---
title: Ephesians 1:20
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/ephesians-1-20/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/ephesians-1-20.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Ephesians 1:20
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Ephesians 1:20

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms,

## JW Usage

JWs affirm Ephesians 1:20 — "he exercised [his power] in the case of the Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places" — as the account of Christ's post-resurrection ascension and enthronement. The Watchtower framework locates the *installation* of Christ's kingdom authority in October 1914 rather than at the ascension, so Ephesians 1:20 is read as preparatory rather than as the enthronement event itself.

## Protestant Usage

Paul treats Ephesians 1:20 as the actual enthronement moment. The verb is aorist — completed action. God *raised* Christ and *seated* him at his right hand, in the past, at the resurrection and ascension. Peter confirms this sequence at Pentecost: God "raised him" and he is now "exalted to the right hand of God" (Acts 2:32-33); "God has made him both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36 — past tense). The right hand of God is the throne of David the New Testament locates in heaven, per Acts 2:30-36. Christ was enthroned at the ascension, not in 1914. The Watchtower's date for the start of Christ's kingdom power contradicts the New Testament's clear placement of that event at the resurrection-ascension event. Pair Ephesians 1:20 with Hebrews 1:3 ("after he had made a purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high"), Hebrews 10:12 ("this man offered one sacrifice for sins for all time and sat down at the right hand of God"), and Matthew 28:18 ("all authority has been given me in heaven and on earth"). The New Testament's unanimous witness is that Christ is already reigning.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [One Hope, Not Two](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/one-hope.md) — Ephesians 4:4 -- The Sevenfold Unity [Salvation]
- [Christ Is Already Reigning](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/christ-reigning-now.md) — Acts 2:30-36 / Ephesians 1:20-22 / 1 Corinthians 15:25 [Eschatology]
- [The Kingdom Was Already Here in Jesus's Ministry](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/kingdom-already-present.md) — Matthew 12:28 / Luke 17:21 — the King among us, the kingdom upon us [Eschatology]