The Meaning of Ephesians 1:11 Explained

Ephesians 1:11

KJV: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

YLT: in whom also we did obtain an inheritance, being foreordained according to the purpose of Him who the all things is working according to the counsel of His will,

Darby: in whom we have also obtained an inheritance, being marked out beforehand according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his own will,

ASV: in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

In  whom  also  we have obtained an inheritance,  being predestinated  according to  the purpose  of him who worketh  all things  after  the counsel  of his own  will: 

What does Ephesians 1:11 Mean?

Verse Meaning

How does God carry out His plan? He accomplishes some things directly and exclusively Himself without using other agents. He accomplishes other purposes through the agency of others, secondary causes, which include angels and humans. Unquestionably God is absolutely sovereign (i.e, the ultimate authority over all things). How He carries out His plans-working with secondary causes, giving people freedom to choose, and then justly holding them responsible for their choices-is difficult to understand and explain. [1] I believe the solution to this puzzle lies beyond the ability of human beings to understand and explain fully. However, Scripture clearly teaches both divine sovereignty and human responsibility. [2]

Context Summary

Ephesians 1:1-14 - Our Riches In Christ
This has been called the "Epistle of In-ness,"because it is so full of the preposition in. Saints are flesh and blood like ourselves, and we may be saints. The word means "set apart." We are in Christ and He is in us, and any goodness we have is due to our giving room and scope to Him to realize His own ideals. To be in the heavenlies, Ephesians 1:3, means to live a spiritual life and to draw our reinforcements from the unseen and eternal world, which is focused in our Lord. We are in Him so far as justification is concerned-that is our standing; and He is in us for sanctification-that is the source of a holy and useful life. The condition of a blessed life is the conscious maintenance of this oneness.
The source of all we are, and have, and hope to be, so far as salvation is concerned, is the will of God for us; but the stream flows to us through our Lord, and the end to which all things are moving is the summing-up of all in Christ. As He was the Alpha, so He will be the Omega. The sealing of the Holy Spirit is of incalculable advantage, because it means that we are stamped with the likeness of Christ and so kept inviolate among all the vicissitudes of life. See Esther 8:8; John 6:27. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ephesians 1

1  After Paul's salutation,
3  and thanksgiving for the Ephesians,
4  he treats of our election,
6  and adoption by grace;
11  which is the true and proper fountain of man's salvation
13  And because the height of this mystery cannot be easily attained unto,
16  he prays that they may come to the full knowledge and possession thereof in Christ

Greek Commentary for Ephesians 1:11

In him [εν αυτωι]
Repeats the idea of εν τωι Χριστωι — en tōi Christōi of Ephesians 1:10. [source]
We were made a heritage [εκληρωτημεν]
First aorist passive of κληροω — klēroō an old word, to assign by lot Purpose (προτεσιν — prothesin). Common substantive from προτιτημι — protithēmi a setting before as in Acts 11:23; Acts 27:13. [source]
Purpose [προτεσιν]
Common substantive from προτιτημι — protithēmi a setting before as in Acts 11:23; Acts 27:13. [source]
In Him []
Resuming emphatically: in Christ. [source]
We have obtained an inheritance [ἐκληρώθημεν]
Only here in the New Testament. From κλῆρος alot. Hence the verb means literally to determine, choose, or assign by lot. From the custom of assigning portions of land by lot, κλῆρος acquires the meaning of that which is thus assigned; the possession or portion of land. So often in the Old Testament. See Sept., Numbers 34:14; Deuteronomy 3:18; Deuteronomy 15:4, etc. An heir ( κληρονόμος ) is originally one who obtains by lot. The A.V. here makes the verb active where it should be passive. The literal sense is we were designated as a heritage. So Rev., correctly, were made a heritage. Compare Deuteronomy 4:20, a people of inheritance ( λαὸν ἔγκληρον ). Also Deuteronomy 32:8, Deuteronomy 32:9. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 1:11

Acts 20:32 I commend [παρατιτεμαι]
Present middle indicative of παρατιτημι — paratithēmi old verb to place beside, middle, to deposit with one, to interest as in 1 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 2:2. Paul can now only do this, but he does it hopefully. Cf. 1 Peter 4:19. The word of his grace (τωι λογωι της χαριτος αυτου — tōi logōi tēs charitos autou). The instrumentality through preaching and the Holy Spirit employed by God. Cf. Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 4:29. Which is able to build up God works through the word of his grace and so it is able to build up (edify); a favourite Pauline word (1 Corinthians 3:10-14; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Ephesians 2:20-22; 2 Timothy 3:15; etc.), and James 1:21. The very words “build” and “inheritance among the sanctified” will occur in Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 3:18 and which some may recall on reading. Cf. Colossians 1:12. Stephen in Acts 7:5 used the word “inheritance” (κληρονομιαν — klēronomian), nowhere else in Acts, but in Ephesians 1:14, Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 5:5. In Ephesians 1:18 the very expression occurs “his inheritance among the saints “ (την κληρονομιαν αυτου εν τοις αγιοις — tēn klēronomian autou en tois hagiois). [source]
Acts 20:32 Which is able to build up [τωι δυναμενωι οικοδομησαι]
God works through the word of his grace and so it is able to build up (edify); a favourite Pauline word (1 Corinthians 3:10-14; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Ephesians 2:20-22; 2 Timothy 3:15; etc.), and James 1:21. The very words “build” and “inheritance among the sanctified” will occur in Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 3:18 and which some may recall on reading. Cf. Colossians 1:12. Stephen in Acts 7:5 used the word “inheritance” (κληρονομιαν — klēronomian), nowhere else in Acts, but in Ephesians 1:14, Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 5:5. In Ephesians 1:18 the very expression occurs “his inheritance among the saints “ (την κληρονομιαν αυτου εν τοις αγιοις — tēn klēronomian autou en tois hagiois). [source]
Ephesians 1:5 Having foreordained us [Προορισας ημας]
First aorist active participle of προοριζω — proorizō late and rare compound to define or decide beforehand. Already in Acts 4:28; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Romans 8:29. See also Ephesians 1:11. Only other N.T. example in Ephesians 1:11. To be taken with εχελεχατο — exelexato either simultaneous or antecedent (causal). [source]
Ephesians 1:5 Unto adoption as sons [εις υιοτεσιαν]
For this interesting word see note on Galatians 4:5 (included with discussion of Galatians 4:4). Also see Romans 8:15; Romans 9:4. Unto himself (εις αυτον — eis auton). Unto God. According to the good pleasure of his will Here ευδοκιαν — eudokian means purpose like βουλην — boulēn in Ephesians 1:11 rather than benevolence (good pleasure). Note the preposition κατα — kata here for standard. [source]
Ephesians 1:5 According to the good pleasure of his will [κατα την ευδοκιαν του τεληματος αυτου]
Here ευδοκιαν — eudokian means purpose like βουλην — boulēn in Ephesians 1:11 rather than benevolence (good pleasure). Note the preposition κατα — kata here for standard. [source]
Ephesians 1:5 purpose []
like βουλην — boulēn in Ephesians 1:11 rather than benevolence (good pleasure). Note the preposition κατα — kata here for standard. [source]
Ephesians 1:13 In whom [εν ωι]
Repeated third time (once in Ephesians 1:11, twice in Ephesians 1:13), and note ο — ho or ος — hos in Ephesians 1:14. Ye were sealed (εσπραγιστητε — esphragisthēte). First aorist passive indicative of σπραγιζω — sphragizō old verb, to set a seal on one as a mark or stamp, sometimes the marks of ownership or of worship of deities like στιγματα — stigmata (Galatians 6:17). Marked and authenticated as God‘s heritage as in Ephesians 4:30. See note on 2 Corinthians 1:22 for the very use of the metaphor here applied to the Holy Spirit even with the word αρραβων — arrabōn (earnest). Spirit In the instrumental case. [source]
Ephesians 3:11 According to the eternal purpose [κατα προτεσιν των αιωνων]
“According to the purpose (Ephesians 1:11) of the ages.” God‘s purpose runs on through the ages. “Through the ages one eternal purpose runs.” [source]
2 Timothy 1:9 Purpose [προτεσιν]
See note on Romans 9:11; Ephesians 1:11 for προτεσιν — prothesin Which was given (την δοτεισαν — tēn dotheisan). First aorist passive articular participle agreeing with χαρις — charis (grace), a thoroughly Pauline expression (1 Corinthians 3:10; Romans 12:3, Romans 12:6, etc.), only here in Pastoral Epistles. Before times eternal See note on Titus 1:2. [source]
1 John 5:14 According to His will [κατὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ]
For the phrase compare 1 Peter 4:19; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 1:11. [source]
1 John 5:14 That [οτι]
Declarative again, as in 1 John 5:11.If we ask anything (εαν τι αιτωμετα — ean ti aitōmetha). Condition of third class with εαν — ean and present middle (indirect) subjunctive (personal interest as in James 4:3, though the point is not to be pressed too far, for see Matthew 20:20, Matthew 20:22; John 16:24, John 16:26).According to his will This is the secret in all prayer, even in the case of Jesus himself. For the phrase see 1 Peter 4:19; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 1:11.He heareth us (ακουει ημων — akouei hēmōn). Even when God does not give us what we ask, in particular then (Hebrews 5:7.). [source]
1 John 5:14 According to his will [κατα το τελημα αυτου]
This is the secret in all prayer, even in the case of Jesus himself. For the phrase see 1 Peter 4:19; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 1:11.He heareth us (ακουει ημων — akouei hēmōn). Even when God does not give us what we ask, in particular then (Hebrews 5:7.). [source]

What do the individual words in Ephesians 1:11 mean?

in Him whom also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to [the] purpose of the [One] - all things working the counsel of the will of Him
ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐκληρώθημεν προορισθέντες κατὰ πρόθεσιν τοῦ τὰ πάντα ἐνεργοῦντος τὴν βουλὴν τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ

  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἐκληρώθημεν  we  have  obtained  an  inheritance 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 1st Person Plural
Root: κληρόω  
Sense: to cast lots, determine by lot.
προορισθέντες  having  been  predestined 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: προορίζω  
Sense: to predetermine, decide beforehand.
κατὰ  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
πρόθεσιν  [the]  purpose 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πρόθεσις 
Sense: a setting forth of a thing, placing of it in view, the shewbread.
τοῦ  of  the  [One] 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
τὰ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πάντα  all  things 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
ἐνεργοῦντος  working 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ἐνεργέω  
Sense: to be operative, be at work, put forth power.
βουλὴν  counsel 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: βουλή  
Sense: counsel, purpose.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.