Ephesians 1:12 - The march of history

"...unto us to being unto the praise of His glory, the [ones] having been first to hope in Christ..."

-Some suggest that Paul here in these next few verses slips into distinguishing between Gentiles and Jews and that here in verse 12 Paul is refering to Jews who had believed in Christ, those who first heard the Gospel in Jerusalem before the Message got out to the Gentiles and who were part of the extended people who are described throughout the OT as God’s lot, His portion and inheritance (Deuteronomy 32.9, Jeremiah 10.16).  So some would say that in this verse he is delineating between the two ethnic groups just as he does in Ephesians 2.11 and 3.1.  There is no doubt that Paul makes that distinction in this letter and elsewhere (and he specifically states in Romans 1.16 that the Jews were first).  The only problem is that we know that this assembly in Ephesus was initially launched in the synagogue and consisted of both Jewish and Gentile believers (Acts 19.10).  It doesn’t make sense for him to be characterizing the entire assembly in Ephesus as exclusively a Gentile one.

-Alternatively then, whether Paul is perhaps referring to the band of apostles, or to a more inclusive-but-indistinct group of early believers (which I believe is more likely) is actually of little importance.  His salient point is that the outcome of what God has done in all He has done is that there is an expanding group of people who have turned from trusting in themselves (their own works) in order to make themselves right with God, to trusting in God’s Messiah (in Christ’s work on the Cross), in His true provision for their sin.  They are true worshippers who are now and will forever be celebrating (and spreading the knowledge of) God's breathtaking goodness, praising His glory.  They have been caught up into and have joined the great chorus of praise declaring the excellencies of the One Who has in His wisdom and grand plan orchestrated all the events of history to culminate in the sacrifice of His Son once for all so that those who believe in Him can indeed be forgiven and brought into His forever family.  The entire march of history has played out exactly as He wanted.  No missteps, no mistakes, no hanging chads or extraneous details, everything just as He desired.  Praise indeed be to God for His glory and grace...