Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 1:12

"to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:" — Ephesians 1:12 (ASV)

So far, what Paul has written applies to Jews and Gentiles alike, united in the one body of Christ. Now he refers in turn to one class (v.12) and then to the other (vv.13–14). The “first to hope [GK 4598] in Christ” (lit., “the Christ” or “the Messiah”) were Jews who recognized Jesus as their Messiah prior to the conversion of the Gentiles. This expectation of God’s coming deliverer was distinctive to the Jews; the Gentiles had not entertained any such prospect (2:12). Paul earlier showed that the adoption of Christians as God’s children furthers the praise of his glorious grace (v.6). Here he says that their participation in the divine inheritance will have a similar effect. The “glory,” or revealed character, of God will shine out through them and evoke praise from the whole universe (3:10).