The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Today’s Epistle lesson comes from the beginning of Ephesians, a letter attributed to the Apostle Paul. It consists of 12 verses (Eph. 1:3-14) written in the form of an extended blessing, similar to blessings found in the Hebrew Bible. This passage consists of 202 words in the original Greek that form one sentence. Most translators who render this sentence into English, divide it into several sentences, six in the case of the translation we use in our readings.

Why would the author compose such a long sentence, one that would surely be marked up by an instructor as “wordy” or “far too long”? The reason must surely be to match the lavishness of the content with a language form that matches the grandeur of the content. Scholars have said of this sentence: “[It] is a marvelous spiral probably without rival in Greek literature.” “A heaping up of words and phrases in this profuse and effusive style . . . to express the riches of which he speaks in an appropriate way.” “A torrential (description) of all that constitutes God’s blessings.” Rich and glorious grace, forgiveness, redemption, and an undeserved inheritance are the portion of those who are in Christ “to the praise of his glory.”

– Jim Beck