Ephesians 1:11,12 - We were also chosen

1:11

So far Paul has been talking about God’s will and purposes in relation to all of humanity. Now in the final verses of this paean of praise he talks first about the Jews (v11 and 12), then about the Gentiles (v13). He will have a lot more to say about this in 2:11 onwards. “In Him we were chosen”. The “we” here is the Jews. There is some disagreement about whether this applies to all Israel, or to the Jewish believers. The latter seems the more likely. So the Israelites were chosen. Then there is stress again that this was done “in conformity with the purpose of His will.'' Everything happens according to God’s plans and purposes.

1:12

“First to put our hope in Christ”. If the “we” is taken as Israel in general, then this means putting their hope in a messiah. If “we” means “Jewish believers in Christ” then Christ means Jesus Christ. The latter seems the more liley, and seems to fit things better. “That we might be for the praise of His glory”. We need to remind ourselves of the Jewish-Christian divide that there was at the time of the early church. Most Jews regarded the Christians as heretics, as traitors. Paul is saying that the Jews who believed in Christ far from rebelling against God, were acting in accordance with God’s true purpose for Israel. And it was “for the praise of His glory”. If you want to bring praise and glory to God, then believe in Jesus Christ. All of us should know that we have been chosen “for the praise of His glory”. That is my purpose, it is my destiny. Whatever circumstances I might be facing right now, nothing changes that.