Ephesians 3:11

κατὰ πρόθεσιν τῶν αἰώνων. ‘In accordance with a plan for the ages.’ Cf. on Ephesians 1:9.

ἣν ἐποίησεν. This may be taken in two ways; either (1) ‘which He formed,’ i.e. to which He gave a definite objective existence. ἣν ἐποιήσατο = προέθετο would have left the plan purely ‘subjective.’ This would correspond to the first clause in 2 Timothy 1:9 and with Ephesians 1:4. Cf. Isaiah 29:15; Isaiah 30:1. Or (2) ‘fulfilled,’ ‘wrought out.’ Cf. ποιεῖν τὰ θελήματα (Ephesians 2:3), τὸ θέλημα (Matthew 21:31). But Robinson is clearly right in urging that for this sense a stronger word than ποιεῖν would be required. If this sense were adopted it might be illustrated by the second clause in 2 Timothy 1:9 f., διὰ τῆς ἐπιφανείας τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Χρ. Ἰ.

ἐν τῷ χρ. Ἰ. τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν. The full phrase is found elsewhere only in Colossians 2:6. ‘In the Christ, that is, Jesus our Lord.’ It is given here in full because of the stress that is to be laid on the power of faith in the verses that follow, and to connect the eternal purpose with its historic manifestation.