ACC ~ Ephesians 1 v11 - 14

OVERVIEW:

Election is a great privilege (CHRYSOSTOM) given first to the Jews (AMBROSIASTER) and then to the new people of God. Our inheritance is sealed, secured (CHRYSOSTOM). The seal of the Spirit elicits and develops inward virtue (DIDYMUS THE BLIND). All virtue is grounded in hope (MARIUS VICTORINUS). Refuting false teachers (JEROME) Paul reminds the Ephesians that salvation is by the gospel (CHRYSOSTOM), the sure guarantee of the ultimate outcome (JEROME, THEODORET), which evokes that praise due only to God (AMBROSIASTER).

1:11 | God Accomplishes All Things According to His Will

GOD’S FOREKNOWLEDGE SEES ALL THINGS BEFORE THEY OCCUR. CHRYSOSTOM: Since inheritance is a matter of fortune, not of choice or virtue, it often depends on obscure or fortuitous circumstances, overlooking virtue. It may bring to the fore those who are of no account. But notice how Paul qualifies this statement. … He says “have been destined,” that is, God has set us apart for himself. It is as if to say God saw us before we became heirs. The foreknowledge of God is wonderful and sees all things before they occur. HOMILY ON EPHESIANS 2.1.11-14.

1:12 | Living for the Praise of God’s Glory

LIVING FOR THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. MARIUS VICTORINUS: First the believer is enabled to hope in Christ, that is, follow Christ and believe that all Christ’s promises can be fulfilled. Only then will the consequence be that he will live for the praise of the glory of God. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.1.12.

WE WHO FIRST HOPED. AMBROSIASTER: What he means is that God first allotted the task of preaching to those believers in Christ who were from a Jewish background. Therefore no one of Gentile background was chosen to be an apostle. It was fitting that the first preachers should be chosen from those who had previously hoped for the salvation that had been promised to them in Christ. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.12.

1:13a | The Word of Truth, the Gospel of Salvation

THE WORD OF TRUTH HEARD. JEROME: It is no small praise for the Ephesians that they have heard not preaching as such but “the word of truth.” Remember that we read in another letter that there is a great distance between preaching and the word of truth. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.1.13.

1:13b | Sealed with the Promised Holy Spirit

HOW THE SPIRIT SEALS US. DIDYMUS THE BLIND: One who takes on discipline and virtue receives in his own character the seal and form of the knowledge that he puts on. So one who is made a partaker of the Holy Spirit becomes likewise spiritual and holy through disciplined fellowship with him. ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 20.

OUR INHERITANCE IS SECURED. CHRYSOSTOM: By this seal God shows great forethought for humanity. He not only sets apart a people and gives them an inheritance but secures it as well. It is just as if someone might stamp his heirs plainly in advance; so God set us apart to believe and sealed us for the inheritance of future glory. HOMILY ON EPHESIANS 2.1.11-14.

SEALED IN THE SPIRIT OF PROMISE. CHRYSOSTOM: What does “in the Spirit of promise” mean? That we have now received him according to his promise. There are two promises, first through the prophets and finally through the Son. HOMILY ON EPHESIANS 2.1.11-14.

1:14a | The Guarantee of Our Inheritance

GUARANTEE CONTRASTED WITH PLEDGE. JEROME: A guarantee (arrabōn, “earnest”) is not the same as a token or pledge. For a guarantee is given as an affidavit and bond for a future purchase. But a pledge … is an expression of a present reciprocal transaction. Thus when the money is returned the pledge is restored by the creditor to the one who has repaid the debt. … So from the guarantee the majestic scope of the future inheritance may be grasped. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.1.14.

HOW GREAT THE EXPECTATION OF THE FAITH. THEODORET: He shows how great are our expectations. This grace is already being given, through which miracles were worked: the dead were raised, lepers cleansed and demons driven out. All of these and similar things have the status of a pledge, so it will become obvious that the faithful will enjoy in the future a much greater grace. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.14.

1:14b | To the Praise of His Glory

THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. AMBROSIASTER: Just as it is the glory of a doctor if he cures many, so it is to the praise of God’s glory when many are won for the faith. And so it is part of God’s glory to have called the Gentiles that they might obtain their salvation through the faith promised to the Jews. The Gentiles have as a sign of their redemption and future inheritance the Holy Spirit, given at baptism. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.14.