Ephesians 1:12

12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:12 in Other Translations

KJV
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
ESV
12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
NLT
12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.
MSG
12 part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
CSB
12 so that we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.

Ephesians 1:12 Meaning and Commentary

Ephesians 1:12

That we should be to the praise of his glory
This is the end of predestination to the inheritance; and the sense is, either that the praise of the glory of God, in his grace and goodness, might be discovered and made known unto the saints, as it is displayed in election, redemption, justification, pardon, adoption, regeneration, and eternal salvation; or that they should praise and glorify him on account of these things, by ascribing all to his grace, and nothing to themselves; by giving him thanks for all his benefits; by ordering their conversations aright as become the Gospel; and by doing all things with a view to his glory:

who first trusted in Christ;
the Jews, the apostle, and others of the Jewish nation;

who before hoped in Christ,
as the words may be rendered; who hoped in Christ before the Gentiles did; and indeed the people of Israel hoped for Christ before he came; the promises of the Messiah were made to them, and he was the peculiar hope and expectation of that people; and to them he first came, and to them the Gospel was first preached; and some of them first believed in Christ, and trusted in him, and not in their own righteousness, strength, wisdom, and riches, nor in their own hearts, nor in any mere creature, nor in their carnal privileges; all which they renounced confidence in, and dependence on, when they came to the knowledge of Christ; in whose person they trusted for acceptance, and in his righteousness for justification, and in his blood for pardon, and in his fulness for supply, and in his power for protection and perseverance: this supposes knowledge of him, and a sense of the frailty and vanity of all other objects; and was a betaking themselves to him, a leaning and staying on him, a committing all unto him, and an expectation of all good things from him.

Ephesians 1:12 In-Context

10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Cross References 1

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