Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 1:14

"which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of [God`s] own possession, unto the praise of his glory." — Ephesians 1:14 (ASV)

Paul adds a further analogy: The Holy Spirit is a “deposit” (GK 775; cf. 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5). This word is borrowed from the commercial world and means a deposit or first installment in hire purchase. It is a token payment assuring the vendor that the full amount will eventually follow. Paul regards the Holy Spirit as the first installment of the Christian’s inheritance. At the end of the age God will redeem his pledge and open the treasuries of heaven to all who are his in Christ. Meanwhile, the Spirit gives us the assurance that these things will one day be ours.