Ephesians 1:11
in Ephesians 1In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will;
KJV
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
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This verse in Ephesians 1
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance - We who are Christians. Most commentators suppose that by the word “we” the Jews particularly are intended, and that it stands in contradistinction from “ye,” as referring to the Gentiles, in Eph 1:13. This construction, they suppose is demanded by the nature of the passage. The meaning may then be, that the Jews who were believers had “first” obtained a part in the plan of redemption, as the offer was first made to them, and then that the same favor was conferred also on the Gentiles.
This site's exposition
having been predestined according to the plan
on Ephesians 1:11-12
The we of verse 12, who were the first to hope in Christ, renders hoi proelpikotes. Verse 13 turns to you, a shift many read as Jewish believers and Gentile readers.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Paul earnestly endeavors on all occasions to display the unspeakable loving-kindness of God towards us, to the utmost of his power. For that it is impossible to do so adequately, hear his own words. "O! the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God; how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past tracing out." (Rom. xi: 33.) Still, notwithstanding, so far as it is possible, he does display it. What then is this which he is saying; "In whom also we were made a heritage, being predestinated?" Above he used the word, "He chose us;" here he saith, "we were made a heritage." But inasmuch as a lot is a matter of chance, not of deliberate choice, nor of virtue, (for it is closely allied to ignorance and accident, and oftentimes passing over the virtuous, brings forward the worthless into notice,) observe how he corrects this very point: "having been foreordained," saith he, "according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things." That is to say, not merely have we been made a heritage, as, again, we have not merely been chosen, (for it is God who chooses,) and so neither have we merely been allotted, (for it is God who allots,) but it is "according to a purpose." This is what he says also in the Epistle to the Romans, (Rom. viii: 28-30.) "To them that are called according to His purpose;" and "whom He called, them He also justified, and whom He justified, them he also glorified." Having first used the expression, "to them that are called according to a purpose," and at the same time wishing to declare their privilege compared with the rest of mankind, he speaks also of inheritance by lot, yet so as not to divest them of free will. That point then, which more properly belongs to happy fortune, is the very point he insists upon. For this inheritance by lot depends not on virtue, but, as one might say, on fortuitous circumstances. […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
Previously the Apostle wrote of how he and the other Apostles received an abundance of grace from Christ (1:8). Lest anyone imagine they had it coming to them the Apostle quickly affirms that they were called by God gratuitously, not for their personal merits. This …
Having said above "He chose," he now says again: "we have obtained an inheritance" in Christ, that is, through Christ. But since an inheritance is a matter of chance, and not of virtue and choice, he corrects this very thing by saying: "being predestined according …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Christians are said to have obtained this inheritance, as they have a present right to it, and even actual possession of it, in Christ their head and representative. The seal and earnest of the Spirit are of the number of these blessings. We are said to be sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,
), who powerfully accomplishes whatever concerns his elect, as he has wisely and freely fore-ordained and decreed, the last and great end and design of all which is his own glory: To the praise of the glory of his grace (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Compare Eph 1:18, "His inheritance in the saints": as His inheritance is there said to be in them, so theirs is here said to be in Him (Ac 26:18). However, Eph 1:12, "That we should BE TO . . . His glory" (not "that we should have"), favors the translation of BENGEL, ELLICOTT, and others, "We were made an inheritance." So the literal Israel (De 4:20;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
In whom - Christ Jesus; also we - believing Jews have obtained an inheritance - what was promised to Abraham and his spiritual seed, viz. the adoption of sons, and the kingdom of heaven, signified by the privileges under the Mosaic dispensation, and the possession of the promised land, but all these privileges being forfeited by the rebellion and unbelief of the Jews, they are now about to be finally cut off, and the believing part to be re-elected, and put in possession of the blessings promised to Abraham and his spiritual seed, by faith; for without a re-election, they cannot get possession of these spiritual privileges. Being predestinated - God having determined to bring both Jews and Gentiles to salvation, not by works, nor by any human means or schemes, but by Jesus Christ; that salvation being defined and determined before in the Divine mind, and the means by which it should be brought about all being according to his purpose, who consults not his creatures, but operates according to the counsel of his own will, that being ever wise, gracious, and good. The original reference is still kept up here in the word προορισθεντες, being predestinated, as in the word προορισας Eph 1:5. And as the apostle speaks of obtaining the inheritance, he most evidently refers to that of which the promised land was the type and pledge. And as that land was assigned to the Israelites by limit and lot, both of which were appointed by God so the salvation now sent to the Gentiles was as expressly their lot or portion, as the promised land was that of the people of Israel. […]
The words behind it
17 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ᾧ | ho | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐκληρώθημεν | eklerothemen | we have obtained an inheritance | G2820 → | |
| προορισθέντες | prooristhentes | having been predestined | G4309 → | |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| πρόθεσιν | prothesin | [the] purpose | G4286 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | of the [One] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τὰ | ta | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πάντα | panta | all things | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ἐνεργοῦντος | energountos | working | G1754 → | 21 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| βουλὴν | boulen | counsel | G1012 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θελήματος | thelematos | will | G2307 → | 62 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ᾧwhom
hoG3739 →1405 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐκληρώθημενwe have obtained an inheritance
eklerothemenG2820 →
προορισθέντεςhaving been predestined
prooristhentesG4309 →
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
πρόθεσιν[the] purpose
prothesinG4286 →
τοῦof the [One]
touG3588 →19766 times
τὰ<the>
taG3588 →19766 times
πάνταall things
pantaG3956 →1235 times
ἐνεργοῦντοςworking
energountosG1754 →21 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
βουλὴνcounsel
boulenG1012 →
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
θελήματοςwill
thelematosG2307 →62 times
αὐτοῦof Him
autouG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Romans 8:28And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- Genesis 50:20
As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.
- Romans 5:3–5
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
- 1 Peter 5:10
Through
Ephesians 1:14who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 1:22
placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.
- 2 Corinthians 5:5
And God has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.
- Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- 2 Corinthians 1:22
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies12
On this verse
About Ephesians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 2; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Ephesians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.