Ephesians 1:13
in Ephesians 1And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,—in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
KJV
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
⋯
This verse in Ephesians 1
Commentary
6 notes on this verseIt is no small praise for the Ephesians that they have heard not preaching as such but "the word of truth." Remember that we read in another letter that there is a great distance between preaching and the word of truth.
This site's exposition
ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise
on Ephesians 1:13-14
Sealed with that holy Spirit of promise marks the believer as God's own property, the ancient seal that stamped ownership on a letter, an animal or a purchased slave. Which is the earnest of our inheritance names the Spirit arrabon, a legal down payment guaranteeing the balance still to come; Paul uses the identical word at 2 Corinthians 1:22 and 5:5 for the same pledge. The redemption named is not yet complete, until the redemption of the purchased possession, so the Spirit's presence now is security for a future not yet delivered rather than the whole of it.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Likewise believed, after ye had heard the gospel - Which God made the means of your salvation; in whom after ye had believed - Probably some time after their first believing. Ye were sealed by that Holy Spirit of promise - Holy both in his nature and in his operations, and promised to all the children of God.
The blessed Spirit is holy himself, and he makes us holy. He is called the Spirit of promise, as he is the promised Spirit. By him believers are sealed; that is, separated and set apart for God, and distinguished and marked as belonging to him.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
In whom ye also trusted - This stands in contrast with those who had “first” embraced the gospel. Heard the word of truth - The gospel; called the “word” or message of truth, the word of God, etc. See Rom 10:17. The phrase “the word of truth” means “the true word or message.” It was a message unmixed with Jewish traditions or Gentile philosophy. The gospel of your salvation - The gospel bringing salvation to you. In whom also - In the Lord Jesus.
on Ephesians 1:12-13
IT appears from the preceding verse that the predestinating purpose of God deals not only with salvation as a whole, but with the details of it—it includes faith as well as salvation which comes of faith. "Being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will, that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ." The trust is appointed as well as the justification—the means as well as the end.
The words behind it
25 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ᾧ | ho | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὑμεῖς | humeis | you yourselves | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἀκούσαντες | akousantes | having heard | G191 → | 425 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγον | logon | word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀληθείας, | aletheias | of truth, | G225 → | 109 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εὐαγγέλιον | euangelion | gospel | G2098 → | 73 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σωτηρίας | soterias | salvation | G4991 → | |
| ὑμῶν, | humon | of you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ᾧ | ho | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πιστεύσαντες | pisteusantes | having believed | G4100 → | |
| ἐσφραγίσθητε | esphragisthete | you were sealed | G4972 → | |
| τῷ | to | with the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πνεύματι | pneumati | Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐπαγγελίας | epangelias | of promise | G1860 → | 52 times |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁγίῳ | hagio | Holy | G40 → | 220 times |
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ᾧwhom
hoG3739 →1405 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὑμεῖςyou yourselves
humeisG4771 →2973 times
ἀκούσαντεςhaving heard
akousantesG191 →425 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
λόγονword
logonG3056 →329 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἀληθείας,of truth,
aletheiasG225 →109 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
εὐαγγέλιονgospel
euangelionG2098 →73 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
σωτηρίαςsalvation
soteriasG4991 →
ὑμῶν,of you,
humonG4771 →2973 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ᾧwhom
hoG3739 →1405 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πιστεύσαντεςhaving believed
pisteusantesG4100 →
ἐσφραγίσθητεyou were sealed
esphragistheteG4972 →
τῷwith the
toG3588 →19766 times
πνεύματιSpirit
pneumatiG4151 →378 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἐπαγγελίαςof promise
epangeliasG1860 →52 times
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ἁγίῳHoly
hagioG40 →220 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Timothy 2:19Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
it leads to
- John 10:14
I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
- 1 Corinthians 8:3
But the one who loves God is known by God.
- Nahum 1:7
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.
- 1 John 3:7–10
Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
- Numbers 16:5
Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will reveal who belongs to Him and who is holy, and He will bring that person near to Himself. The one…
- John 10:14
Through
Ephesians 4:30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
it leads to
- Ephesians 1:13–14
And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:19
Do not extinguish the Spirit.
- Isaiah 63:10
But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.
- Ephesians 1:13–14
Where this verse is studied
About Ephesians
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1978: “Untitled Sermon” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ephesians 1:13; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.