Ephesians 1:12 kjv

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Ephesians 1:12 nkjv

that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:12 niv

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 esv

so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:12 nlt

God's purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.

Ephesians 1 verses

Ephesians 1 12 Meaning

Ephesians 1:12 declares the ultimate purpose of God's grand plan of redemption through Jesus Christ: that we, specifically referring to those who were the initial recipients of faith and hope in Christ (understood to be Jewish believers), should exist for the praise of His glory. This verse highlights that God's work in His elect is not for their own sake alone, but to magnify and demonstrate His magnificent character, power, and nature. It signifies that our redemption and divine calling serve as a living testament to God's excellence, eliciting adoration and worship from all creation.

Ephesians 1 12 Context

Ephesians 1:12 is embedded within Paul's grand opening salutation and doxology (Eph 1:3-14), where he pours forth an extensive expression of praise to God for the spiritual blessings bestowed upon believers in Christ. This section beautifully outlines the triune God's coordinated work in salvation: the Father's predestining love (Eph 1:3-6), the Son's redemptive work (Eph 1:7-10), and the Holy Spirit's sealing and guaranteeing work (Eph 1:11-14).

Verse 11 establishes that believers have been made an "inheritance" (or obtained an inheritance) in Christ, having been predestined according to God's purpose. Verse 12 then specifies the purpose of this predestination and inheritance, stating it is "to the praise of His glory." The phrase "who were the first to hope in Christ" (verse 12) marks a distinction from "you also" (verse 13), where "we" (the first) typically refers to Jewish believers who first received the Gospel, fulfilling God's promises to Israel. This initial group serves as pioneers or early witnesses, demonstrating God's faithfulness, paving the way for the Gentile believers ("you also" in v. 13) to come into the inheritance. Historically, Christianity emerged from Judaism, and Paul often emphasizes this divine order: "to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom 1:16).

Ephesians 1 12 Word analysis

• to the praise: (εἰς ἔπαινον, eis epainon) This prepositional phrase indicates purpose or result. The Greek term epainos denotes commendation, praise, approval, or glory given in word or action. It suggests that God's work in us is intended to bring forth a declaration of His worth and excellency. This isn't for God's deficiency but for the manifestation of His inherent perfections.
• of his glory: (τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ, tēs doxēs autou) Doxa (glory) in the biblical sense signifies God's divine majesty, radiant splendor, intrinsic worth, and perfect attributes made manifest. It's His weighty presence, His true character revealed. The goal of redemption is to showcase this divine splendor through the lives and ultimate salvation of His chosen people. This concept is deeply rooted in the Old Testament kavod, God's heavy and weighty presence or reputation.
• who were the first to hope: (τοὺς προηλπικότας, tous proelpkikotas) This is a critical phrase.
  • pro- (prefix): signifies "before" or "first."
  • elpikotas: perfect active participle of elpizo, meaning "to hope" or "to trust." The perfect tense implies a past action with continuing results or a state of having hoped which endures.
  • The combined phrase strongly points to a group that preceded others in placing their hope or trust in Christ. This distinction is commonly understood to refer to Jewish believers, who historically were the initial recipients of the messianic hope and first embraced Jesus as the Messiah, laying the foundation before the widespread conversion of Gentiles.
• in Christ: (ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ, en tō Christō) This is a foundational Pauline phrase, appearing frequently throughout Ephesians. It defines the sphere, union, and source of all spiritual blessings. Our hope, our identity, our salvation, and our very purpose are all found and realized in spiritual union with Christ. It is through Christ that God's plan unfolds and His glory is revealed.

Ephesians 1 12 Bonus section

The "we" (Jewish believers) in Ephesians 1:12 serves as a pivotal bridge to the "you also" (Gentile believers) in Ephesians 1:13. This structuring highlights Paul's consistent emphasis on the unity of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, which is a major theme of the letter to the Ephesians. The fact that Jewish believers were the "first to hope" signifies God's adherence to His covenant with Israel and illustrates His method of working, often starting with a smaller group or nation before expanding His salvation universally. This divine order showcases not favoritism, but God's historical plan of revelation and redemption unfolding through distinct phases, culminating in one unified body in Christ. This early hope in Christ by Jewish believers formed the initial community of faith, setting a pattern for how God reveals His glory through those He calls and transforms, whether Jew or Gentile.

Ephesians 1 12 Commentary

Ephesians 1:12 encapsulates the teleological (purpose-driven) aspect of divine redemption. It declares that the grand design of God's salvation plan, specifically evidenced in those who first responded to Christ's call (Jewish believers), has a supreme purpose: the resounding praise of His magnificent glory. God orchestrates salvation not primarily for the benefit of the redeemed, though that is an immeasurable gift, but as a demonstration of His own inherent splendor and perfection.

The "first to hope in Christ" represents the initial, pioneering group, likely referring to the Jewish people who, having received the prophetic promises, were the first to acknowledge Jesus as the fulfillment of those hopes. Their conversion was a pivotal moment, affirming God's faithfulness to His covenant and establishing a nucleus for the emerging Church. Their faith served as a testament, making visible God's redemptive power and purpose. Their existence and transformation become a living doxology, echoing the refrain found repeatedly in this chapter: "to the praise of His glory."

This verse thus reminds us that our spiritual journey, our redemption, and our calling are ultimately not self-centered, but God-centered. We are not merely saved from something, but saved for something: to showcase God's greatness. Every aspect of our life in Christ—our adoption, redemption, forgiveness, and ultimate inheritance—serves to illuminate and extol the boundless glory of God.