Ephesians 1:12
in Ephesians 1in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:
KJV
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
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This verse in Ephesians 1
Commentary
16 notes on this verseBut then how can opposites be gathered together into him by whom they are in short destroyed? Again, what Christ do the following words announce, when the apostle says: "That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ? " Now who could have first trusted-i.e. previously trusted -in God, before His advent, except the Jews to whom Christ was previously announced, from the beginning? He who was thus foretold, was also foretrusted.
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.
This site's exposition
the first to hope in Christ
Proelpizo means to hope beforehand, and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown apply it to Jews who looked for the Messiah before his coming. Tertullian agrees, since only Israel had Christ announced from the beginning. Barnes offers a second reading, Paul and his fellow workers, who believed first.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
What he means is that God first allotted the task of preaching to those believers in Christ who were from a Jewish background. Therefore no one of Gentile background was chosen to be an apostle. It was fitting that the first preachers should be chosen …
First the believer is enabled to hope in Christ, that is, follow Christ and believe that all Christ's promises can be fulfilled. Only then will the consequence be that he will live for the praise of the glory of God.
"To the end that we should be unto the praise of His glory, we who had before hoped in Christ. In whom ye also having heard the word of the truth, the Gospel of your salvation." That is to say, through whom. Observe how he on all occasions speaks of Christ, as the Author of all things, and in no case gives Him the title of a subordinate agent, or a minister. And so again, elsewhere, in his Epistle to the Hebrews, he says, "that God, having of old time spoken unto the Fathers in the prophets, hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in His Son," (Heb. I: I.) that is "through" His Son. "The word of truth," he says, no longer that of the type, nor of the image. "The Gospel of your salvation." And well does he call it the Gospel of salvation, intimating in the one word a contrast to the law, in the other, a contrast with punishment to come. For what is the message, but the Gospel of salvation, which forbears to destroy those that are worthy of destruction.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Finally, he briefly mentions the end of one's predestination and vocation, namely, the praise of God. Thus he states that we may be unto the praise of his glory, we who before hoped in Christ. Through us, who believe in Christ, the glory of God …
So that, he says, we might be to the praise of His glory – we who first hoped in Christ, that is, who believed in Christ and, before the coming of the future age, hope in the future blessings prepared for us. For the glory …
8 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Who first believed - Before the gentiles. So did some of them in every place. Here is another branch of the true gospel predestination: he that believes is not only elected to salvation, (if he endures to the end,) but is fore-appointed of God to walk in holiness, to the praise of his glory.
), that is, that we should live and behave ourselves in such a manner that his rich grace might be magnified, and appear glorious, and worthy of the highest praise. All is of God, and from him, and through him, and therefore all must be to him, and centre in his praise. Note, The glory of God is his own end, and it should be ours in all that we do.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
That we should be to the praise of his glory,....
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
IT appears from the preceding verse that the predestinating purpose of God deals not only with salvation as a whole, but with the details of it—it includes faith as well as salvation which comes of faith. "Being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will, that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ." The trust is appointed as well as the justification—the means as well as the end.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
(Eph 1:6, 14). who first trusted in Christ--rather (we Jewish Christians), "who have before hoped in the Christ": who before the Christ came, looked forward to His coming, waiting for the consolation of Israel.
IT appears from the preceding verse that the predestinating purpose of God deals not only with salvation as a whole, but with the details of it—it includes faith as well as salvation which comes of faith. "Being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will, that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ." The trust is appointed as well as the justification—the means as well as the end. We are not ordained to be saved apart from faith, but those who are predestinated to eternal life are ordained to receive it through faith in Christ Jesus. What God has joined together let no man put asunder. Beloved Friends, I would have you notice in this verse the remarkable object which is set before us as the grand design of predestinating Grace. Observe the singular expression of the Apostle—"That we should be to the praise of His glory." Observe that He does not say, that we should sing to the praise of our glorious God, though we will do that. Nor that we should suffer to His praise, though we would not refuse to do that. Nor that we should work to His praise, though by Grace we will do that—but—"that we should be to the praise of His glory." The very being of a Believer is to the praise and glory of God! It is written, "Whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." But this is still more comprehensive—you are to be to His glory—your very existence is to praise Him.
That we - Jews, now apostles and messengers of God, to whom the first offers of salvation were made, and who were the first that believed in Christ. Should be to the praise of his glory - By being the means of preaching Christ crucified to the Gentiles, and spreading the Gospel throughout the world.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
That we should be to the praise of his glory - Should be the occasion or the means of celebrating his glory; or that praise should be ascribed to him as the result of our salvation. Who first trusted in Christ - Margin, “hoped.” This is in accordance with the original. The foundation of their “hope” was the Saviour. Some suppose that the apostle here refers to the Jews who were converted before the gospel was preached extensively to the Gentiles. The reason for this opinion is, that in the following verse he contrasts those to whom he here refers with others whom he was addressing. But it may be that by the word “we” in Eph 1:11-12, he refers to himself and to his fellow-laborers who had “first” hoped in the Saviour, and had then gone and proclaimed the message to others; see the notes on Eph 1:11. They “first” believed, and then preached to others; and they also believed, and became partakers of the same privileges.
The words behind it
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰς | eis | for | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εἶναι | einai | to be | G1511 → | 123 times |
| ἡμᾶς | hemas | us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| ἔπαινον | epainon | [the] praise | G1868 → | 11 times |
| δόξης | doxes | glory | G1391 → | 165 times |
| αὐτοῦ, | autou | of Him, | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the [ones] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προηλπικότας | proelpikotas | having first trusted | G4276 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Χριστῷ· | christo | Christ; | G5547 → | 523 times |
εἰςfor
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
εἶναιto be
einaiG1511 →123 times
ἡμᾶςus
hemasG3165 →1936 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
ἔπαινον[the] praise
epainonG1868 →11 times
δόξηςglory
doxesG1391 →165 times
αὐτοῦ,of Him,
autouG846 →5565 times
τοὺςthe [ones]
tousG3588 →19766 times
προηλπικόταςhaving first trusted
proelpikotasG4276 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
Χριστῷ·Christ;
christoG5547 →523 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
Isaiah 12:2Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. For the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He also has become my salvation.”
it leads to
- Exodus 15:2
The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
- Psalms 118:14
The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.
- Psalms 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?
- Revelation 7:10
And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
- Isaiah 26:3–4
You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
- Exodus 15:2
Through
Ephesians 1:6to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
it leads to
- Romans 3:22–26
And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,
- Colossians 1:13
He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,
- Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 3:22–26
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies12
About Ephesians
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.12; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1978: “Untitled Sermon” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.1.12; 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; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Ephesians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.