Robertson Word Pictures - Ephesians 1:3 - 1:3

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Robertson Word Pictures - Ephesians 1:3 - 1:3


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Blessed (eulogētos). Verbal of eulogeō, common in the lxx for Hebrew baruk (Vulgate benedictus) and applied usually to God, sometimes to men (Gen 24:31), but in N.T. always to God (Luk 1:68), while eulogēmenos (perfect passive participle) is applied to men (Luk 1:42). “While eulogēmenos points to an isolated act or acts, eulogētos describes the intrinsic character” (Lightfoot). Instead of the usual eucharistoumen (Col 1:3) Paul here uses eulogētos, elsewhere only in 2Co 1:3 in opening, though in a doxology in Rom 1:25; Rom 9:5; 2Co 11:31. The copula here is probably estin (is), though either estō (imperative) or eiē (optative as wish) will make sense.

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (ho theos kai patēr tou Kuriou hēmōn Iēsou Christou). Kai is genuine here, though not in Col 1:3. The one article (ho) with theos kai patēr links them together as in 1Th 1:3; 1Th 3:11, 1Th 3:13; Gal 1:4. See also the one article in 2Pe 1:1, 2Pe 1:11. In Eph 1:17 we have ho theos tou Kuriou hēmōn Iēsou Christou, and the words of Jesus in Joh 20:17.

Who hath blessed us (ho eulogēsas humās). First aorist active participle of eulogeō, the same word, antecedent action to the doxology (eulogētos).

With (en). So-called instrumental use of en though in is clear.

Every spiritual blessing (pasēi eulogiāi pneumatikēi). Third use of the root eulog (verbal, verb, substantive). Paul lovingly plays with the idea. The believer is a citizen of heaven and the spiritual blessings count for most to him.

In the heavenly places in Christ (en tois epouraniois en Christōi). In four other places in Ephesians (Eph 1:20; Eph 2:6; Eph 3:10; Eph 6:12). This precise phrase (with en) occurs nowhere else in the N.T. and has a clearly local meaning in Eph 1:20; Eph 2:6; Eph 3:10, doubtful in Eph 6:12, but probably so here. In Eph 2:6 the believer is conceived as already seated with Christ. Heaven is the real abode of the citizen of Christ’s kingdom (Phi 3:20) who is a stranger on earth (Phi 1:27; Eph 2:19). The word epouranios (heavenly) occurs in various passages in the N.T. in contrast with ta epigeia (the earthly) as in Joh 3:12; 1Co 15:40, 1Co 15:48, 1Co 15:49; Phi 2:10, with patris (country) in Heb 11:16, with klēsis (calling) in Heb 3:1, with dōrea (gift) in Heb 6:4, with basileia (kingdom) in 2Ti 4:18.