Ephesians 1:12

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. WHO FIRST TRUSTED IN CHRIST - rather (we Jewish Christians), 'who have before hoped [ proeelpikotas (G4276)] in the [ too (G3588)] Christ:' who before He came have had our hope in Him (not merely 'toward Him'), waiting for the consolation of Israel. Compare Acts 26:6; Acts 28:20; Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 2:12;...

12._That we should be to the praise of his glory. _Here again he mentions the _final _cause of salvation; for we must eventually become illustrations of the glory of God, if we are nothing but vessels of his mercy. The word _glory, _by way of eminence, ( κατ ᾿ ἐξοχὴν) denotes, in a peculiar manner, that which shines in the goodness of God; for there is nothing that is more peculiarly his own, or in which he desires more to be glorified, than goodness....

9-14 Blessings were made known to believers, by the Lord's showing to them the mystery of his sovereign will, and the method of redemption and salvation. But these must have been for ever hidden from us, if God had not made them known by his written word, preached gospel, and Spirit of truth. Christ united the two differing parties, God and man, in his own person, and satisfied for that wrong which caused the separation. He wrought, by his Spirit, those graces of faith and love, whereby we are made one with God, and among ourselves. He dispenses all his blessings, according to his good pleasure. His Divine teaching led whom he pleased to see the glory of those truths, which others were left to blaspheme. What a gracious promise that is, which secures the gift of the Holy Ghost to those who ask him! The sanctifying and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit seal believers as the childr...

Verse 12. _THAT WE_] Jews, now apostles and messengers of God, to whom the first offers of salvation were made, and who were the _first_ that _believed in Christ_. _SHOULD BE TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY_] By being the means of preaching Christ crucified to the _Gentiles_, and spreading the Gospel throughout the world....

THAT WE SHOULD BE TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY - Should be the occasion or the means of celebrating his glory; or that praise should be ascribed to him as the result of our salvation. WHO FIRST TRUSTED IN CHRIST - Margin, “hoped.” This is in accordance with the original. The foundation of their “hope” was the Saviour. Some suppose that the apostle here refers to the Jews who were converted before the gospel was preached extensively to the Gentiles. The reason for this opinion is, that in the following verse he contrasts those to whom he here refers with others whom he was addressing. But it may be that by the word “we” in Ephesians 1:11, he refers to himself and to his fellow-laborers who had “first” hoped in the Saviour, and had then gone and proclaimed the message to others; see the notes on...

EXPOSITION EPHESIANS 1:1, EPHESIANS 1:2 ADDRESS AND SALUTATION. EPHESIANS 1:1 PAUL AN APOSTLE OF CHRIST JESUS. Paul's one but all-sufficient claim on the Ephesians is his relation to Christ: he is Christ's apostle, not only as sent forth by him, but also as belonging to him; elsewhere his servant or bondman. He makes no claim to their attention on the ground of his great experience in the gospel, his profound study of it, or even his gifts, but rests simply on his being Christ's apostle; thus recognizing Christ as the only Head of the Church, and source

THAT WE SHOULD BE TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY,.... This is the end of predestination to the inheritance; and the sense is, either that the praise of the glory of God, in his grace and goodness, might be discovered and made known unto the saints, as it is displayed in election, redemption, justification, pardon, adoption, regeneration, and eternal salvation; or that they should praise and glorify him on account of these things, by ascribing all to his grace, and nothing to themselves; by giving him thanks for all his benefits; by ordering their conversations aright as become the Gospel; and by doing all things with a view to his glory: WHO FIRST TRUSTED IN CHRIST; the Jews, the apostle, and others of the Jewish nation; WHO BEFORE HOPED IN CHRIST, as the words may be rendered; who hoped in Christ before the Gentiles did; and indeed the people of Israel hoped for Christ before he came; the...

In this chapter, we see what Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has to say about the possessions and privileges of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:1. _Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ._ Brethren and sisters in Christ, this is a benediction for you as well as for the saints at Ephesus; it is for all «the faithful in Christ Jesus.» May you all have grace without measure, and may you all have «the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,» to «keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus»! Grace and peace are both to be had by believing in Jesus. Ephesians 1:3

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. THE MASTERWORK OF GOD (1-3) 1. The Godhead at Work CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The introduction (Ephesians 1:1)_ 2. The great doxology (Ephesians 1:3) 3. The work of the Father (Ephesians 1:4) 4. The work of the Son (Ephesians 1:7) 5. The work of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) 6. The parenthetical prayer to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory (Ephesians 1:15)

A PARAGRAPH OF PRAISE. God, who is also the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is thanked for the blessings embracing every form of spiritual riches bestowed through their mystical relationship to Christ in the heavenly sphere upon the writer and upon his readers. The fact of their Christianity is evidence of their vocation to be holy and blameless before Him in love a vocation which runs back into the eternal counsels (Ephesians 1:4): God has predetermined them to be His own adopted sons through Christ, the motive being simply the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:5), and the purpose in view the glorious manifestation of His kindness and the eternal praise thereof (Ephesians 1:6). This kindness is bestowed upon them in