘s blood see also Romans 3:25; Romans 5:9; Colossians 1:20: Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2; Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 22:14. “The aorists look back to the life on earth when the cleansing was effected” (Swete). See Philemon 2:12. for both divine and human aspects of salvation.In the blood of the Lamb (εν τωι αιματι του αρνιου — en tōi haimati tou arniou). There is power alone in the blood of Christ to cleanse from sin (1 John 1:7), not in the blood of the martyrs themselves. The result is “white,” not “red,” as one might imagine. [source]
Revelation 7:14 Made them white [ελευκαναν]
First aorist active indicative of λευκαινω — leukainō to whiten, old verb from λευκος — leukos (Revelation 7:13), in N.T. only here and Mark 9:3. “Milligan remarks that robes are the expression of character and compares the word habit used of dress” (Vincent). The language here comes partly from Genesis 49:11 and partly from Exodus 19:10, Exodus 19:14. For the cleansing power of Christ‘s blood see also Romans 3:25; Romans 5:9; Colossians 1:20: Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2; Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 22:14. “The aorists look back to the life on earth when the cleansing was effected” (Swete). See Philemon 2:12. for both divine and human aspects of salvation.In the blood of the Lamb (εν τωι αιματι του αρνιου — en tōi haimati tou arniou). There is power alone in the blood of Christ to cleanse from sin (1 John 1:7), not in the blood of the martyrs themselves. The result is “white,” not “red,” as one might imagine. [source]

What do the individual words in Ephesians 1:7 mean?

in whom we have - redemption through the blood of Him the forgiveness - of trespasses according to the riches of the grace
ἐν ἔχομεν τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν διὰ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτοῦ τὴν ἄφεσιν τῶν παραπτωμάτων κατὰ τὸ πλοῦτος τῆς χάριτος

  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἔχομεν  we  have 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
τὴν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀπολύτρωσιν  redemption 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀπολύτρωσις  
Sense: a releasing effected by payment of ransom.
διὰ  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
αἵματος  blood 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: αἷμα  
Sense: blood.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἄφεσιν  forgiveness 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἄφεσις  
Sense: release from bondage or imprisonment.
τῶν  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
παραπτωμάτων  of  trespasses 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: παράπτωμα  
Sense: to fall beside or near something.
κατὰ  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
πλοῦτος  riches 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: πλοῦτος  
Sense: riches, wealth.
τῆς  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
χάριτος  grace 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: χάρις  
Sense: grace.