The Chosen Key Word in this Chapter is “Predestinated” it comes from the Greek Word “proorizo” which means “to predetermine, to predestine.”
Paul opens with one of the longest, most theologically dense sentences in the entire Bible. Welcome to Bible Life Basics Chapter Reviews, I am Chris and this is Ephesians 1.
Paul blesses “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ,” explaining that God chose believers in Christ “before the foundation of the world,” that they should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having “predestinated,” “proorizo” in Greek, meaning to determine beforehand, us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will.
Paul describes the richness of God’s grace lavished on believers, redemption through Christ’s blood, forgiveness of sins, and the making known of “the mystery of his will,” to gather together in one all things in Christ, both in heaven and earth. He explains that believers, having heard the word of truth and believed, were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, “which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.”
Paul explains he has not stopped giving thanks for the Ephesians, making mention of them in his prayers, asking that God would give them “the spirit of wisdom and revelation” in the knowledge of Him, with the eyes of their understanding enlightened, so they might know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and the exceeding greatness of His power toward those who believe. He describes this same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him far above all rule, authority, power, and dominion, putting all things under His feet, and appointing Him head over all things to the church, “which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
Paul’s opening prayer focuses entirely on believers gaining genuine spiritual understanding, not just information, but real insight into the hope, riches, and power already available to them in Christ. Knowing these truths intellectually and truly grasping them with enlightened understanding, Paul suggests, are two very different things worth praying for specifically.
Visit Us At: www.youtube.com/@BibleLifeBasics
Support Us On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BibleLifeBasics