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Selected Verse: Ephesians 3:11 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Eph 3:11	Strong Concordance	According to [2596] the eternal [165] purpose [4286] which [3739] he purposed [4160] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424] our [2257] Lord [2962]:
	King James	According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
which he purposed--Greek, "made." ELLICOTT translates, "wrought."

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

which he purposed--Greek, "made." ELLICOTT translates, "wrought."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
According to the eternal purpose - see the note, Eph 1:4. Literally, "the purpose of ages," or of eternity. Locke, Chandler, and Whitby render this, "according to that disposition or arrangement of the ages which he made in Jesus Christ, or through him." The object of such an interpretation seems to be to avoid the doctrine that God had a purpose or plan in the salvation of people, and hence such expositors suppose it refers to the arrangement of the "ages" of the world by which the plan of redemption was introduced. On the word rendered here as "purpose" - προθέσις prothesis - see the notes at Rom 8:28; compare Eph 1:11. It is rendered "showbread" - the bread of setting before," Mat 12:4; Mar 2:26; Luk 6:4; Heb 9:2; "purpose," Act 11:23; Act 27:13; Rom 8:28; Rom 9:11; Eph 1:11; Eph 3:11; Ti2 1:9; Ti2 3:10. It does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. In most of these cases it refers to the "purpose or intention" of God; in not a single case does it mean "arrangement or disposition" in any sense like that of making an arrangement of "ages" or periods of the world; and the interpretation proposed by Whitby, Locke, Clarke, and others, is wholly at variance with the settled use of the word. The word rendered "eternal" - αἰώνων aiōnōn - may mean "ages;" but it also most usually means eternity; see Eph 3:9. Here it may mean "the purpose of ages;" i. e., the purpose formed in past ages; but the word is most commonly used in the New Testament in the sense of "ever, and forever;" compare the following places, where it is so rendered in our common version, and beyond a doubt correctly; Mat 6:13; Mat 21:19; Mar 3:29; Mar 11:14; Luk 1:33, Luk 1:55; Joh 4:14; Joh 6:51, Joh 6:58; Joh 8:35; Joh 14:16; Rom 1:25; Rom 9:5; Rom 11:36; Rom 16:27; Co2 9:9; Co2 11:31; Gal 1:5. The fair meaning of the passage here is, that God had formed a plan which was "eternal" in reference to the salvation of people; that that plan had reference to the Lord Jesus; and that it was now executed by the gospel. It is impossible to get away from the idea that God has a "plan." It is too often affirmed in the Scriptures, and is too consonant with out' reason to be disputed. It is as "undesirable" as it is impossible to escape from that idea. Who could respect or honor an intelligent being that had no plan, no purpose, no intention, and that did all things by caprice and hap-hazard? If God has any plan, it must he eternal. He has no new schemes; he has no intentions which he did not always have. Which he purposed - Literally, "which he made." In Christ Jesus - With reference to him; or which were to be executed through him. The eternal plan had respect to him, and was to be executed by his coming and work.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

According to the eternal purpose - see the note, Eph 1:4. Literally, "the purpose of ages," or of eternity. Locke, Chandler, and Whitby render this, "according to that disposition or arrangement of the ages which he made in Jesus Christ, or through him." The object of such an interpretation seems to be to avoid the doctrine that God had a purpose or plan in the salvation of people, and hence such expositors suppose it refers to the arrangement of the "ages" of the world by which the plan of redemption was introduced. On the word rendered here as "purpose" - προθέσις prothesis - see the notes at Rom 8:28; compare Eph 1:11. It is rendered "showbread" - the bread of setting before," Mat 12:4; Mar 2:26; Luk 6:4; Heb 9:2; "purpose," Act 11:23; Act 27:13; Rom 8:28; Rom 9:11; Eph 1:11; Eph 3:11; Ti2 1:9; Ti2 3:10. It does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. In most of these cases it refers to the "purpose or intention" of God; in not a single case does it mean "arrangement or disposition" in any sense like that of making an arrangement of "ages" or periods of the world; and the interpretation proposed by Whitby, Locke, Clarke, and others, is wholly at variance with the settled use of the word.

The word rendered "eternal" - αἰώνων aiōnōn - may mean "ages;" but it also most usually means eternity; see Eph 3:9. Here it may mean "the purpose of ages;" i. e., the purpose formed in past ages; but the word is most commonly used in the New Testament in the sense of "ever, and forever;" compare the following places, where it is so rendered in our common version, and beyond a doubt correctly; Mat 6:13; Mat 21:19; Mar 3:29; Mar 11:14; Luk 1:33, Luk 1:55; Joh 4:14; Joh 6:51, Joh 6:58; Joh 8:35; Joh 14:16; Rom 1:25; Rom 9:5; Rom 11:36; Rom 16:27; Co2 9:9; Co2 11:31; Gal 1:5. The fair meaning of the passage here is, that God had formed a plan which was "eternal" in reference to the salvation of people; that that plan had reference to the Lord Jesus; and that it was now executed by the gospel. It is impossible to get away from the idea that God has a "plan." It is too often affirmed in the Scriptures, and is too consonant with out' reason to be disputed. It is as "undesirable" as it is impossible to escape from that idea. Who could respect or honor an intelligent being that had no plan, no purpose, no intention, and that did all things by caprice and hap-hazard? If God has any plan, it must he eternal. He has no new schemes; he has no intentions which he did not always have.

Which he purposed - Literally, "which he made."

In Christ Jesus - With reference to him; or which were to be executed through him. The eternal plan had respect to him, and was to be executed by his coming and work.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Eternal purpose (πρόθεσιν τῶν αἰώνων) Lit., the purpose of the ages. He wrought (ἐποίησεν) Carried into effect. See on fulfilling, Eph 2:3.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
According to the eternal purpose - Κατα προθεσιν των αιωνων· According to the purpose concerning the periods. This seems to refer to the complete round of the Jewish system, and to that of the Gospel. I have often observed, that though the proper grammatical meaning of the word is ever-during or endless duration, yet it is often applied to those systems, periods, governments, etc., which have a complete duration, taking in the whole of them, from their commencement to their termination, leaving nothing of their duration unembraced. So, here, God purposed that the Jewish dispensation should commence at such a time, and terminate at such a time; that the Gospel dispensation should commence when the Jewish ended, and terminate only with life itself; and that the results of both should be endless. This is probably what is meant by the above phrase. Which he purposed in Christ Jesus - Ἡν εποιησεν· Which he made or constituted in or for Christ Jesus. The manifestation of Christ, and the glory which should follow, were the grand objects which God kept in view in all his dispensations.

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⁵ To whom [3739] be glory [1391] for [1519] ever [165] and ever [165]. Amen [281].

³¹ The God [2316] and [2532] Father [3962] of our [2257] Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], which [3588] is [5607] blessed [2128] for [1519] evermore [165], knoweth [1492] that I [3754] lie [5574] not [3756].

⁹ (As [2531] it is written [1125], He hath dispersed abroad [4650]; he hath given [1325] to the poor [3993]: his [846] righteousness [1343] remaineth [3306] for [1519] ever [165].

²⁷ To God [2316] only [3441] wise [4680], be glory [1391] through [1223] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] for [1519] ever [165]. Amen [281].

³⁶ For [3754] of [1537] him [846], and [2532] through [1223] him [846], and [2532] to [1519] him [846], are all things [3956]: to whom [846] be glory [1391] for [1519] ever [165]. Amen [281].

⁵ Whose [3739] are the fathers [3962], and [2532] of [1537] whom [3739] as concerning [2596] the flesh [4561] Christ [5547] came, who [5607] is over [1909] all [3956], God [2316] blessed [2128] for [1519] ever [165]. Amen [281].

²⁵ Who [3748] changed [3337] the truth [225] of God [2316] into [1722] a lie [5579], and [2532] worshipped [4573] and [2532] served [3000] the creature [2937] more than [3844] the Creator [2936], who [3739] is [2076] blessed [2128] for [1519] ever [165]. Amen [281].

¹⁶ And [2532] I [1473] will pray [2065] the Father [3962], and [2532] he shall give [1325] you [5213] another [243] Comforter [3875], that [2443] he may abide [3306] with [3326] you [5216] for [1519] ever [165];

³⁵ And [1161] the servant [1401] abideth [3306] not [3756] in [1722] the house [3614] for [1519] ever [165]: but the Son [5207] abideth [3306] [1519] ever [165].

⁵⁸ This [3778] is [2076] that bread [740] which [3588] came down [2597] from [1537] heaven [3772]: not [3756] as [2531] your [5216] fathers [3962] did eat [5315] manna [3131], and [2532] are dead [599]: he that eateth [5176] of this [5126] bread [740] shall live [2198] for [1519] ever [165].

⁵¹ I [1473] am [1510] the living [2198] bread [740] which [3588] came down [2597] from [1537] heaven [3772]: if [1437] any man [5100] eat [5315] of [1537] this [5127] bread [740], he shall live [2198] for [1519] ever [165]: and [1161] [2532] the bread [740] that [3739] I [1473] will give [1325] is [2076] my [3450] flesh [4561], which [3739] I [1473] will give [1325] for [5228] the life [2222] of the world [2889].

¹⁴ But [1161] whosoever [3739] [302] drinketh [4095] of [1537] the water [5204] that [3739] I [1473] shall give [1325] him [846] shall [1372] never [1519] [165] [3364] thirst [1372]; but [235] the water [5204] that [3739] I shall give [1325] him [846] shall be [1096] in [1722] him [846] a well [4077] of water [5204] springing up [242] into [1519] everlasting [166] life [2222].

⁵⁵ As [2531] he spake [2980] to [4314] our [2257] fathers [3962], to Abraham [11], and [2532] to his [846] seed [4690] for [1519] ever [165].

³³ And [2532] he shall reign [936] over [1909] the house [3624] of Jacob [2384] for [1519] ever [165]; and [2532] of his [846] kingdom [932] there shall be [2071] no [3756] end [5056].

¹⁴ And [2532] Jesus [2424] answered [611] and said [2036] unto it [846], No man [3367] eat [5315] fruit [2590] of [1537] thee [4675] hereafter [3371] for [1519] ever [165]. And [2532] his [846] disciples [3101] heard [191] it.

²⁹ But [1161] he [3739] that [302] shall blaspheme [987] against [1519] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] hath [2192] never [3756] [1519] [165] forgiveness [859], but [235] is [2076] in danger [1777] of eternal [166] damnation [2920]:

¹⁹ And [2532] when he saw [1492] a [3391] fig tree [4808] in [1909] the way [3598], he came [2064] to [1909] it [846], and [2532] found [2147] nothing [3762] thereon [1722] [846], but [1508] leaves [5444] only [3440], and [2532] said [3004] unto it [846], Let no [1096] fruit [2590] grow [1096] on [1537] thee [4675] henceforward [3371] for [1519] ever [165]. And [2532] presently [3916] the fig tree [4808] withered away [3583].

¹³ And [2532] lead [1533] us [2248] not [3361] into [1519] temptation [3986], but [235] deliver [4506] us [2248] from [575] evil [4190]: For [3754] thine [4675] is [2076] the kingdom [932], and [2532] the power [1411], and [2532] the glory [1391], for [1519] ever [165]. Amen [281].

⁹ And [2532] to make [5461] all [3956] men see [5461] what [5101] is the fellowship [2842] of the mystery [3466], which [3588] from [575] the beginning of the world [165] hath been hid [613] in [1722] God [2316], who [3588] created [2936] all things [3956] by [1223] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547]:

¹⁰ But [1161] thou [4771] hast fully known [3877] my [3450] doctrine [1319], manner of life [72], purpose [4286], faith [4102], longsuffering [3115], charity [26], patience [5281],

⁹ Who [3588] hath saved [4982] us [2248], and [2532] called [2564] us with an holy [40] calling [2821], not [3756] according to [2596] our [2257] works [2041], but [235] according to [2596] his own [2398] purpose [4286] and [2532] grace [5485], which [3588] was given [1325] us [2254] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424] before [4253] the world began [5550] [166],

¹¹ According to [2596] the eternal [165] purpose [4286] which [3739] he purposed [4160] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424] our [2257] Lord [2962]:

¹¹ In [1722] whom [3739] also [2532] we have obtained an inheritance [2820], being predestinated [4309] according to [2596] the purpose [4286] of him who worketh [1754] all things [3956] after [2596] the counsel [1012] of his own [846] will [2307]:

¹¹ (For [1063] the children being [1080] not yet [3380] born [1080], neither [3366] having done [4238] any [5100] good [18] or [2228] evil [2556], that [2443] the purpose [4286] of God [2316] according [2596] to election [1589] might stand [3306], not [3756] of [1537] works [2041], but [235] of [1537] him that calleth [2564]

²⁸ And [1161] we know [1492] that all things [3956] work together [4903] for [1519] good [18] to them that [3754] love [25] God [2316], to them who are [5607] the called [2822] according [2596] to his purpose [4286].

¹³ And [1161] when the south wind [3558] blew softly [5285], supposing [1380] that they had obtained [2902] their purpose [4286], loosing [142] thence, they sailed [3881] close by [788] Crete [2914].

²³ Who [3739], when he came [3854], and [2532] had seen [1492] the grace [5485] of God [2316], was glad [5463], and [2532] exhorted [3870] them all [3956], that with purpose [4286] of heart [2588] they would cleave unto [4357] the Lord [2962].

² For [1063] there was [2680] a tabernacle [4633] made [2680]; the first [4413], wherein [1722] [3739] [5037] was the candlestick [3087], and [2532] the table [5132], and [2532] the shewbread [4286] [740]; which [3748] is called [3004] the sanctuary [39].

⁴ How [5613] he went [1525] into [1519] the house [3624] of God [2316], and [2532] did take [2983] and [2532] eat [5315] the shewbread [740] [4286], and [2532] gave [1325] also [2532] to them that were with [3326] him [846]; which [3739] it is [1832] not [3756] lawful [1832] to eat [5315] but for [1508] the priests [2409] alone [3441]?

²⁶ How [4459] he went [1525] into [1519] the house [3624] of God [2316] in the days [1909] of Abiathar [8] the high priest [749], and [2532] did eat [5315] the shewbread [740] [4286], which [3739] is [1832] not [3756] lawful [1832] to eat [5315] but for [1508] the priests [2409], and [2532] gave [1325] also [2532] to them which were [5607] with [4862] him [846]?

⁴ How [4459] he entered into [1525] [1519] the house [3624] of God [2316], and [2532] did eat [5315] the shewbread [740] [4286], which [3739] was [2258] not [3756] lawful [1832] for him [846] to eat [5315], neither for [3761] them which [3326] were with him [846], but [1508] only [3441] for the priests [2409]?

⁴ According as [2531] he hath chosen [1586] us [2248] in [1722] him [846] before [4253] the foundation [2602] of the world [2889], that we [2248] should be [1511] holy [40] and [2532] without blame [299] before [2714] him [846] in [1722] love [26]:

³ Among [1722] whom [3739] also [2532] we [2249] all [3956] had our conversation [390] in times past [4218] in [1722] the lusts [1939] of our [2257] flesh [4561], fulfilling [4160] the desires [2307] of the flesh [4561] and [2532] of the mind [1271]; and [2532] were [2258] by nature [5449] the children [5043] of wrath [3709], even [2532] as [5613] others [3062].