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Ephesians 1:4

in Ephesians 1

For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:

KJV

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

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This verse in Ephesians 1

Commentary

4 notes on this verse

A commentator

Jerome

Commentary on Ephesians 1:4 · Written before 420.

Between saintly and unblemished there is this difference, that one who is saintly is ipso facto understood also to be unblemished, but one who is at some point unblemished is not by that fact itself saintly. Infants, after all, are spotless because their bodies are pure and they have committed no sin; and yet they are not saintly, because sanctity is not acquired without will and effort. Moreover, he who has done no sin can be called unblemished, but the saintly person is the one who is full of virtues.

This site's exposition

he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world

on Ephesians 1:4-5

Chosen us in him before the foundation of the world and predestinated us unto the adoption of children read two ways among the letter's own heirs: Calvin and the Reformed line take election of particular persons to salvation, unconditional and eternal, while Wesley and the Arminian line read a corporate election in the Beloved, of all who by foreseen faith are found in him. Both readings anchor the choice in Christ rather than in the person chosen apart from him, in him standing at the head of both verses. The end named is holy and without blame before him in love, a character given as the goal whichever reading a reader holds.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
According as he hath chosen us in him,.... This choice cannot be understood of a national one, as Israel of old were chosen by the Lord; for the persons the apostle writes to were not a nation; nor does he address all the inhabitants of Ephesus, only the saints and faithful in Christ that resided there; nor are they all intended here, if any of them.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

According as he hath chosen us in him - As he has decreed from the beginning of the world, and has kept in view from the commencement of the religious system of the Jews, (which the phrase sometimes means), to bring us Gentiles to the knowledge of this glorious state of salvation by Christ Jesus. The Jews considered themselves an elect or chosen people, and wished to monopolize the whole of the Divine love and beneficence.

The words behind it

17 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

2 Timothy 1:9He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.127 worksRevelation 13:8And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.116 worksRomans 8:28–30And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.90 worksIsaiah 44:2This is the word of the LORD, your Maker, who formed you from the womb and who will help you: “Do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.74 worksEphesians 2:10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.73 worksMatthew 25:34Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.61 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Peter 2:9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.43 worksJames 2:5Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?42 worksJohn 15:16You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.40 works1 Peter 1:20He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.35 works1 Peter 1:2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.33 worksColossians 3:12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.29 worksTitus 1:1–2Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness,27 works2 Thessalonians 2:13–14But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.24 worksEphesians 5:27and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.23 worksPsalms 65:4Blessed is the one You choose and bring near to dwell in Your courts! We are filled with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple.22 worksColossians 1:22But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—21 worksJohn 17:24Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.20 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Ephesians 2:10

    For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

    it leads to

    • Philippians 2:13

      For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

    • Colossians 1:10

      so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

    • Hebrews 13:21

      equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

    • 2 Corinthians 5:17

      Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

    • 2 Corinthians 9:8

      And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

  • Through

    1 Peter 2:9

    But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

    it leads to

    • Exodus 19:5–6

      Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.

    • Deuteronomy 7:6

      For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of…

    • Revelation 1:6

      who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

Where this verse is studied

About Ephesians

The Ascension — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
The Ascension — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
Ephesians: the study guide →Read Ephesians 1 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ephesians 1:4; John Calvin, Commentary on Ephesians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament.

Read on in Ephesians 1 →