OF CHRIST JESUS (Χριστου Ιησου). So B D, though Aleph A L have Ιησου Χριστου. Paul is named as the author and so he is. Otherwise the Epistle is pseudepigraphic.BY THE WILL OF GOD (δια θεληματος θεου). As in 1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Romans 1:1.AT EPHESUS (εν Εφεσω). In Aleph and B... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED (ευλογητος). Verbal of ευλογεω, common in the LXX for Hebrew _baruk_ (Vulgate _benedictus_) and applied usually to God, sometimes to men (Genesis 24:31), but in N.T. always to God (Luke 1:68), while ευλογημενος (perfect passive participle) is applied to men (Luke 1:42). "While ευλογημενος... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AS HE CHOSE US IN HIM (καθως εξελεξατο ημας εν αυτω). First aorist middle indicative of εκλεγω, to pick out, to choose. Definitive statement of God's elective grace concerning believers in Christ.BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (προ καταβολης κοσμου). Old word from καταβαλλω, to fling do... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING FOREORDAINED US (Προορισας ημας). First aorist active participle of προοριζω, late and rare compound to define or decide beforehand. Already in Acts 4:28; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Romans 8:29. See also verse Ephesians 1:11. Only other N.T. example in verse Ephesians 1:11. To be taken with εξελεξ... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE PRAISE (εις επαινον). Note the prepositions in this sentence.WHICH (ης). Genitive case of the relative ην (cognate accusative with εχαριτωσεν (he freely bestowed), late verb χαριτοω (from χαρις, grace), in N.T. attracted to case of antecedent χαριτος only here and Luke 1:28.IN THE BELOVE... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHOM (εν ω). Just like Colossians 1:14 with παραπτωματων (trespasses) in place of αμαρτιων (sins) and with the addition of δια του αιματος αυτου (through his blood) as in Colossians 1:20. Clearly Paul makes the blood of Christ the cost of redemption, the ransom money (λυτρον, Matthew 20:28; Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE (κατα το πλουτος της χαριτος αυτου). A thoroughly Pauline phrase, riches of kindness (Romans 2:4), riches of glory (Colossians 1:27; Ephesians 3:16; Philippians 4:19), riches of fulness of understanding (Colossians 2:7), riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8), and i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL (το μυστηριον του θεληματος αυτου). Once hidden, now revealed as in Colossians 1:26 which see. See also Colossians 2:3.WHICH HE PURPOSED (ην προεθετο). Second aorist middle of προτιθημ, old verb, for which see Romans 1:13; Romans 3:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO A DISPENSATION OF THE FULNESS OF THE TIMES (εις οικονομιαν του πληρωματος των καιρων). See Colossians 1:25 for οικονομιαν. In Galatians 4:4 "the fulness of the time" (το πληρωμα του χρονου) the time before Christ is treated as a unit, here as a series of epochs (καιρων). Cf. Mark 1:15; Hebrew... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HIM (εν αυτω). Repeats the idea of εν τω Χριστω of verse Ephesians 1:10.WE WERE MADE A HERITAGE (εκληρωθημεν). First aorist passive of κληροω, an old word, to assign by lot (κληρος), to make a κληρος or heritage. So in LXX and papyri. Only time in N.T., though προσκληροω once also (Acts 17:4... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE END THAT WE SHOULD BE (εις το εινα ημας). Final clause with εις to and the infinitive εινα (see the mere infinitive εινα in verse Ephesians 1:4) and the accusative of general reference.WHO HAD BEFORE HOPED IN CHRIST (τους προηλπικοτας εν τω Χριστω). Articular perfect active participle of... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ALSO (κα υμεις). Ye Gentiles (now Christians), in contrast to ημας (we) in Ephesians 1:12.IN WHOM (εν ω). Repeated third time (once in verse Ephesians 1:11, twice in Ephesians 1:13), and note ο or ος in Ephesians 1:14.YE WERE SEALED (εσφραγισθητε). First aorist passive indicative of σφραγιζ... [ Continue Reading ]
AN EARNEST (αρραβων). See 2 Corinthians 1:22 for discussion of αρραβων. Here "of promise" (της επαγγελιας) is added to the Holy Spirit to show that Gentiles are also included in God's promise of salvation.OF OUR INHERITANCE (της κληρονομιας ημων). God's gift of the Holy Spirit is the pledge and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHICH YE SHEW TOWARD ALL THE SAINTS (κα την εις παντας τους αγιους). The words "ye show" do not occur in the Greek. The Textus Receptus has τεν αγαπην (the love) before την supported by D G K L Syr., Lat., Copt., but Aleph A B P Origen do not have the word αγαπην. It could have been omitted,... [ Continue Reading ]
I DO NOT CEASE (ου παυομα). Singular present middle, while in Colossians 1:9 Paul uses the plural (literary, or including Timothy), ου παυομεθα.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FATHER OF GLORY (ο πατηρ της δοξης). The God characterized by glory (the Shekinah, Hebrews 9:5) as in Acts 7:2; 1 Corinthians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 1:3; James 2:1.THAT--MAY GIVE (ινα--δωιη). In Colossians 1:9 ινα is preceded by αιτουμενο, but here the sub-final use depends on the general idea a... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING THE EYES OF YOUR HEART ENLIGHTENED (πεφωτισμενους τους οφθαλμους της καρδιας υμων). A beautiful figure, the heart regarded as having eyes looking out toward Christ. But the grammar is difficult. There are three possible interpretations. One is an anacoluthon, the case of πεφωτισμενους being... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER (το υπερβαλλον μεγεθος της δυναμεως αυτου). Μεγεθος is an old word (from μεγας), but here only in N.T. Hυπερβαλλον, present active participle of υπερβαλλω, reappears in Ephesians 2:7; Ephesians 3:19 and seen already in 2 Corinthians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 9:14. T... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HE WROUGHT (ενηργηκεν). Reading of A B rather than aorist ενηργησεν. Perfect active indicative, "which he has wrought." Hην is cognate accusative of the relative referring to ενεργειαν (energy) with ενηργηκεν and note also κρατους (strength) and ισχυος (might), three words trying to express... [ Continue Reading ]
FAR ABOVE ALL RULE (υπερανω πασης αρχης). Late compound adverbial preposition (υπερ, ανω) with the ablative case. In N.T. only here and Hebrews 9:5. As in Colossians 1:16, so here Paul claims primacy for Jesus Christ above all angels, aeons, what not. These titles all were used in the Gnostic spe... [ Continue Reading ]
HE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION (παντα υπεταξεν). First aorist active indicative of υποτασσω, quoted from Psalms 8:7 as in 1 Corinthians 15:27.GAVE HIM TO BE HEAD (αυτον εδωκεν κεφαλην).GAVE (εδωκεν, first aorist active indicative of διδωμ) to the church (the universal spiritual church or king... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH (ητις). "Which in fact is," explanatory use of ητις rather than η.THE FULNESS OF HIM THAT FILLETH ALL IN ALL (το πληρωμα του τα παντα εν πασιν πληρουμενου). This is probably the correct translation of a much disputed phrase. This view takes πληρωμα in the passive sense (that which is fille... [ Continue Reading ]