Ephesians 1:3-14

Ascription of Praise, in view of the Election and Redemption of the Saints

3. Blessedbe the God, &c. The same Benediction occurs (verbatim in the Greek, nearly so in A. V.), 2 Corinthians 1:3; 1 Peter 1:3. Observe the different motive of the same phrase in each case. The word rendered "Blessed" occurs eight times in the N. T., and always of a Divine Person. In Mark 14:61 "The Blessed" appears without an explicit Name, as often by the Rabbis.

For the sacred Formula "the God and Father of, &c." cp. further Romans 15:6 (where the Greek, though not the A. V., is the same); and see John 20:17; Hebrews 1:8-9; and note below, on Ephesians 1:17.

who hath blessed us Better, Who blessed us. The reference is to the heavenly world and the eternal purpose of God towards the saints. See just below, on "before the foundation, &c." This Benediction on the New Creation may be illustrated by that on the Old; Genesis 1:22; Genesis 1:28; Genesis 9:1. It is the utterance (in whatever way) of a fixed Divine purpose of good. "When we bless God, we speak well of Him; when He blesses us, He powerfully confers blessings on us" (Scott). "Us": the members of the New Race; "the saints and faithful;" those who "are Christ's."

with all spiritual blessings Better, with (lit. in) all spiritual blessing. "Spiritual:" the Benediction supremely affected the "spirit" of its objects, not merely their externals. It bore upon their spiritualBirth (John 3:6); Life (Romans 8:9-10); and Consummation (Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15:44).

in heavenlyplaces] Lit., "in the heavenlies"; an adjective without a noun. So below, Ephesians 1:20, and Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 6:12. The noun is rightly supplied in A. V. The region of utterance of the Blessing was heaven; the eternal abode of the Covenant-Head of the blessed ones is heaven; and the final issue of the blessing will be their own abode there "in glory." See Hebrews 11:16. The form of the adjective suggests not only a heavenly origin, or nature, but a heavenly locality.

in Christ as the Covenant-Head, Root and Source of Life, and Representative, of the saints. Cp. 2 Timothy 1:9.