In Ephesians 1:20, the word "places" seems to be inserted with more propriety. While Christ in the flesh was in the form of a servant, God's people could not realize fully their heavenly privileges as sons. 1 Peter 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Another keyword; one of the dominant thoughts of the epistle being the work of the ascended Christ. Placed first in the clause for emphasis, as always in the corresponding Hebrew in the Old Testament. (c) Which God our Father gave us from his high throne from above: or because the saints have those gifts bestowed on them, which belong properly to the citizens of heaven. . Compare the change made by Christ (Col 1:20; Eph 1:20). Spirit and spiritual occur thirteen times. In love, Scripture quoted by permission. And the blessings such are blessed with are spiritual, so called to distinguish them from temporal blessings. . Ephesians 1:3-4: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. "All," that is, "every possible blessing for time and eternity, which the Spirit has to bestow" (so "spiritual" means; not "spiritual," as the term is now used, as opposed to bodily). Some object to this rendering on the ground that the phrase God of Christ is unusual, occurring nowhere in Paul, except Ephesians 1:17 of this chapter. e.g. Compare, also, 1 Corinthians 3:23; and the phrase is undoubted in Ephesians 1:17. The gift of the Spirit itself, the source of the "spiritual blessing," is by virtue of Jesus having ascended thither (Eph 4:8). Even many Christians turn away from it with dread; or if they "tolerate" it, they yet feel that there is something about it that is especially dark and forbidding. Interactive Bible study with John Piper. The elevated themes of Ephesians make it highly praised and prized by commentators. Ephesians 1:3-4 Commentary. The initial triple phrase recurs as in a refrain in Ephesians 1:12 and Ephesians 1:14.The Father is the source of blessing here, the Son in Ephesians 1:12, and the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 1:14.It would appear that Paul built up this type of phrase to extol and praise God as the giver of all blessings. The persons referred to by the word "us," are those who are mentioned in Ephesians 1:1, as "saints," - ἅγίοις hagiois - "holy;" and "faithful" - πιστοῖς pistois - "believing," or "believers.". Series Intro - How to Be Identified with Christ. There is none that people desire so much to disbelieve or avoid; none that they are so unwilling to have preached; and none that they are so reluctant to find in the Scriptures. If this be noted, the sense of the phrase “in heavenly places” becomes far clearer. . Verse 6. Who hath blessed us . given to Him at His circumcision, is expressed; Song of Solomon is pointed to by implication; which. So much, then, for the first point; now, in the second place, note the one divine act by which all these blessings have been bestowed. Read Ephesians 1:3-4. The same phrase occurs again in Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10; and it is remarkable that it should occur in the same elliptical form four times in this one epistle, and, I believe, in no other part of the writings of Paul. who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings.—The frequent phrase “Blessed be God” (Luke 1:68; Romans 1:25; Romans 9:5; 2Corinthians 1:3; 2Corinthians 11:31; 1Peter 1:3) is here used with an unique antithesis. And. Ephesians 1:3-4 - NIV: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Another leading word. which denotes character, while this word denotes repute. Ephesians 1:3-4. Not so felt Paul. This observation is important, because it shows that the plan or decree of God had reference to individuals, and not merely to nations. Ephesians 1:3-4 New International Version (NIV) Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ. II. blessings—Greek, "blessing." The date of these blessings, "hath blessed us", may respect either first conversion, when the discovery and application of the blessings of grace are made to God's people; or the making of the covenant with Christ, their head, to whom all grace was then given, and to them in him, and their election was in Christ, as follows. The Jews have the like distinction of , "temporal blessings", and , "spiritual blessings" (d); which latter are solid, substantial, and lasting blessings; and which concern the good of the soul or spirit of man; and are agreeable to, and desired by a spiritual man; and are applied by the Holy Spirit of God; and so the Ethiopic version renders it, "with every blessing of the Holy Spirit": and which are very comprehensive, and take in all the fulness of grace in Christ; all the blessings and sure mercies of the everlasting covenant; all things pertaining to life and godliness, such as justification, peace, pardon, adoption, sanctification, and eternal life: and with these the saints are blessed "in heavenly" places; God that blesses them is in heaven, and so is Christ, in whom they are blessed; and the completion of their blessedness will be in heaven, where their hope is laid up, and their inheritance is reserved: and this phrase may denote the safety of them, being out of the reach of any enemy, sin, Satan, or the world, to deprive them of them, as well as the nature of them; for it may be read, "in heavenly things", and so distinguishes these blessings from such as are of an earthly kind; and points at the original of them, being such as descend from above, come down from heaven; and also the tendency of them, which is to heaven; and being what give a right unto, and a meetness for the kingdom of heaven: and these they are blessed with "in Christ"; as he is their head and representative, and as they are members in him, and partakers of him; through whom, and for whose sake, they are conveyed unto them, and who himself is the sum and substance of them. Passage: Ephesians 1:4 You Are Chosen! https://bible.org/.../lesson-10-what-god-wants-you-know-ephesians-118-19 As we dig into this Ephesians bible study to find our identity in Christ, we must first be sure the message applies to us. Verse 3 tells us that God the Father has given us every spiritual blessing in Jesus. Many have supposed (see Whitby, Dr. A. Clarke, Bloomfield, and others) that the apostle here refers to the "Gentiles," and that his object is to show that they were now admitted to the same privileges as the ancient Jews, and that the whole doctrine of predestination here referred to, has relation to that fact. We need to know we’re identified as one of God’s holy people. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. I. EPHESIANS - CHRIST AND THE CHURCH Click chart to enlarge Charts from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission. (b) With every type of gracious and bountiful goodness which is heavenly indeed, and from God alone. It has been noticed here that we have one of those implicit references to the Holy Trinity—the blessing from God the Father, in Christ, and by the Spirit—with which St. Paul’s Epistles abound. Proud member Then He created our world before He created us. Now "our citizenship (Greek) is in heaven" (Php 3:20), where our High Priest is ever "blessing" us. Subscribe to a study package to unlock the ESV Study Bible, the interactive Knowing the Bible study series, the Preaching the Word commentary series, and more. When you take Ephesians 1:3-4 together, Paul is saying: One of the greatest spiritual blessings that God has given to us is that He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before Him. It has been doubted whether we ought to supply the word “places” or “things” (as in John 3:12) in rendering this phrase, which is peculiar to this Epistle, and used in it no less than five times. And I note, first of all, the character and the extent of these blessings which are the constituents of the Christian life. e.g. 428-page 6x9 paperback commentary and 54 audio lectures in MP3. Our "treasures" are there (Mt 6:20, 21); our aims and affections (Col 3:1, 2); our hope (Col 1:5; Tit 2:13); our inheritance (1Pe 1:4). Ephesians Bible Study Resources. NIV®. The writing style of the author of Ephesians seems at first glance more sing-able than preach-able.1 Set it to music and let the organist have at it! Elsewhere in Ephesians it is found at 1:20; 2:6-7, 10, 13; 3:6, 11, 21; and 4:32. For the same reason this cannot be. (3) In Ephesians 1:15-23, this introductory chapter ends in a prayer for the enlightenment of the readers of this Epistle, that they may understand all the fulness of the blessings of the gospel. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world . Does he mean to say that they were blessed with external privileges, and that this was the only object of the eternal purposes of God? The fact is, that this is a mere supposition, resorted to without evidence, and in the face of every fair principle of interpretation, to avoid an unpleasant doctrine. This cannot be, for all the world are not thus blessed with "all" spiritual blessings. Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. This cannot be, for he speaks of "spiritual blessings;" he speaks of the persons referred to as having "redemption" and "the forgiveness of sins;" as having "obtained an inheritance," and as being sealed with the "Holy Spirit of promise." PREVIOUS NEXT. (, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. in Christ—the center and source of all blessing to us. Note the collocation of the words, blessed, blessed, blessing. He did not necessarily choose us as individuals before the foundation of the world, but He did decide that He would have a church, a group of people impregnated by His Spirit, a unique Family of His who would be in the image of His Son.The word "choose" suggests taking a smaller number out of a larger. Who is the "Him? He felt that it laid the foundation for eternal praise; that it presented glorious views of God; that it was the ground of confidence and hope; and that it was desirable that Christians should dwell upon it and praise God for it. (Jesus. Ephesians 1 Resources. Does he mean the Gentiles in contradistinction from the Jews? The sense is, that in Christ, i. e. through Christ, or by means of him, God had bestowed all spiritual blessings that were suited to prepare for heaven - such as pardon, adoption, the illumination of the Spirit, etc. 3:16-17). Ephesians 1:3-4 ESV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Lastly, note the one Person in whom all spiritual blessings are enshrined. . Ephesians Greeting. In heavenly places, According to the good pleasure of his will, ὁ Θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ τοῦ κυρίου κ, ἐν πάσῃ εὐλογίᾳ πνευματικῇ, πᾶν ἀγαθὸν τὸ ἐν ἡμῖν, Blessed—who has blessed—with blessing, and that, too, in such a way, that the blessed work, Certainly the apostle had before his eyes, in this passage, the whole career. Not spiritual as distinguished from bodily, but proceeding from the Holy Spirit. See on 1 Peter 1:3. Apr 4, 2010. Daily devotional with John Piper. ... Scripture: Romans 12:12, Ephesians 1:15–23. It probably refers here to every thing that was heavenly in its nature, or that had relation to heaven, whether gifts or graces. Paul emphasizes in this epistle the work of the divine Spirit upon the human spirit. The word "places" does not express the best sense. The perfect participle of the verb, εὐλογημένος blessed, is used of men. Scripture: Ephesians 1:15–23. In the first case it would convey the undoubted truth that the intention of the electing Father is a real and universal personal holiness, perfect in this life in principle and motive (cp. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in … in heavenly places—a phrase five times found in this Epistle, and not elsewhere (Eph 1:20; Eph 2:6; 3:10; 6:12); Greek, "in the heavenly places." For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. i. By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. Yet, as in the opening cadences of this letter, we find … Continue reading "Commentary on Ephesians 3:1-12" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 1:3 is a summary of chapters 1, 2 and 3. So in Psalm 116:12-13, the natural question of the thoughtful soul—“What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits towards me?”—is answered simply by the words, “I will receive the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.”, Who hath blessed us . (5) The matter of our salvation is Christ, in whom alone we are endued with spiritual blessing and that to salvation. The Greek is, "Blessed us," not "hath blessed us"; referring to the past original counsel of God. 7" Often the phrase seems to … But Christ of God is found Matthew 27:46; and my God, John 20:17; Revelation 3:12. The verse goes on to say that He "chose us in Him." ch. Commentary on Ephesians 1:15-23 (Read Ephesians 1:15-23) God has laid up spiritual blessings for us in his Son the Lord Jesus; but requires us to draw them out and fetch them in by prayer. The verb is commonly omitted - blessed the God. Our translators have in each instance supplied the word "places," as denoting the rank or station of Christians, of the angels, and of the Saviour, to each of whom it is applied. Ephesians 1:3–4 Spiritual Blessings in Christ 3 e Blessed be f the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing g in the heavenly places, 4 h even as he i chose us in him j before the foundation of the world, that we should be k holy and blameless before him. Nothing can be clearer than that Paul meant to write to "Christians as such;" to speak of privileges which they enjoyed as special to themselves; and that he had no particular reference to "nations," and did not design merely to refer to external privileges. Let us feel, therefore, as we enter upon the exposition of this chapter, that God is to be praised for all his plans, and that it is "possible" for Christians to have such views of the doctrine of "eternal predestination" as to give them most elevated conceptions of the glory of the divine character. Solid Joys. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. They speak of him, when he is referred to as a sovereign, as if he were tyrannical and unjust, and they never connect the idea of that which is amiable and lovely with the doctrine of eternal purposes. Places is supplied, the Greek meaning in the heavenlies. Even the best Christians need to be prayed for: and while we hear of the welfare of … Some prefer to supply things, as more definitely characterizing spiritual blessing. Christ's ascension is the means of introducing us into the heavenly places, which by our sin were barred against us. Ephesians 1:3-4. Ephesians 1:3-4 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be … of He did not necessarily choose us as individuals before the foundation of the world, but He did decide that He would have a church, a group of people impregnated by His Spirit, a unique Family of His who would be in the image of His Son.The word "choose" suggests taking a smaller number out of a larger. – Ephesians 1:3-4. John Piper Dec 26, 2004 97 Shares Sermon. The word differs from that used in the Beatitudes, μακάριος. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. In love The Immeasurable Greatness of His Power Toward Us Easter Sunday. Blessed be . (See the whole of John 17, especially Ephesians 1:21-23.). But in the four other passages where the phrase occurs, Ephesians 1:20; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 6:12, the sense is local, and ἐπουράνιος heavenly, is local throughout Paul's epistles. . In the New Testament used of God only. the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you (1 Cor. 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. Does he mean all the world? See Acts 18:20, Acts 18:24; Acts 19:1-8. But (1) it is altogether unlikely that so unique a phrase would be used in two different senses; (2) the original word for “heavenly” has most properly and most usually a local meaning; (3) the transference of the thoughts to heaven above suits especially the whole tone of this Epistle and the parallel Epistle to the Colossians; and (4) the local sense agrees best with the context here, for the Apostle is speaking of the election “before the foundation of the world” as made by the foreknowledge of God in heaven, where Christ is “in the beginning with God.”. Ephesians 1:3-4 (see also 2nd Corinthians 1:20; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 3:11 2nd Timothy 1:9) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. Ephesians has been called the Queen of the Epistles, the quintessence of Paulinism, the divinest composition of man and even the Waterloo of commentators. * [1:3–14] While a Pauline letter usually continues after the greeting with a prayer of thanksgiving, as in Eph 1:15–23 below, Ephesians first inserts a blessing of God for the blessings Christians have experienced, as in 2 Cor 1:3–4 and 1 Pt 1:3–12. who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: God is the author and giver of all blessings; and he blesses his people with them, as he is the God and Father of Christ, and as he is their covenant God and Father in Christ; and he only can bless; if he blesses not, none can; and if he blesses, they are blessed indeed: the "us" that are blessed, are such who deserve, according to the tenor of the law, to be cursed; and are not all men, but some distinct from others; and who are before described as saints, and faithful in Christ Jesus; and include both Jews and Gentiles, who belong to the election of grace. It is, however, to be noted here, that in the Vatican MS. the words “and Father” are omitted, and that the phrase “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ” occurs below in Ephesians 1:17. Why then does he use the word "us," including himself, who was a Jew? Lit., well-spoken of. in heavenly-places.—It should be, who blessed us (once for all), in the election and predestination spoken of in the next verse. And if he was, why did he name himself among them as one on whom this blessing had been bestowed? Let us approach word after word, and phrase after phrase, and verse after verse, in this chapter, willing to know all that God teaches; to believe all that he has revealed; and ready to say, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for all that he has done. There is no doctrine that is usually so unpopular; none that is so much reproached; none that is so much abused. Ephesians 1:3–4 3 a Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in b the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as a He chose us in Him before b the foundation of the world, that we would be c holy and blameless before 1 Him. One image piles upon another, just as we saw in Ephesians 1:3-14. But, I would ask, were there no Jews in the church at Ephesus? . (3) The efficient cause of our salvation is God, not considered generally, but as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Does he mean "nations?" Compare Philippians 3:20. In three out of the other four places (Ephesians 1:20; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10) the local sense is manifest; in the fourth (Ephesians 6:12) and in this it might be doubtful. So below, Ephesians 1:20, and Ephesians 2:6, Ephesians 3:10, Ephesians 6:12. As the apostle is speaking, however, of the mass of Christians on whom these things had been bestowed, I rather suppose that he refers to what are called Christian graces, than to the extraordinary endowments bestowed on the few. The message of Ephesians 1:4 is that He chose people to become Christians. (Bruce) . THE LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS Lesson 2: Chapters 3:1-4:25 The World Mission of the Church Continued • Previous • Ephesians Study List • Next Most Holy Father, St. Paul reminds us of the great privilege of our divine election as heirs of Christ. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.—On this phrase (used in Romans 15:6; 2Corinthians 1:3; 2Corinthians 11:31; 1Peter 1:3) see Note on Romans 15:6. Matthew 5:48; below, Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 1 John 3:3; 1 John 3:6; 1 John 3:9), and, in the life eternal, in attainment (cp. Sermon on Ephesians 1:3-4 by John Calvin Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ: According to his choosing of us in him before the foundation of the world, in order that we should be holy and unblameable before him in … May you have undeserved kindness and peace: Paul uses this greeting in 11 of his letters. And let us also be "willing" to know the truth. God is "the God" of the man Jesus, and "the Father" of the Divine Word. In Christ—i.e., in the unity with Christ, which is “the life eternal,” ordained for us in the foreknowledge of God, and viewed as already existing. All rights reserved. In the heavenly places (ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις). who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. Ephesians: Chapter 1 >>> Brief Overview of Ephesians - The Douay Rheims Catholic Bible The content of Ephesians according to the Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible scriptures contains a short overview of the main subjects, people, events and ancient topics in the following summary of the Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible Scriptures: In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Last week we studied verse 3. Salem Media Group. One subordinate clause follows another. (4) The next final cause, and in respect of us, is our salvation, all things being bestowed upon us which are necessary to our salvation, which type of blessings is heavenly and proper to the elect.