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BBC: Ephesians 1:3

BBC: Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly place. – Ephesians 1:3

The theology of this letter streams out of the praise and worship of Paul. Many of the Pauline “distractions” throughout the book are incorporated in prayer or praise times of God. This word translated “blessed” is applied only to God the Father.

A closely related word is turned to us as we are “blessed” in Christ. This emphasis on “in Christ” (also able to be translated “with Christ”) dominates the first chapter of Ephesians (1:1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13). There is no escaping the saints addressed are being addressed upon their identification in Christ alone. This is the foundation of salvation.

God the Father has blessed us through Christ with blessings whose origin is the Spirit. This could be seen as a promise of “non-material” blessing. However it can also be seen as a Trinitarian formula.

My Take Audio: Postmillennialism in 1 Corinthians 15

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