Eph. 1: 3 is a well known and much beloved verse of Scripture to the members of the

Body of Christ. It calls for blessing of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the

One Who "blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ"

(R.V.). What is fully involved in "every spiritual blessing" may at present be far beyond

our understanding, but it is very often helpful to consider the literal meaning of words,

and it is worthwhile here.

Three related words are used in this verse, all of which have the root idea "to speak

well of". They are:

Eulogetos is used only of God in the N.T. and reminds us that praise is due to Him as

Creator (Rom. 1: 25), as well as because of these "spiritual blessings", which call forth

"spiritual songs" (Eph. 5: 19).  The greatest such song ever to be written is probably

Eph. 1: 3-14 itself, and in it we praise Him (as did the Psalms of old) by recalling the

grace bestowed upon us in Christ.  In this way the "redeemed of the Lord say so"

(Psalm 107: 1, 2).

Eulogeo, as used here, gives the ground for our praise of Him--He "spoke well of

us", whilst eulogia answers the question, How?--"in every spiritual eulogy".

But can it be that God has spoken well of us? Dare we use such a word as `eulogy' in

this connection? Certainly not if the word is seen as referring to any qualities we possess,

for what is there in us of which "to speak well"? But the verse has not yet been fully

There is truly nothing to call forth His well speaking of us--except "in Christ".

Indeed, we cannot read far into this epistle without being constantly confronted by such

phrases as "in Christ", "in Him", "in the Beloved". God can only speak well of us in

Him, and has done so according as He has bestowed upon us such abundant grace and