Ephesians 1:9

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Which He 'made to abound toward us' (), in that He made known to us-namely, experimentally in our hearts.

The mystery - God's purpose of redemption hidden heretofore in His counsels, but now revealed (cf. ; ; ; ; Colossians 1:26). This "mystery" is not like the pagan mysteries, imparted only to the initiated few. All Christians are the initiated. Unbelievers alone are the uninitiated.

According to his good pleasure - the cause why He "made known unto us the mystery" - namely, His own loving "good pleasure" toward us; the time and manner of His doing so are also according to His good pleasure.

Purposed ( ) in himself - God the Father. Bengel, 'in Him,' i:e., Christ, as Ephesians 1:3. But "in Christ," , immediately after, is inconsistent with His being here meant by the pronoun.