translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: EPH

label: NET study note

text: Eph 1:3-14 comprises one long sentence in Greek, with three major sections. Each section ends with a note of praise for God (vv. 6, 12, 14 ), focusing on a different member of the Trinity. After an opening summary of all the saints’ spiritual blessings (v. 3 ), the first section (vv. 4-6 ) offers up praise that the Father has chosen us in eternity past; the second section (vv. 7-12 ) offers up praise that the Son has redeemed us in the historical past (i.e., at the cross); the third section (vv. 13-14 ) offers up praise that the Holy Spirit has sealed us in our personal past, at the point of conversion.


text: The Greek word translated unblemished ( ἀμώμους , amwmous ) is often used of an acceptable paschal lamb. Christ, as our paschal lamb, is also said to be unblemished ( Heb 9:14 ; 1 Pet 1:19 ). Since believers are in Christ, God views them positionally and will make them ultimately without blemish as well ( Jude 24 ; Eph 5:27 ; Col 1:22 ).


text: In this context his blood , the blood of Jesus Christ, refers to the price paid for believers’ redemption, which is the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross.


text: And the things on earth. Verse 10 ends with “in him.” The redundancy keeps the focus on Christ at the expense of good Greek style. Verse 11 repeats the reference with a relative pronoun (“in whom”) – again, at the expense of good Greek style. Although the syntax is awkward, the theology is rich. This is not the first time that a NT writer was so overcome with awe for his Lord that he seems to have lost control of his pen. Indeed, it happened frequently enough that some have labeled their christologically motivated solecisms an “apostolic disease.”


text: The conjunctive phrase For this reason points back to the preceding section, vv. 3-14 , which is also summed up in this verse in the expression because I have heard of your faith . In other words, the author’s prayer can be made for his audience because he knows that they are true believers.


text: Eph 1:19-20 . The point made in these verses is that the power required to live a life pleasing to God is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. For a similar thought, cf. John 15:1-11 .


text: An allusion to Ps 8:6 .