Saturday Night Ephesians

I’ve been studying Ephesians for preaching and want to share some thoughts on Ephesians 1:4-5. I’ve copied some English versions below:

KJV
Ephesians 1:4-5 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

RSV
Ephesians 1:4-5 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. 5 He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

NIV
Ephesians 1:4-5 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

NLT
Ephesians 1:4-5 4 Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.

ESV
Ephesians 1:4-5 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

In each of these versions the phrase ‘in love’ is taken with v. 5 – in the New Living Translation the sense is given as ‘God loved us’, which is in keeping with a v. 5 ‘in love’, except the KJV which takes ‘in love’ with v. 4.

Interestingly the commentators, including Calvin, Barth, Lincoln and Wright all take the phrase ‘in love’ with v. 4, e.g Tom Wright ‘4 He chose us in him before the world was made, so as to be holy and irreproachable before him in love. 5 He foreordained us for himself …’

The Greek texts reads as one sentence from 1:3 down to 1:14 and in the NA 27 edition en agape is separated from v. 5 by a comma.

It seems to me that it makes a great difference where you read this short phrase. If you take it with v. 5 you end up reading that the predestination of us by God was undertaken ‘in love’, presumably God acting in love to predestine those he will predestine. Now this is good theology, I’m sure God did act in love when he issued his decree of predestination. However, I don’t think that is what Paul is trying to say here.

Rather taking the phrase in v. 4, Lincoln writes
‘But “in love” should rather be seen as part of the goal of election is intended to achieve in those it embraces – a life before God which is holy and blameless and lived in love.’ (page 17)

God’s decree of election has a goal, a purpose. The election of Abraham and through him Israel had the purpose of bringing a blessing to the nations – election is to service. In NT terms God elects those he elects to live a life which can be characterised by love, described as being lived ‘in love’. And so a sermon on these verses rather than focusing upon God’s secret and still hidden decree of election should exhort and encourage God’s people to live lives ‘in love’ which are holy and blameless before God.

I find it sad, and dangerous, that so many otherwise fine English versions have made a translation choice here which reflects an orthodox theology rather than the intention of the Holy Spirit at work in the Apostle. The sentence structure imposed upon Eph 1:3-14 in every English version is based upon interpretative choices. I don’t think I would like to see bibles printed where all of these choices are explained, but I do think such verses highlight the need for careful exegesis and good exposition on the part of those called by God and appointed by the church to teach Holy Scripture.