Why did saint Paul write it that way?

[Xeno.of.athens]

Ephesians 1:3-14 GNB Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. (4) Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him. Because of his love (5) God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children—this was his pleasure and purpose. (6) Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear Son! (7) For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God, (8) which he gave to us in such large measure! In all his wisdom and insight (9) God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. (10) This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head. (11) All things are done according to God's plan and decision; and God chose us to be his own people in union with Christ because of his own purpose, based on what he had decided from the very beginning. (12) Let us, then, who were the first to hope in Christ, praise God's glory! (13) And you also became God's people when you heard the true message, the Good News that brought you salvation. You believed in Christ, and God put his stamp of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit he had promised. (14) The Spirit is the guarantee that we shall receive what God has promised his people, and this assures us that God will give complete freedom to those who are his. Let us praise his glory!

Why did saint Paul start a letter like this? It's so strange. Is he fighting some heresy? What's the purpose he had when he wrote it?

 

[bling]

Paul is very positive here, not seeing some doctrinal issue?

 

[Always in His Presence]

He didn’t. He started the letter very similar to his other letters.

Eph1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[BobRyan]

Ephesians 1:3-14 GNB Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. (4) Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him. Because of his love (5) God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children—this was his pleasure and purpose. (6) Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear Son! (7) For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God, (8) which he gave to us in such large measure! In all his wisdom and insight (9) God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. (10) This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head. (11) All things are done according to God's plan and decision; and God chose us to be his own people in union with Christ because of his own purpose, based on what he had decided from the very beginning. (12) Let us, then, who were the first to hope in Christ, praise God's glory! (13) And you also became God's people when you heard the true message, the Good News that brought you salvation. You believed in Christ, and God put his stamp of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit he had promised. (14) The Spirit is the guarantee that we shall receive what God has promised his people, and this assures us that God will give complete freedom to those who are his. Let us praise his glory!

Why did saint Paul start a letter like this? It's so strange. Is he fighting some heresy? What's the purpose he had when he wrote it?

He is writing to a gentile church in the context of Acts 15:1-4 where some were spreading a false gospel about gentiles needing to keep the ceremonial law in order to be saved.

 

[Dan Perez]

He is writing to a gentile church in the context of Acts 15:1-4 where some were spreading a false gospel about gentiles needing to keep the ceremonial law in order to be saved.

I believe that in Eph 1:4 Just as He ( CHRIST ) CHOSE // EKLEGOMAI , us BEFORE // PRO , the n OVERTHROW of the world for us to be holy without blame BEFORE // PRO , Hm in love .

This means GENTILES were chosen before Israel !!

dan p

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

I believe that in Eph 1:4 Just as He ( CHRIST ) CHOSE // EKLEGOMAI , us BEFORE // PRO , the n OVERTHROW of the world for us to be holy without blame BEFORE // PRO , Hm in love .

This means GENTILES were chosen before Israel !!

dan p

That seems like a strange twist to put on that little verse.

One can make a good case for a predestination out of this passage, and one could point to predestination being about predestination in Christ, and since Paul is writing to gentiles in Ephesus as well as Jews it is clear that he does not intend to teach that only Jews are predestined, he also wishes to teach that gentiles are predestined. And it also seems that predestination occurred before the foundation of the world. Now the question to ask is what exactly is this predestination? In another thread I raised the question of whether predestination was about the destination or about both the destination and the path to get to it. It seems to me that we need to give an answer to that question before we can have a firm grasp on what Paul means by predestination here.

 

[Dan Perez]

That seems like a strange twist to put on that little verse.

One can make a good case for a predestination out of this passage, and one could point to predestination being about predestination in Christ, and since Paul is writing to gentiles in Ephesus as well as Jews it is clear that he does not intend to teach that only Jews are predestined, he also wishes to teach that gentiles are predestined. And it also seems that predestination occurred before the foundation of the world. Now the question to ask is what exactly is this predestination? In another thread I raised the question of whether predestination was about the destination or about both the destination and the path to get to it. It seems to me that we need to give an answer to that question before we can have a firm grasp on what Paul means by predestination here.

All they try to keep the Law of Moses will will always confuse that with the NEW COVENANT and confuse the OLD with the

NEW COVENANT ,

The Old Covenant , the 12 APOSTLES will sit on 12 Thrones governing Israel in the Millennial Kingdom

Most do not understand how Israel will be saved , since Israel has BEEN , SET ASIDE as written in Acts 28:25-27 since they

killed their 36 and notice who their APOSTLE was , it was Peter and verse 38 says that Israel HAD to REPENT in name of

Jesus Christ for ( the ) notice the ITALICIZED ) , the for the forgiveness of sins , and you ,will receive the GIFT of the

Holy Spirit .


Also notice that this BAPTISM is not with WATER // HUDOR , as it not in the Greek text , period !!

dan p

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

All they try to keep the Law of Moses will will always confuse that with the NEW COVENANT and confuse the OLD with the

NEW COVENANT ,

The Old Covenant , the 12 APOSTLES will sit on 12 Thrones governing Israel in the Millennial Kingdom

Most do not understand how Israel will be saved , since Israel has BEEN , SET ASIDE as written in Acts 28:25-27 since they

killed their 36 and notice who their APOSTLE was , it was Peter and verse 38 says that Israel HAD to REPENT in name of

Jesus Christ for ( the ) notice the ITALICIZED ) , the for the forgiveness of sins , and you ,will receive the GIFT of the

Holy Spirit .


Also notice that this BAPTISM is not with WATER // HUDOR , as it not in the Greek text , period !!

dan p

That makes almost no sense to me. Did you mean:

"Those who strive to adhere to the Law of Moses may often confuse it with the New Covenant, and conflate the Old with the New. In the Old Covenant, the twelve apostles are said to govern Israel from twelve thrones in the Millennial Kingdom. Many do not understand how Israel will be saved, especially since Israel has been set aside, as described in Acts 28:25-27, following their actions. Notably, their apostle was Peter, and verse 38 emphasizes that Israel had to repent in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is also important to note that this baptism is not associated with water, as it is not mentioned in the Greek text."?​

 

[Jamdoc]

Ephesians 1:3-14 GNB Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. (4) Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him. Because of his love (5) God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children—this was his pleasure and purpose. (6) Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear Son! (7) For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God, (8) which he gave to us in such large measure! In all his wisdom and insight (9) God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. (10) This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head. (11) All things are done according to God's plan and decision; and God chose us to be his own people in union with Christ because of his own purpose, based on what he had decided from the very beginning. (12) Let us, then, who were the first to hope in Christ, praise God's glory! (13) And you also became God's people when you heard the true message, the Good News that brought you salvation. You believed in Christ, and God put his stamp of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit he had promised. (14) The Spirit is the guarantee that we shall receive what God has promised his people, and this assures us that God will give complete freedom to those who are his. Let us praise his glory!

Why did saint Paul start a letter like this? It's so strange. Is he fighting some heresy? What's the purpose he had when he wrote it?

Looks like pure thanksgiving and praise to me. He opened several epistles like that, first giving thanks and then praising God before moving into the specific topic of the epistle.

 

[Palmfever]

That seems like a strange twist to put on that little verse.

One can make a good case for a predestination out of this passage, and one could point to predestination being about predestination in Christ, and since Paul is writing to gentiles in Ephesus as well as Jews it is clear that he does not intend to teach that only Jews are predestined, he also wishes to teach that gentiles are predestined. And it also seems that predestination occurred before the foundation of the world. Now the question to ask is what exactly is this predestination? In another thread I raised the question of whether predestination was about the destination or about both the destination and the path to get to it. It seems to me that we need to give an answer to that question before we can have a firm grasp on what Paul means by predestination here.

God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him. Because of his love (5) God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children—this was his pleasure and purpose. (6) Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear Son! (7) For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven

The predestination is concerning Gods plan to redeem men through the sacrifice of His Son.
His church built by His blood as a result of His sacrfice.
"The lamb slain before the foundation of the world."

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

I asked the question in the original post because I was reading Ephesians in the King James version and the verses that I quoted when read in the KJV are one very long sentence with rather complicated punctuation and that led me to think that it was a very strange way to start a letter. It almost seemed like a kind of rant that somebody in a manic state might write rather than the sober entreaty of the apostle Paul.

 

[Fervent]

I think the trouble is trying to draw direct doctrinal content out of a doxology...because Paul's focus is on God's praiseworthiness, he wrote in a way that considers things on an eternal basis and there's no reason to muddy it up by talking about human responsibilities in the matter. It's about what God has done and continues to do, because there is nothing that is outside of God's hands not even human choices. Taking that out and trying to create a systematic understanding of how salvation works is bound to create problems, because ultimately salvation is a mystery beyond understanding. In some way God chooses each individual believer, but that doesn't mean His choice invalidates the authenticity of our choosing Him. When praising God, we only need consider God's side of the equation and not our own.