Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Predestinated - having respect to the end and means. We are "chosen" or 'elected' out of the rest of the world; "predestinated" to all things that secure the inheritance for us (Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:20). х Proorisas (G4309)] "Foreordained" or "predestinated" refers to God's decree, which is embodied in God's election of us out of the mass.
By Jesus, х dia (G1223)] - 'through Jesus.'
To himself - the Father (Colossians 1:20) х Eis (G1519) heauton (G1438), rather read auton (G846).] 'Adoption ... unto (into) Him,' into inward union with God - i:e., so that we should be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). The context favours Calvin, etc.: God has regard to Himself and the glory of His grace (Ephesians 1:6; Ephesians 1:12; Ephesians 1:14) as His ultimate end. He had one only begotten Son, and He was pleased, for His own glory, to choose out of a lost world many to become His adopted sons.
The good pleasure of his will - [Matthew 11:26, eudokia (G2107), as here; Luke 10:21.] "The good pleasure of His will" is our utmost limit in searching into the causes of our salvation, or of any of His works (Ephesians 1:9; Job 33:13). Why needest thou philosophize about an imaginary world of optimism? Thy concern is to take heed that thou be not bad. Nothing in us deserved His love (Ephesians 1:1; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 1:11) (Bengel).