Ephesians 1:11

Ephesians 1:11

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

a. NLT: Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

b. NIV: In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,

c. YLT: in whom also we did obtain an inheritance, being foreordained according to the purpose of Him who the all things is working according to the counsel of His will,

d. Amplified Bible Classic:  In Him we also were made [God’s] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will,

e. Worrell Translation: In Whom we also were made a heritage, having been predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.

1. “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance…”

a. In [Strong: 1722 * en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

b. whom [Strong: 3739 * hos hos, including feminine he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

1). The Greek actually reads: In him in whom also. The two Greek words left out by Strong are:

a). him [Strong: 846 * autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

b). in [Strong: 1722 * en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

c. also [Strong: 2532 * kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

d. [we have] obtained an inheritance [2820 * kleroo][Strong: to allot, i.e. (figuratively) to assign (a privilege):--obtain an inheritance.] [Zodhiates: to cast lots, determine by lot…The idea expressed here is that Christians have become heirs of God due to the fact that God predestined them according to His purpose. In a manner of speaking, the lot fell to believers not by chance but solely because of the gracious and sovereign decision of God Almighty to select them to be His heirs.]

1). When we got born again, we were also given an inheritance because of what Christ did for mankind through his death burial and resurrection. It is sprinkled throughout the New Testament. In fact it is mentioned three times in the first chapter of Ephesians. The first being our text.

a). Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

2). The inheritance is in Christ, outside of Christ there is no inheritance. In 1975 Kenneth Hagin wrote a small booklet called In Him. In that booklet he counsels believers to read through the epistles of the New Testament and mark all the expressions such as “in Christ”, “in Him”, “in Whom”, and “through Whom”. He wrote that there are approximately 140 of them. He wrote “Now when you find these scriptures—write them down. Then meditate on them. Begin to confess them. Begin to say with your mouth. “This is who I am, and this is what I am, and this is what I have in Christ.” Saints, every one of those phrases mentions a part of our inheritance, of what God has given us through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus. An inheritance we have to receive through faith.

3). It is the Lord’s will that we know and understand what that inheritance is, and He wants us to receive it by faith.

a). Ephesians 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

b). Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

4). Don’t be misled, there are behaviors that will render us unfit and strip the inheritance from us.

a). Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

5). Through the New Birth God has given us everything we need to receive our inheritance.

a). Colossians 1:12   Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

6). In the book of Joshua it is told how that there were tribes who had failed to receive their inheritance even though there was nothing stopping them from receiving it. Joshua chastised them for their laziness.

a). Joshua 18:1-10 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.

2 And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.

3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?

2. “…being predestinated according to the purpose of him…”

a. being predestinated [4309 * proorizo][Strong: to limit in advance, i.e. (figuratively) predetermine:--determine before, ordain, predestinate.]

b. according to [Strong: 2596 * kata kat-ah' a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.]

the purpose [Strong: 4286 * prothesis proth'-es-is from 4388; a setting forth, i.e. (figuratively) proposal (intention); specially, the show-bread (in the Temple) as exposed before God:--purpose, shew(-bread).]

c. of him [Strong: 3588 * ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

3. “…who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”

a. who worketh [Strong: 1754 * energeo en-erg-eh'-o from 1756; to be active, efficient:--do, (be) effectual (fervent), be mighty in, shew forth self, work (effectually in).]

b. all [things] [Strong: 3956 * pas pas including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

c. after [Strong: 2596 * kata kat-ah' a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.]

d. the counsel [Strong: 1012 * boule boo-lay' from 1014; volition, i.e. (objectively) advice, or (by implication) purpose:--+ advise, counsel, will.]

e. of his [Strong: 3588 * ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

f. own [Strong: 846 * autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

g. will [Strong: 2307 * thelema thel'-ay-mah from the prolonged form of 2309; a determination (properly, the thing), i.e. (actively) choice (specially, purpose, decree; abstractly, volition) or (passively) inclination:-- desire, pleasure, will.]

1). The “him” in this verse refers to the Triune Godhead, who are identified in the New Testament as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These same three Persons of the God head are in the Old Testament identified in specific passages as the LORD God, the LORD God and the LORD God. This “counsel” occurred in the past, before the foundation of the world when the plan of redemption was planned out by the three persons of the Godhead.