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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Ephesians 1:18 - 1:18
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18. πεφωτισμένους. Agreeing with ὑμῖν by a not uncommon irregularity, cf. Act 15:22. The condition out of which they have been delivered is regarded as ‘darkness,’ cf. Eph 5:8, Eph 4:18 : cf. φωτισθέντας Heb 6:4; Heb 10:32, and the use of φωτισμὸς of Baptism.
τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶν. For the construction cf. 1Ti 6:5. τῆς καρδίας: the organ of spiritual vision (Mat 5:8; cf. Mat 6:23), as of faith (Rom 10:10), ‘darkened’ by idolatry (Rom 1:21), and by sensuality (Eph 4:18), miserliness, the evil eye (Mat 6:23), hate (1Jn 2:11).
εἰς τὸ εἰδέναι ὑμᾶς κ.τ.λ. The leading words in the threefold vision which will open before their enlightened eyes are all echoes of thoughts that found expression in the opening paragraph. St Paul is praying that the Gentile converts may realize the different elements in the new position into which they have been introduced which have the power to work a moral transformation.
ἡ ἐλπὶς τῆς κλήσεως. Hope was the birthright of Israel (Eph 1:12). It was unknown to the heathen (Eph 2:12). The common hope is the pledge of the Christian unity in body and spirit (Eph 4:4). So in Col 1:4 love to all the saints is grounded on hope, and in Col 1:27 the Gospel to the Gentiles is summed up in the phrase Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν ἡ ἐλπὶς τῆς δόξης: cf. 1Pe 1:3.
τῆς κλήσεως αὐτοῦ. This hope is due to the fact that God Himself has called them to take their place among His people. Cf. Eph 4:1; Eph 4:4; Rom 9:24; 1Pe 1:15. So in Rom 8:30. God’s call is the first stage in the manifestation on earth of His eternal election and is closely linked with justification and glory.
τίς ὁ πλοῦτος τῆς δόξης τῆς κληρονομίας αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις. Cf. Eph 1:11 ἐν ᾧ καὶ ἐκληρώθημεν, and τῆς περιποιήσεως Eph 1:14. The call of God which had come to them gave them a place here and now in God’s inheritance, as that inheritance is constituted by the saints. As possessed by Him the saints behold and radiate His glory. Through them men grow conscious of the presence of God in the world. How inexhaustible then must be the resources at their disposal! With ὁ πλοῦτος cf. Eph 3:8; Eph 3:16. We may perhaps compare 2Th 1:10 ἐνδοξασθῆναι ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις.