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More Than A Run On Sentence
Posted : 16 Nov, 2010 11:50 AM
In the original Greek, the entirety of Ephesians 1:3-14 is one really long sentence (202 words!). English translations break it up into several sentences for the sake of readability. However, it is far more than a run on sentence. Both grammatically elegant and theologically rich, this sentence is perhaps the greatest doxology ever penned.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephes. 1:3-14)
The theme of the sentence is praise to God for our salvation. The theme of praise is indicated by the opening phrase �Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ�, and the repeated phrase �to the praise of His glory� (vv. 6, 12, 14). The entirety of salvation is here described as �every spiritual blessing� (v.3) and it is traced from God�s election to our possession. The structure of the sentence is distinctly Trinitarian; the praise is to one God who is three divine Persons. Observe that the Father (vv.3-6), the Son (vv.7-12), and the Holy Spirit (vv.13, 14) are each praised for their unique work in our salvation.
Praise to God the Father (3-6)
*He has chosen us (4)
*He has predestined us (5)
*He has blessed us (6)
Praise to God the Son (7-12)
*He has redeemed us (7)
*He has made His will known to us (9)
*He has obtained an inheritance for us (11)
Praise to God the Spirit (13, 14)
*He has sealed us (13)
*He guarantees our inheritance (14)
�Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God� (Revelation 19:1).
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