Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God. This expression of praise introduces one of the most sublime passages of Scripture, sometimes called the “gateway of praise.” Verses 3-14 survey the course of the revelation of divine grace and set forth promises of God’s redeeming love and the glorious privileges of the church. These verses may be regarded as the plan of salvation in outline.

Hath blessed. Gr. euloged, “to give praise,” “to bless,” the verb form related to the adjective eulogetos.

All spiritual blessings. Literally, “every spiritual blessing.” A spiritual blessing is one belonging to or activated by the Spirit.

In heavenly places. Gr. en tois epouraniois, “in the heavenly [places].” This phrase is peculiar to Ephesians, being used five times in the epistle (chs. 1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12).

In Eph. 6:12 the phrase is translated “in high places.” However, the word translated “heavenly” occurs elsewhere (John 3:12; 1 Cor. 15:48; Phil. 2:10; etc.). In Eph. 1:20 the phrase en tois epouraniois is apparently used as a synonym for heaven, for it is the place where Christ sits on the right hand of the Father. This seems to be its meaning also in Eph. 2:6. If we are raised together with Christ, and are “in Christ Jesus,” and Christ is at the right hand of God in heaven, then we, in that sense, are sitting with Him in heaven. In Eph. 3:10 en tois epouraniois describes the dwelling place of angel powers, probably of good angels, and in Eph. 6:12 of evil angels. In Eph. 1:3 the phrase seems to qualify “spiritual blessings” by designating heaven as the source of them.

In Christ. See on v. 1.