Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Ephesians 1:12 - 1:12
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
12. εἰς τὸ εἶναι κ.τ.λ. ‘So that the contemplation of us who of old time as members of the Christ have been full of hope might lead men to give praise for His glory.’ At this point for the first time in the Epistle the distinction of Jewish and Gentile Christians comes to the front; cf. Eph 2:1; Eph 2:3; Eph 2:11.
ἐν τῷ χριστῷ, ‘as being throughout the course of our national history members of the Christ.’ ἐν as in ἐν Χριστῷ, Eph 1:3, and the kindred phrases throughout the passage. Ct. the Gentile state before the Gospel came to them (Eph 2:12). The object or ground of hope is expressed by εἰς 2Co 1:10; 1Pe 3:5; or by ἐπὶ with acc. 1Ti 5:5; 1Pe 1:13, or with dat. 1Ti 4:10; 1Ti 6:17. ἐν in 1Co 15:19; Php 2:19, is best taken as here. The ‘Golden Age’ of the Israelites lay continually ahead of them. They are marked out in consequence among the nations of the world by their hopefulness. This hope was justified and handed on to the Christian Church, quickened and intensified by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; cf. 1Pe 1:3; Eph 1:18.
τῷ χριστῷ. The presence of the article (ct. ἐν Χρ., Eph 1:3) suggests that St Paul is thinking of the Christ and His members as constituting a living whole as in 1Co 12:12. See Additional Note.
εἰς ἔπαινον δόξης αὐτοῦ. Cf. Eph 1:6.