🛡️WEB · Ephesians 1:16
What does Ephesians 1:16 mean?
"don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,"
— Ephesians 1:16 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
In him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.
For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which you have toward all the saints,
don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
Explanation
This verse is a fragment of a longer sentence that begins in verse 15, where Paul writes, "For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which you have toward all the saints, don't cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers." In plain language, Paul is telling the believers in Ephesus that ever since he heard about their genuine faith in Jesus and their love for other Christians, he has never stopped thanking God for them and regularly brings them up by name when he prays.
The book of Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul, most likely while he was imprisoned in Rome around AD 60-62, to the church in Ephesus, a city he had personally founded and ministered in for roughly three years (see Acts 19). Though written to a specific congregation, the letter reads more like a general circular meant to encourage churches in the region, laying out rich theology about who believers are in Christ before moving into practical instructions for Christian living. This verse falls right after Paul's soaring opening praise (1:3-14), which celebrates the spiritual blessings believers have received—being chosen, adopted, redeemed, and s
Compare translations
Go deeper with ScriptureCompanion AI
Ask questions about any verse, follow reading plans, write personal prayers, and track your daily habit — all grounded in verified scripture text.