What Is to the Praise of God’s Glory?

con·stel·la·tion

/ˌkänstəˈlāSH(ə)n/

“a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern … a group or cluster of related things.” (Oxford)

As we explore the meaning of ‘in Christ,’ we discover a cluster of related references in Ephesians 1—at least nine—that form a group of rich, theological ‘stars’ forming a recognizable pattern.

How do these ‘stars’ relate to each other, and what do they mean?

Some significance of constellations

For millennia, constellations have given direction, signaled time, and inspired wonder.

Direction: Navigators have depended on constellations such as Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper) and its brightest star, Polaris (the North Star), to guide them to their destination.

Time: The stars also “serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years” (Genesis 1:14).

Wonder: Away from the city’s lights on a clear night, have you ever been filled with wonder at the sight of thousands of stars? David puts it this way (Psalm 19:1):        

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

However, we must recognize the arrangement of the stars in a constellation for the most significant benefit.

Form and function 

Discerning the arrangement or structure of a biblical text will show its function or purpose.

At this point, I encourage you to click this link to download the text of Ephesians 1:3-14. It is an MS Word document, so you can print and write on it or use it digitally. I have provided you with the NASB because of the literal nature of its translation.

Let’s begin with the typical structure of a New Testament (NT) epistle or letter.

Structure of a NT letter:

The letter or epistle to the Ephesian Christians follows a recognized structure for its time. Generally, an ancient Greek or Roman epistle had the following sections:

• Opening
• Thanksgiving
• Body
• Exhortations
• Closing

Each of these sections can be further divided into subsections. In the download, you will notice that I have indicated the three subsections of the ‘opening’ into sender, addressee, and greetings.  

Similarly, the ‘thanksgiving’ can often be split into a ‘thanksgiving’ and a ‘prayer.’ In Ephesians, the ‘thanksgiving’ is 1:3-14 and the ‘prayer’ is 1:15-23.

Structure of this Thanksgiving section:

Many Bible scholars confirm that the Thanksgiving section “introduces ‘the vital theme of the letter’ or the ‘epistolary’ situation.” [1] So, careful attention to this section is necessary, or we will miss the clues that foreshadow the letter’s message.  

In Greek, 1:3-14 is one long sentence of 203 words. Early manuscripts had little or no punctuation and often no spaces between words. That saved space on valuable parchments, but it can make reading a challenge. Helpfully, the writers usually provided guidance through the text’s structure (e.g., chiasms, etc.) and literary markers (i.e., a repeated or similar phrase).

In 1:3-14, Paul strategically repeated a similar phrase in three places. Before you move on, can you identify this repeated phrase?

Did you discover the repetition of “the praise of the/his glory”? Mark these three occurrences in the downloaded text. This recurring phrase concludes each of the three subsections in verses 6, 12, and 14. How does this help us?  

Some observations

Here are three significant observations based on the subdivisions we identified.

1. The first of these observations is that each section focuses on the Father, the Son, or the Spirit—it is Trinitarian in scope.

2. The second is temporal—the emphasis on time (past, present, and future). This is not to say that the Father, Son, and Spirit only act within the past, present, or future (respectively). They each continue their work in grace at all times in complete harmony and purpose.

In this section, Paul appears to be highlighting:

• the Father’s actions in the past, with their present and future import;
• the Son’s actions in the present, which have both the past and future in view; and
• the Spirit, whose activities in the past and present have future ramifications.

3. The third observation is the triune God’s overarching purpose, which (I suggest) is to “the praise of his glory.”

In simple terms, our observations look like this:         These preliminary insights will help us understand more fully what God is saying to us in Ephesians 1:3-14 and beyond.

Where to from here?

Identify and mark each reference to ‘in Christ’ and its equivalent in the downloaded text. Make a preliminary note of what each of these occurrences is related to. For instance, ‘in Him’ in verse 4 is related to “chosen in Him before the creation of the world.”

In future posts, we will explore some of the rich significance and life-shaping relevance of each of these essential issues, including:

• “every spiritual blessing,”
• being chosen or elected,
• predestined to adoption as sons,
• redemption,
• God’s intention for us,
• our inheritance,
• and more.

Let’s grow together in understanding the ‘constellation’ of blessings in Ephesians 1:3-14. Each of these nine or so ‘stars’ make up a cluster that gifts us with:

• direction for living,
• orientation to our past, present, and future, and
• substance for wonder and worship.

Please feel free to contact me using this link.

BACK TO What Does ‘in Christ’ Mean?

Notes:

[1]        Ralph P. Martin, “Approaches to New Testament Exegesis,” in New Testament Interpretation, ed. I Howard Marshall (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1977), 233.