Ephesians 1 Footnotes

1:11 Paul did not claim humans have no self-determining freewill. As Rm 9 indicates, God is able to use even sinful human choices for his purposes. But the point here is that whatever God does for those in Christ, he does according to a carefully orchestrated plan for their benefit.

1:19-20 In Asia Minor many lived in dread of malignant spiritual beings and powers who dominated their lives. Paul prayed his readers would have an experiential knowledge—the realization and confidence that as believers in Christ they possessed divine power. Christians need not cower in fear of evil spiritual powers.

1:22-23 Paul asserted that Christ fills the church, his body, with his presence and power (see 3:19). No human institution has greater potential power to effect good than Christ’s church.