Spiritual Blessings in Christ
Ephesians 1:1-14
Eph.1.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Παυλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αποστολος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δια: PREP
- θεληματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- αγιοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- ουσιν: PART,pres,act,dat,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- Εφεσω: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- πιστοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- Χριστω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- Ιησου·: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Colossians 1:1 (verbal): Nearly identical opening formula: 'Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God'—close verbal parallel in apostolic self-identification.
- 1 Corinthians 1:1 (verbal): Paul's apostolic claim ('called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God') and address to a local church mirror the language and form of Ephesians 1:1.
- Philippians 1:1 (structural): Similar epistolary greeting addressing 'saints' and invoking Paul (with Timothy) as servants/representatives 'in Christ Jesus'—same salutational structure and community language.
- Galatians 1:1 (verbal): Paul emphasizes the divine origin of his apostleship ('not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father'), paralleling Eph.'s claim of being an apostle 'by the will of God.'
- Romans 1:7 (thematic): Address to 'those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints' echoes Ephesians' greeting to 'the saints ... and faithful in Christ Jesus,' highlighting the theme of holy status and being 'in Christ.'
Alternative generated candidates
- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
Eph.1.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- χαρις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- και: CONJ
- ειρηνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- απο: PREP
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- και: CONJ
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Rom.1:7 (verbal): Paul opens with the identical greeting: 'Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.'
- 1 Cor.1:3 (verbal): Same Pauline salutation—'Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ'—used at the start of the letter.
- 2 Cor.1:2 (verbal): Repeats the customary Pauline formula 'Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.'
- Gal.1:3 (verbal): Very similar greeting ('Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ'), differing only slightly in word order/possessive.
- Phil.1:2 (verbal): Uses the same twofold blessing—'Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ'—as the opening salutation.
Alternative generated candidates
- Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph.1.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ευλογητος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Χριστου: PROPN,gen,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ευλογησας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- εν: PREP
- παση: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- ευλογια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- πνευματικη: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- επουρανιοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- Χριστω: PROPN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- 2 Corinthians 1:3 (verbal): Uses the same opening blessing formula—“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”—echoing Eph 1:3’s doxology and focus on the Father of Christ.
- Ephesians 2:6 (structural): Repeats the key language ‘in heavenly places in Christ Jesus’ and develops Eph 1:3’s claim by stating believers are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms—linking the blessings to believers’ spiritual position.
- Ephesians 1:20-21 (structural): Describes Christ’s exaltation ‘in the heavenly places’ and his supremacy over all powers, providing the cosmic context in which the ‘spiritual blessings’ of Eph 1:3 are given.
- Colossians 1:12-14 (thematic): Speaks of the Father enabling believers to share in the inheritance of the saints, delivering and transferring them into Christ’s kingdom—parallel themes to being blessed with every spiritual blessing ‘in Christ’.
Alternative generated candidates
- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
Eph.1.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- καθως: CONJ
- εξελεξατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- προ: PREP
- καταβολης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- κοσμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- αγιους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αμωμους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- κατενωπιον: PREP
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- αγαπη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Eph.1.5 (structural): Same paragraph/development in Ephesians—God 'predestined us' and 'chose' before the foundation of the world, linking election with adoption and love.
- Romans 8:29-30 (thematic): Shared theme of divine election and the divine saving 'chain' (foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification) that undergirds the statement that God chose believers.
- 1 Peter 1:2 (allusion): Speaks of the 'elect according to the foreknowledge of God' and 'sanctification of the Spirit,' paralleling election and the call to holiness.
- 2 Timothy 1:9 (verbal): States God 'saved us and called us with a holy calling... before the ages began,' echoing the timing ('before') and purpose (a holy calling) of being chosen.
- Colossians 3:12 (verbal): Addresses believers as 'God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,' closely echoing the language 'chosen... to be holy and blameless... in love.'
Alternative generated candidates
- For he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him—
- For he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.
Eph.1.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- προορισας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- εις: PREP
- υιοθεσιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- δια: PREP
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- κατα: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ευδοκιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεληματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Galatians 4:4-5 (verbal): Paul explicitly states Christ came 'that we might receive the adoption of sons'—near-verbal parallel to Eph 1:5's 'predestined us for adoption... through Jesus Christ.'
- Romans 8:15-17 (thematic): Describes believers receiving 'the Spirit of adoption' and crying 'Abba, Father,' and being heirs with Christ, developing the same theological theme of sonship/adoption in Eph 1:5.
- Romans 8:29-30 (verbal): Contains the predestination call-chain ('foreknew... predestined... called... justified... glorified') paralleling Eph 1:5's language of being 'predestined' according to God's purpose.
- John 1:12-13 (thematic): Speaks of becoming 'children of God' by receiving Christ and believing—the New Testament motif of entrance into sonship that underlies Eph 1:5's adoption language.
- Ephesians 1:11 (structural): Within the same doxology; mentions being 'predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things,' echoing Eph 1:5's 'according to the good pleasure of his will' and reinforcing the theme of divine purpose in election/adoption.
Alternative generated candidates
- he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
- He predestined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Eph.1.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εις: PREP
- επαινον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- δοξης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- χαριτος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ης: PRON,gen,sg,f
- εχαριτωσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ηγαπημενω: PART,perf,pass,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Eph.1.12 (verbal): Repeats the exact formula 'to the praise of his glory,' linking the believers' calling/hope in Christ to the purpose of God's grace as praise.
- Eph.1.14 (verbal): Again uses 'to the praise of his glory' to describe the Spirit as a guarantee of our inheritance, continuing the theme that God's gracious work in believers results in praise.
- Rom.5.2 (thematic): Speaks of having 'access by faith into this grace' and rejoicing 'in hope of the glory of God,' connecting grace, our standing before God, and the resulting praise/glory motif found in Eph 1:6.
- Titus 3:7 (thematic): States that being 'justified by his grace' results in our becoming heirs with hope of eternal life—parallels Eph.1:6's emphasis on grace effecting believers' accepted status (and thus praise to God's glory).
Alternative generated candidates
- to the praise of the glory of his grace, with which he freely favored us in the Beloved.
- to the praise of the glory of his grace, with which he has graciously favored us in the Beloved.
Eph.1.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- ω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εχομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- απολυτρωσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- δια: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αιματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αφεσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- παραπτωματων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- κατα: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πλουτος: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- χαριτος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Colossians 1:14 (verbal): Uses the same language: redemption and forgiveness of sins in Christ—close verbal parallel to 'we have redemption... the forgiveness of sins.'
- Romans 3:24-25 (thematic): Themes of justification/redemption by grace through Christ and God's atoning provision (propitiation); links redemption, grace, and God's merciful act.
- Hebrews 9:12 (verbal): Speaks of obtaining redemption 'by his own blood,' echoing Ephesians' explicit connection between redemption and Christ's blood.
- 1 Peter 1:18-19 (verbal): Declares believers were redeemed not with perishable things but with the precious blood of Christ—directly parallels the motif of redemption through his blood.
Alternative generated candidates
- In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
- In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace,
Eph.1.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ης: PRON,gen,sg,f
- επερισσευσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- εν: PREP
- παση: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- σοφια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- φρονησει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Romans 11:33 (verbal): Both speak of the 'riches' and 'wisdom' of God — Romans exclaims 'the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God,' echoing Ephesians' language of riches/lavishness in wisdom.
- Colossians 2:3 (verbal): Colossians says in Christ 'are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,' paralleling Eph.1:8's emphasis on God’s bestowal of wisdom and insight to believers.
- James 1:5 (thematic): James teaches that God gives wisdom generously to those who ask — thematically parallel to Eph.1:8's claim that God lavished wisdom and insight on believers.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 (thematic): Paul identifies Christ as 'our wisdom from God,' connecting the theme of divine wisdom given to believers found in Eph.1:8.
- Isaiah 11:2 (verbal): Isaiah lists 'wisdom and understanding' (or 'wisdom and insight') as gifts associated with God's spirit, echoing the pair of terms (σοφία καὶ φρόνησις) used in Eph.1:8.
Alternative generated candidates
- which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight,
- which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight.
Eph.1.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- γνωρισας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μυστηριον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεληματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- κατα: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ευδοκιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- προεθετο: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Colossians 1:26-27 (verbal): Uses the same key term 'mystery' and the idea of a previously hidden plan now revealed, centered on Christ and the inclusion of Gentiles—parallels 'the mystery of his will' made known.
- Colossians 2:2-3 (verbal): Speaks of 'the mystery of God, Christ,' and of treasures of wisdom hidden 'in him,' echoing Eph 1:9's language of a revealed mystery and its focus 'in him.'
- Romans 16:25-27 (verbal): Speaks of God 'now revealed' and the 'mystery' made known through prophetic writings and the obedience of faith—similar vocabulary of revelation and the unveiling of God's hidden purpose.
- Ephesians 3:9-11 (structural): Expands the same theme within Ephesians: the 'administration of the mystery' and God's eternal purpose revealed in Christ, explaining the goal and scope of the revelation mentioned in 1:9.
- 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (thematic): Speaks of God's 'secret wisdom' hidden and decreed before the ages—the theme of a divinely hidden plan now disclosed resonates with the 'mystery of his will' in Eph 1:9.
Alternative generated candidates
- making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose that he set forth in Christ,
- He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in him,
Eph.1.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εις: PREP
- οικονομιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πληρωματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- καιρων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- ανακεφαλαιωσασθαι: VERB,aor,mid,inf
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Χριστω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- επι: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- ουρανοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης·εν: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Colossians 1:20 (verbal): Speaks of God reconciling or summing up 'all things' in Christ, 'whether on earth or in heaven,' closely paralleling Eph 1:10's language of uniting everything in Christ.
- Ephesians 1:22-23 (structural): Within the same letter, God places all things under Christ's feet and gives him as head of the church, linking Christ's universal rule with the church as the fullness of him who fills all.
- Ephesians 4:10 (verbal): Uses similar language of Christ descending and ascending 'that he might fill all things,' echoing the cosmic scope and goal of Christ's work articulated in 1:10.
- 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 (thematic): Describes the eschatological culmination when Christ hands over the kingdom to God and God becomes 'all in all,' resonating with the theme of bringing all things together under Christ in the fullness of time.
- Philippians 2:10-11 (thematic): Depicts universal submission—'every knee' in heaven and on earth—reflecting the universal scope of Christ's rule and the reconciliation of heavenly and earthly realms implied in Eph 1:10.
Alternative generated candidates
- as a plan for the fullness of the ages, to unite all things in him—things in heaven and things on earth.
- as a plan for the fullness of time—to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth.
Eph.1.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- ω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εκληρωθημεν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,1,pl
- προορισθεντες: VERB,aor,pass,part,nom,pl,m
- κατα: PREP
- προθεσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- ενεργουντος: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,sg,m
- κατα: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- βουλην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεληματος: NOUN,gen,sg,neut
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Romans 8:28-30 (thematic): Links divine purpose and predestination: God works all things for those he foreknew, calling and predestining them to conformity with his purpose (echoes 'predestined' and 'the purpose of his will').
- Ephesians 1:4-5 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same hymn: speaks of being chosen and predestined to adoption and inheritance—same terminology and theological thrust as 1:11.
- Ephesians 1:9-10 (verbal): Explicitly presents God's revealed 'plan' and 'purpose' to unite all things in Christ, echoing 'according to the purpose of his will' and the idea of God's comprehensive ordering of events.
- Colossians 1:16-17 (thematic): Affirms Christ's sovereignty over creation and providential sustaining of all things—complements Eph 1:11's claim that God 'works all things' according to his will.
- 1 Corinthians 2:7 (allusion): Refers to God's 'hidden wisdom' predetermined before the ages—parallels the notion of divine foreordaining and the counsel/plan enacted by God's will.
Alternative generated candidates
- In him we have also obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of the one who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
- In him we have also obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of the one who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Eph.1.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- εις: PREP
- επαινον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- δοξης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- προηλπικοτας: PART,aor,act,acc,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Χριστω·: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Ephesians 1:6 (verbal): Uses the same purpose formula 'to the praise of (his) glory/grace'—verbal parallel emphasizing God’s praise as the goal of salvation.
- Ephesians 1:11 (verbal): Repeats the phrase 'to the praise of his glory,' linking God's sovereign plan (inheritance) with the doxological purpose stated in 1:12.
- Ephesians 1:14 (verbal): Again declares believers 'to the praise of his glory'—the Spirit's role as guarantee is tied to the same doxological end.
- Colossians 1:27 (thematic): Speaks of 'Christ in you, the hope of glory,' connecting the motif of Christian hope with the future revelation of God's glory present in Eph.1:12.
- Romans 5:2 (thematic): Paulic language of rejoicing 'in hope of the glory of God' parallels Eph.1:12’s link between believers’ hope in Christ and the manifestation of God's glory (and resulting praise).
Alternative generated candidates
- so that we who first hoped in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
- so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
Eph.1.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- ω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- ακουσαντες: PTCP,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αληθειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ευαγγελιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- σωτηριας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- εν: PREP
- ω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- πιστευσαντες: PART,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- εσφραγισθητε: VERB,aor,pass,ind,2,pl
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- επαγγελιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- αγιω: ADJ,dat,sg,n
Parallels
- 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (verbal): Uses the same language of God ‘establishing,’ ‘anointing,’ and ‘sealing’ believers with the Spirit as a pledge—close verbal and theological parallel to being sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
- Ephesians 1:14 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same letter that identifies the Spirit as the 'guarantee/earnest' of our inheritance, completing the thought begun in 1:13 about sealing by the Spirit.
- Acts 10:44-47 (thematic): Peter’s account where Gentiles hear the word, believe, and then receive the Holy Spirit—mirrors the pattern in 1:13 of hearing the word, believing the gospel, and being sealed with the Spirit.
- Galatians 3:2 (verbal): Paul asks whether the Galatians received the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing and faith—explicitly linking reception of the Spirit to hearing the message and believing, as in 1:13.
- Romans 8:16 (thematic): Describes the Spirit’s role in assuring believers’ identity (testifying that we are God’s children), which corresponds to the sealing function and assurance implied in being sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
Alternative generated candidates
- In him you also, when you heard the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
- In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Eph.1.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αρραβων: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- κληρονομιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- εις: PREP
- απολυτρωσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- περιποιησεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- επαινον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- δοξης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- 2 Corinthians 1:22 (verbal): Uses ἀρραβών (guarantee/pledge) and the Spirit language—God has sealed believers and given the Spirit as a guarantee of the inheritance, a direct verbal parallel.
- 2 Corinthians 5:5 (verbal): Speaks of God giving the Spirit as an ἀρραβών (guarantee) who prepares us for the redemption to come—same technical term and theological function.
- Ephesians 4:30 (structural): In the same letter Paul says believers are sealed by the Spirit for the day of redemption—connects sealing by the Spirit, the redemption motif, and the eschatological purpose already attributed to the Spirit in 1:14.
- Romans 8:23 (thematic): Speaks of believers who have the 'firstfruits of the Spirit' and who await the redemption of our bodies—relates the Spirit’s present possession/pledge (firstfruits/earnest) to the future redemption and inheritance motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- who is the guarantee of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.
- who is a guarantee of our inheritance, a down payment for the redemption of God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
For he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love.
He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and discernment.
He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ,
as a plan for the fullness of the times—to unite all things in him, the things in heaven and the things on earth.
In him we have also obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of the one who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
so that we who first hoped in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—and believed, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the guarantee of our inheritance, the earnest of our redemption, to the praise of his glory.