Ephesians 1:3-14

Ephesians 1:3-14

[3] Blessed  be the God  and  Father  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  hath blessed  with  all  spiritual  blessings  in  heavenly  places in  Christ:  [4] According as  he hath chosen  in  him  before  the foundation  of the world,  holy  and  without blame  before  him  in  love:  [5] Having predestinated  unto  the adoption of children  by  Jesus  Christ  to  himself,  according  to the good pleasure  of his  will,  [6] To  the praise  of the glory  of his  grace,  wherein  accepted  in  the beloved.  [7] In  whom  we have  redemption  through  his  blood,  the forgiveness  of sins,  according  to the riches  of his  grace;  [8] Wherein  he hath abounded  toward  in  all  wisdom  and  prudence;  [9] Having made known  the mystery  of his  will,  according to  his  good pleasure  which  he hath purposed  in  himself:  [10] That in  the dispensation  of the fulness  of times  he might gather together in one  all things  in  Christ,  which  are in  heaven,  and  which  are on  earth;  even in  [11] In  whom  also  we have obtained an inheritance,  being predestinated  according to  the purpose  of him who worketh  all things  after  the counsel  of his own  will:  [12] That  the praise  of his  glory,  who  first trusted  in  Christ.  [13] In  whom  also  trusted, after that ye heard  the word  of truth,  the gospel  salvation:  in  whom  also  after that ye believed,  ye were sealed with  that holy  Spirit  of promise,  [14] Which  the earnest  inheritance  until  the redemption  of the purchased possession,  unto  the praise  of his  glory. 

What does Ephesians 1:3-14 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

In the Greek text Ephesians 1:3-14 are one sentence. The Holy Spirit carried Paul along in his thinking as he contemplated God"s provision so that he moved quickly from one blessing to the next. It is as though he was ecstatically opening a treasure chest, lifting its jewels with his hands, letting them cascade through his fingers, and marveling briefly at them as they caught his eye.
"Each section ends with a note of praise for God ( Ephesians 1:6; Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 1:14), focusing on a different member of the Trinity. After an opening summary of all the saints" spiritual blessings ( Ephesians 1:3), the first section ( Ephesians 1:4-6) offers up praise that the Father has chosen us in eternity past; the second section ( Ephesians 1:7-11) offers up praise that the Son has redeemed us in the historical past (i.e, at the cross); the third section ( Ephesians 1:12-14) offers up praise that the Holy Spirit has sealed us in our personal past, at the point of conversion." [1]
"Normally, after the greeting Paul gives an introductory thanksgiving for the recipients of the letter. In this epistle he changes the order, for before he gives his thanksgiving in Ephesians 1:15-23, he has in Ephesians 1:3-14 a paean of praise for what God has done for the believer." [2]
". . . Ephesians 1:3-14 is one of the longest psalms of the New Testament, and it is a praise psalm in its form." [3]