Ephesians 1:4 - Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)

Ephesians 1:4

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Redemption in Christ

3 ^aBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

4 just as ^aHe chose us in Him ^bbefore the foundation of the world, that we should ^cbe holy and without blame before Him in love,

5 ^ahaving predestined us to ^badoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, ^caccording to the good pleasure of His will,

6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, ^aby which He made us accepted in ^bthe Beloved.

7 ^aIn Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to ^bthe riches of His grace

8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and¹ prudence,

9 ^ahaving made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure ^bwhich He purposed in Himself,

10 that in the dispensation of ^athe fullness of the times ^bHe might gather together in one ^call things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

11 ^aIn Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to ^bthe purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

12 ^athat we ^bwho first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard ^athe word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, ^byou were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Commentaries:

Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)

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Ephesians 1:4

Even as he chose us in him (kaqwv ecelecato hmav en autw). First aorist middle indicative of eklegw, to pick out, to choose. Definitive statement of God's elective grace concerning believers in Christ.

Before the foundation of the world (pro katabolhv kosmou). Old word from kataballw, to fling down, used of the deposit of seed, the laying of a foundation. This very phrase with pro in the Prayer of Jesus (John 17:24) of love of the Father toward the Son. It occurs also in I Peter 1:20. Elsewhere we have apo (from) used with it (Matthew 25:34; Luke 11:50; Hebrews 4:3; Hebrews 9:26; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8). But Paul uses neither phrase elsewhere, though he has apo twn aiwnwn (from the ages) in Ephesians 3:9. Here in Ephesians 1:3-14. Paul in summary fashion gives an outline of his view of God's redemptive plans for the race.

That we should be (einai hmav). Infinitive of purpose with the accusative of general reference (hmav). See Colossians 1:22 for the same two adjectives and also katenwpion autou.

Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Ephesians 1:4:

Luke 11:50
John 1:9
John 17:24
Romans 8:29
1 Corinthians 1:6
Ephesians 1:4
Ephesians 1:12
1 Thessalonians 1:4
2 Thessalonians 2:13
Titus 1:2
1 Peter 1:20
Jude 1:24
Revelation 13:8

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Ephesians 1:5 >>

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Redemption in Christ

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