The life and work of St. Paul

THE EPISTLE TO "THE EPHESIAN8." 637
will, and to one end, the gathering up of all things in Christ. 1 But however
desirable the minute investigation is, after the road has been travelled
frequently, the reader must allow the Apostle to carry him along at his
own speed on his own wings, if he would know anything of the height from
*
which he is descending and to which he is returning."
After his usual salutation to the saints that are in (perhaps leaving a
blank to be filled up by Tychicus at the places to which he carried a copy of
the letter), he breaks into the rapturous sentence which is "not only the
exordium of the letter, but also the enunciation of its design."
" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with
all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ, even as He chose us out in Him
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before
Him, in love ; fore-ordaining us to adoption by Jesus Christ into Himself, according
to the good pleasure of His will, for th praise of the glory of His grace wherewith
He graced us in the beloved."*
This leads him to a passage in which the work of the Son in this great
fore-ordained plan is mainly predominant.
" In whom we have our redemption through His blood, the remission of transgressions,
according to the wealth of His grace, wherewith He abounded towards
us, in all wisdom and discernment, making known to us the mystery of His will,
according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, with a view to the
dispensation of the fulness of the seasons to sum up all things in Christ, both the
things in the heavens and the things on the earth in Him. In whom we also were
made an inheritance, being fore-ordained according to the purpose of Him who
worketh all things according to the counsel of His will, that we should be to tht
praise of His glory who have before hoped in Christ." 4
This repetition of the phrase " to the praise of His glory," introduces the
work of the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity.
" In whom (Christ) ye also " (as well as the Jewish Christians who previously
had hoped in Christ) " on hearing the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation,
in whom (I say), believing, ye too were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who
is the earnest of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of the purchased
possession unto the praise of His glory."*
Since, therefore, it is the fixed ordinance, from all eternity, of the Blessed
God, that man should be adopted through the redemption of Christ to the
praise of the glory of the Eternal Trinity, and should receive the seal of the
1 The Epistle may be thus briefly summarised : Salutation (i. 1, 2). Thanksgiving
for the election of the Church, and the unity wrought by Christ's redemption and calling
of both Jews and Gentiles (i. 3 14). Prayer for their growth into the full knowledge of
Christ (15 23). Unity of mankind in the heavenlies in Christ (ii. 1 22). Fuller explanation
of the mystery, with prayer for the full comprehension of it, and doxology
(iii. 1 21). Exhortation to live worthily of the ideal unity of the Catholic Church in
love (iv. 1 16). Exhortation to the practical duties of the new life, in the conquest
over sin (iv. 17 v. 21), and in social relations (v. 22 vi. 9). The armour of God
(vi. 1017). Final requests and farewell (vi. 1024).
8 Unity of the New Testament, p. 525. See Excursus XXV., "Phraseology and Doctrines
of the Epistle to the Ephesians. "
3 i. 3 6. Notice the marvellous compression aiid exhaustive fulness of this great
outline of theology.
4 i. 7_ 12>
* L 13, 14.