Ephesians 1:12

That we should be, &c. On the time whenof this, see next note but one, at the end.

his glory His revealed Character, of which the Gospel of the Son is the grand illustration; being thus "the Gospel of the glory of the blissful God" (1 Timothy 1:11; and cp. 2 Corinthians 4:4, "the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God").

who first trusted in Christ Lit. who have (or, had) hoped beforehand in Christ. "Trust" here nearly represents "hope" (as perhaps quite, John 5:45; Romans 15:12); but, unless context forbids, the reference of hope to the futureshould always be recognized. And this is emphasized here by the "beforehand," which in the Gr. is a part of the verb-form. What then is the precise expectation about Christin view here? It may be either (1) that of Jewish believers, as e.g. the O. T. saints, and Symeon, &c., up to the First Advent; or (2) that of all believers up to the Second Advent; a view of Christ specially as the Coming One, in either case. Both interpretations find some support in the context. If (1) is adopted, the reference will be to Jewish believers as against Gentile, and their priority both in time and, in a certain sense, in claim, as holders of the great Messianic Hope; as if to say, "that we, who as Israelites had inherited and cherished that hope before it was fulfilled, and before it was imparted to you, should be, &c." If (2) is adopted, the reference will be to the expectant attitude of all Christians till the Lord's Return (cp. e.g. Romans 8:24-25, and note); at which Return they, in a final sense, will "be to the praise of His glory" (cp. 2 Thessalonians 1:10). To this reference we incline. The grandeur and universality of the scope of the whole passage favours it rather than the other; though it must not be forgotten on the other hand that this Epistle is often specially occupied with contrasts between Jew and Gentile. Thus paraphrase; "That we should contribute to the glory of God, at the appearing of Christ; welcomed then as the once patient and expectant believers in His promise while still it tarried."