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generally ‘the spiritual world,’ which is perceived by thought and not by sight (2 Cor. 4:18). This is not distant or future but present, the scene even now of the Christian's struggle (Eph. 6:12), where (for we are forced by the limitation of our minds to localise the conception) his life is already centred (Phil. 3:20 hJmw'n to; polivteuma ejn oujranoi'" uJpavrcei ; comp. Eph. 2:19), and his strength is assured to him, and his triumph is already realised ( cc. 1:20; 2:6). Nay, even more, the work of the Church is to make known in this region of a higher life the facts of the Lord's Coming (Eph. 3:10). Comp. Orig. o{ra eij duvnatai to; ejn toi'" ejpouranivoi" ei\nai ajnti; tou' ejn toi'" nohtoi'" kai; e[xw aijsqhvsewn .

Elsewhere the adj. ejpouravnio" is used for that which belongs to the spiritual world: John 3:12 (of heavenly truths); Heb. 8:5 note; 9:23 (of the heavenly archetypes of the Levitical institutions); 2 Tim. 4:18 (the heavenly kingdom); Phil. 2:10 (as contrasted with ejpivgeio" and katacqovnio" ). Compare also 1 Cor. 15:48 f., where this word is applied to Christ as the ‘spiritual,’ ‘supramundane’ man. ejn Cristw'/ ] In virtue of our union with Him, ‘in Whom are all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom hidden’ (Col. 2:3), of which we potentially become partakers. See Eph. 1:1 and additional note.

Observe the continual reiteration of the thought throughout this section: 4 ejn aujtw'/… 2 ejn tw'/ hjgaphmevnw/… è ejn w|/… 9 ejn aujtw'/… 10 ejn tw'/ Cristw'/… 11 ejn aujtw'/… ejn w|/ ; (12 ejn tw'/ Cristw'/ ;) 13 ejn w|/, ejn w|/ . Contrast dia; jI. C. vs. 5.

The blessing which GOD has bestowed upon us is, to sum what has been said, spiritual in its essence, spiritual in the sphere of its action, spiritual in its personal realisation. Compare Col. 3:1-4. The life of the Christian is ideally lived ‘in Christ,’ ‘in the heavenly order.’ Contrast the blessing ‘in Christ’ with the blessing ‘in Abraham’ (Gen. 12:3).

The repetition of the cognate forms eujloghtov", eujloghvsa", eujlogiva/ , though in somewhat different senses, for GOD blesses in deed and we in word, is characteristic of St Paul. Compare 2 Cor. 5:18 ff. So below Eph. 1:6 th'" cavrito"...h|" ejcarivtwsen hJma'" .

2. The bestowal of the blessing (4-14)

The blessing described generally in vs. 3 is now regarded in the details of its bestowal. In describing these, the Apostle brings into sight the work of each person of the Holy Trinity: of the Father in the eternal purpose of His love (vv. 4-6); of the Son in His Incarnation (vv. 7-12); of the Holy Spirit in giving now to each believer the earnest of His inheritance (vv. 13, 14). Compare 1 Cor. 12:4-6.

The form of the whole section is, as has been already said, that of a lyrical doxology; and the close of each division is marked by the solemn burden, found only here, which declares that the several aspects and stages of Redemption are unto the praise of the glory of GOD (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14).

(a) wrought out before time in the eternal order according to the Divine idea (4-
6),

In this work we notice: an election to holiness (vs. 4), resting on predestination to sonship (vs. 5), followed by the gift of GOD'S grace whereby we are made meet for His presence (vs. 6).


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