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Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

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HEAVENLIES*, The

Term unique to Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, also translated “heavenly places” or “realms,” and referring to the super earthly upper regions of the air. Since the term “in the heavenlies” carried with it associations from pagan cultic vocabulary, it was perhaps used by the apostle in an apologetic manner.

“The heavenly places” indicates the sphere where the risen Christ has been seated at the right hand of God in a position of authority, power, and dominion, reigning as conqueror and ruler high above the heavenly world (Eph 1:20-21). Other usage points to the idea of the realized hope of those who are in Christ, in that believers have already been blessed with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies” (v 3) and are raised with Christ, seated with him in the heavenlies (2:6). The church will make known the wisdom of God to the principalities and powers in the heavenlies (3:10). She will thus participate in the victory over the spiritual hosts of wickedness, also present in the heavenly places (6:12).

Show passage in OET: EPH 1:20–21

OET-RV EPH 1:20

20 He worked this power in the messiah when he brought him back to life and seated him in the place of honour in heavenly places—

OET-RV EPH 1:21

21 giving him authority over every law and government, and over every powerful group and organisation, and over every earthly title, not only in the present age but also in the age to come.

OET-LV EPH 1:20

20 which he _has _worked in the chosen _one /messiah, having _raised him from the_dead, and having _sat _down him at the_right hand of _him, in the heavenly realms,

OET-LV EPH 1:21

21 above every rule, and authority, and power, and mastership, and every name being _named, not only in the this age, but also in the one coming,

Show passage in OET: EPH 1:3

OET-RV EPH 1:3

3 We praise God, the father of our master Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) the messiah. He is the one who’s blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places—blessings that come from the messiah.

OET-LV EPH 1:3

3 Blessed be the god and father of _the master of _us, Yaʸsous chosen _one /messiah, the one having _blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in chosen _one /messiah,

Show passage in OET: EPH 2:6

OET-RV EPH 2:6

6 And God lifted us up and sat us together with Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) the messiah in the heavenly domains

OET-LV EPH 2:6

6 and he _raised _up _with us and he _sat _together us in the heavenly realms in chosen _one /messiah Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa),

Show passage in OET: EPH 3:10

OET-RV EPH 3:10

10 so that the wide-ranging wisdom of God could be revealed now through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.

OET-LV EPH 3:10

10 in _order _that may _be _made _known now to _the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms through the assembly, the manifold wisdom of_ the _god,

Show passage in OET: EPH 6:12

OET-RV EPH 6:12

12 Our struggle isn’t against people, but against rulers, authorities, the powers of this world’s darkness, and the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places.

OET-LV EPH 6:12

12 Because is not to _us the wrestling against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world _rulers of_ the this _darkness, against the spiritual of_ the _wickedness in the heavenly realms.

Jump to OET EPH 1:20–21 section.

Jump to OET EPH 1:3 section.

Jump to OET EPH 2:6 section.

Jump to OET EPH 3:10 section.

Jump to OET EPH 6:12 section.

See also Heaven; Principalities and Powers.