[B-Greek] Eph 1:9 hHN clause

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Mon Nov 26 11:56:26 EST 2007


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Oun Kwon" <kwonbbl at gmail.com>
To: "B-Greek" <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: 26. november 2007 06:32
Subject: [B-Greek] Eph 1:9 hHN clause


> Eph 1:8-9
>
> v. 8 hHS EPERISSEUSEN EIS hHMAS EN PASHi SOFIAi KAI FRONHSEI,
> v. 9 GNWRISAS hHMIN TO MUSTHRION TOU QELHMATOS AUTO,
> KATA THN EUDOKIAN AUTO, hHN PROEQETO EN AUTWi
>
> Is it correct for me to take hHN clause in v.9 to be connected to (or
> modify?) EUDOKIAN
> because of gender agreement (feminine)? Or because it is the closest
> one as well
> and none is found to agree in gender?
>
> If so, how do I understand the expression 'He purposed (set forth) His
> good-pleasure'?
>
> This is compared to the similar clause found in in v. 5
> KATA THN EUDOKIA TOU QELHMATOS AUTOU
> which I understand as a parenthetical in a sense that
> 'such is what He wanted to His delight'.
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Oun Kwon.

The noun EUDOKIA and verb EUDOKEW are not easy to pin down in English. The meaning is much more 
related to evaluation and decision than to feelings of pleasure. The basic sense is to consider 
something to be good. This sense is carried in English in certain constructions such as "I am 
pleased with what you did", i.d. you did good.
In this verse in Ephesians there are three words that are semantically very close:
TOU QELHMATOS AUTOU (of his will)
THN EUDOKIAN AUTOU (his decision about what was good)
hHN PROEQETO (which he planned/made)

TEV translates EUDOKIA here as "decide", and this is often a better rendering than "please", 
depending on context.

God had in the beginning made a plan (PROEQETO) according to his will and as he saw fit (THN 
EUDOKIAN AUTOU) to bring all things in heaven and earth under the lordship of Christ (v. 10). And 
that plan was to be fulfilled through Christ (EN AUTWi).

Iver Larsen 




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