Ephesians 1:9 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Which He 'made to abound toward us' (Ephesians 1:8), in that He made known to us-namely, experimentally in our hearts.

The mystery - God's purpose of redemption hidden heretofore in His counsels, but now revealed (cf. Ephesians 3:4; Ephesians 3:9; Ephesians 6:19; Romans 16:25; Colossians 1:26-27). This "mystery" is not like the pagan mysteries, imparted only to the initiated few. All Christians are the initiated. Unbelievers alone are the uninitiated.

According to his good pleasure - the cause why He "made known unto us the mystery" - namely, His own loving "good pleasure" toward us; the time and manner of His doing so are also according to His good pleasure.

Purposed (Ephesians 1:11 ) in himself - God the Father. Bengel, 'in Him,' i:e., Christ, as Ephesians 1:3-4. But "in Christ," Ephesians 1:10, immediately after, is inconsistent with His being here meant by the pronoun.

Ephesians 1:9

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: