ACC ~ Ephesians 1 v10b

UNITING HEAVENLY AND EARTHLY THINGS. IRENAEUS: Thus Christ unites … in himself all that is earthly and all that is spiritual. He unites humanity to Spirit and places the Spirit in humanity. Being himself made the fountainhead of the Spirit, Christ gives the Spirit to be the head of humanity. Thus through the Son by the Spirit we ourselves now see and hear and speak. AGAINST HERESIES 5.20.2.

ALL THINGS IN CHRIST. MARIUS VICTORINUS: It is not all things indifferently that are restored but all things that are in Christ—both those that are in heaven and those that are on the earth but only those that are in Christ. Others are strange to him. Whatever things then are in Christ, it is these that are revitalized and rise again, whether in heaven or in earth. For he is salvation, he is renewal, he is eternity. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.1.10.

WHAT IS MEANT BY THIS SUMMING UP. CHRYSOSTOM: To “recapitulate” is to join together. But let us press on closer to the fuller truth. In our customary usage a recapitulation is a brief summary of what has been said at great length. It is a concise expression of everything that has been detailed. That is what it is here as well. The providential ordering that has occurred over a long time, the Son has once for all “recapitulated.” Everything is summed up in him. … There is also another meaning: In Christ’s incarnation God has given a single head to all creation, both angels and humans. HOMILY ON EPHESIANS 1.1.10.

RECAPITULATING HEAVEN AND EARTH. THEODORET: Only God’s nature needs nothing. The whole creation stood in need of his healing order of gifts. For, since the elements came into being to serve human needs, he made them subject to corruption, for he could foresee that transgression was going to make humanity mortal also. As for the unseen powers, they were naturally aggrieved when they saw human beings living in wickedness. … By recapitulation he means the complete transformation of things. For through the gift given through Christ the Lord the human nature is raised anew and puts on incorruptibility. Ultimately the visible creation, delivered from corruption, will receive incorrup-tion. The hosts of unseen powers will rejoice continually, because sorrow and grief and sighing have fled away. This is what the divine apostle teaches through these words; for he said not simply “heaven and earth” but “those in heaven” and “those on earth.” EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.10.