(From John Owen)
A.(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
B. (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
C, according to the good pleasure of his will,
D.(6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
E’.(7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
D’.(8) Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
C’, (9) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (10). That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
B.'(11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
A’.(12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Note: this pattern identified by John is similar to a proposed chiasm published by I H Thomson for Ephesians 1:3-10 in “Chiasmus in the Pauline Letters”. Journal For The Study of The New Testament Supplement Series 111, Sheffield Academic press, Sheffield, 1995.
The pattern is based on a study of the Greek syntax and gives attention to “the symmetrical disposition of its verbs and verbal parts”.
Introduction: (3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
A
a1. (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
a1. that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
B
b1,(5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
b2. according to the good pleasure of his will,
C
c1. (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace,
c2. wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
D.(7) In whom we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of sins,
C’
c’1. according to the riches of his grace;
c’2.(8) Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
B’
b’1.(9) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will,
b’2. according to his good pleasure
A’
a’1. which he hath purposed in himself:(10). That in the dispensation of the fulness of times
a’2. he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: