Ephesians 1:6

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Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (KJV)

Verses three through six are more than an introduction and a reminder to the Ephesians, they are the foundation of the Good News of Jesus’ Kingdom. Use 2 Corinthians 5:21 as a reference and comparison.

For study purposes, I suggest you compare verse, 1:6, in both websites. I listed five words that deserve your attention, so spend some with them and let them in.

  • Praise, epainon G1868.
  • Glory, doxes G1391. Paul will use this word many times in his writings.
  • Grace, charitos G5485. Let this word, thought, and gift to us from the Father settle into you as a foundation, so it can steady you as you soar into the heavenlies.
  • Freely given, echaritosen (charitoo) G5487. This is a Christmas connection word. The angel Gabriel said this to Mary in the Book of Luke. Take a Muse Moment here and reflect on how important you are to the Father. Charitoo is used only twice in the New Testament.
  • Beloved, egapemeno G25.

Use the links below to explore all of the words in the passage in Ephesians.

Ephesians 1 MOUNCE – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the – Bible Gateway

Ephesians 1 Interlinear Bible (biblehub.com)

Ephesians 1:5

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Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (KJV)

There is a lot of theology and comfort in this small verse that is repeated in other places in Paul’s writings. I have to wonder if he heard and saw this in his visit to heaven. Now on an earthlier note, please look back a 1:4 and reread about pro and kata.  

  • Predestinated G4309, proorizo. Ordain beforehand is a good definition. It is used 6 times: Acts 4:28 is the prayer that shook the house. Romans 8:29 +30, 1 Corinthians 2:7, and Ephesians 1:11 complete the verses it is used in. It seems He has been looking out for us for a long time and thought about what He wants us to do.
  • Adoption G5206, hyiothesia. Paul is the only writer to use this concept, it is in Romans and Galatians. It is used 5 times. I have to wonder if it was to reinforce the idea that Gentiles were added to the Vine.
  • According G2596, kata. This word needs to be looked up as it is used in many different contexts.
  • Good pleasure G2107, eudokia. The angels sang about this on the night of Jesus’ birth.
  • Will G2307, thelema. Many references in the Gospels use this as God’s will.

Use the links below to explore all of the words in the passage in Ephesians.

Ephesians 1 MOUNCE – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the – Bible Gateway

Ephesians 1 Interlinear Bible (biblehub.com)

Ephesians 1:4

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According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (KJV)

Let that verse wrap around your heart and mind. Take comfort in the truth Paul has written. Remember he is writing to a church that he had a long and miraculous relationship with.

Use this verse to increase your study skills. Not all of our English words come from the same idea in Greek. There are root words, prefixes, and some little-used words to explore.

  1. Even as- kathos, G2531.
  2. Chose – eklegomai, G1586.
  3. Him – autos, G846.
  4. Before – pro, G4253.
  5. Creation/foundation – katabole, G2602. This word appears most of the time with the word “world” in the same sentence. Hebrews 11:11 is different, Abraham is connected with creating a child with Sarah. The definition says “casting down”, so put this into perspective and think about laying or “throwing” a foundation.
  6. World – kosmos, G2889. Yes, it means our earth but it has many other meanings. So, read this word in context.
  7. Holy – hagios, G40.
  8. Blameless – amomous, G299. “Not blemished” is a good definition. Some translations use righteous.
  9. Before – katenopion, G2714. The three times it is used (Col. 1:22, Jude 24) it carries the idea you are standing in front of the Father. The good news in this verse, in Jesus we can stand blameless before God.
  10. Love – agape, G26. Agape is one of four Greek words we translate as love. Do your homework here. My first search pulled up a work by C.S. Lewis. I believe this is what the Father was looking for in the Garden with Adam and Eve. Unfortunately, they chose knowledge instead of relationships.

Numbers 1, 5, and 9 are associated with the word kata, G2596. I like my paper copy of Strong’s but electronic versions should have the root words or etymology listed in number form, just look them up.

Letter replacement is also on view here, where a Greek spelling may have a “k” we use a “c”. Think cosmos and catacombs as words this exchange happens in.

I will point out autos and pro, as our good old slang having interesting roots.

Use the links below to explore all of the words in the passage in Ephesians.

Ephesians 1 MOUNCE – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the – Bible Gateway

Ephesians 1 Interlinear Bible (biblehub.com)

Metamorphoō

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I like this word. You may know the English form of it as metamorphosis and think of caterpillars becoming butterflies. Metamorphoō is a compound word formed from meta (G3326) and metaschematizo (G3345). Meta is translated as “with or among us” most of the time; metaschematizo means to “transform”. 

There are three forms of metamorphoō in the New Testament. Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2 use this word to describe Jesus’ change on the mountain when He speaks to Moses and Elijah. In Romans 12:2 it is used to describe our mind being changed to know the will of God. 2 Corinthians 3:18 describes our change as we look at ourselves and realize how we are looking and acting more like Jesus all the time.

The first time we see this type of change is in Moses when he received the stone tablets and went into the presence of God to talk with Him. This glorious change faded, and he had a veil to hide it from the people. (Exodus 34:29-35 and 2 Corinthians 3:7-18)  

Jesus was among us when He transformed on the mountaintop. This glory also faded, but I think He was still glowing when He was among the crowd and healed the boy. For sure the demon saw something.

Jesus was transformed again when He came out of the tomb as the true form of Himself. This God-Man (Christ Jesus) is who we are becoming as we change our thinking and acting to be the righteous people of God. I am thankful for the Father’s grace in this process, I could not do it without Him.

μεταμορφόω | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com

G3339 – metamorphoō – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv) (blueletterbible.org)

Deuteronomy 911- My Second Look

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I was sure that Deuteronomy 911 was finished. I was about to prepare it to post when the Father graciously gave me a second look at the verse. I used biblehub.com because the Strong’s is not the best at allowing me to find the meaning of high-use words like “give/gave”.

And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the Lord gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant. Deuteronomy 9:11 (KJV)

“The Lord gave.” That amazing statement took a moment to sink in. The Eternal, the Almighty God, and the Creator of everything came down to His creation and gave a way to be in relationship with Him. He took the time to meet Moses, on that mountain, so he could lead His chosen people to their inheritance.

God gave and He still gives, why, because He wants to. Moses obeyed and went up Mount Horeb and God gave. The Children of Jacob had complained about bitter water, food, and no water at all and He still gave them a way to fellowship with Him.

H5414 nathan to give, put, set, and many other uses

Strong’s Hebrew: 5414. נָתַן (nathan) — to give, put, set (biblehub.com)

“Two tables of stone.” Why not one tablet? The count, examples, concepts, and metaphors of “two” are throughout the Bible. The Grace in Torah website has many good points and is worth the look.

The first answer to my question is one tablet for “love God” and the second for “love man”. There are times and things in Scripture where it takes two things to make “one”. Evening and morning make a day, a man and a woman become one flesh, and we need to love God and man to follow the commands of the Father. I see those two tablets making up the two sides of the human heart. (Yes, I am stopping at one answer.)

H8147 shenayim or shettayim  two

Strong’s Hebrew: 8147. שְׁנַ֫יִם (shenayim or shettayim) — two (a cardinal number) (biblehub.com)

Hebrew Numbers 1-10 | GRACE in TORAH   

“The covenant.”

I forget how deep, wide, and high is the idea and act of covenant. God gave Adam and Eve the first covenant and it involved two trees. One tree brought darkness and the other still shines out giving life and healing. By the time Moses received the two tablets, there were three notable covenants that the Father had given. Noah and Abraham had been given the other two.

Abram’s covenant in Genesis 15 is the best exemplar and the most graphic example of cutting a covenant. The animals were cut in two and the two symbols, the smoking firepot, and the burning torch, went down the middle of the pieces. If you will, God “cut” Israel a covenant by having them go from one shore to the other side while passing through two walls of water as a pillar of cloud and fire kept watch over them. Then on Horeb, they got the conditions.

H1285 berith a covenant

Strong’s Hebrew: 1285. בְּרִית (berith) — a covenant (biblehub.com)Hebrew Word of the Week – Brit (hebrew4christians.com)