and to the experience of the Ephesian believers in particular. They are reminded that they did trust in Christ after that they heard the Word of truth, the gospel of their salvation. To them, as to all God’s elect, the gospel must be preached, and by them be received. How else will that be realized which is according to His purpose and after the counsel of His will? The opening section of this Epistle (1:1–14), which carries the reader into both the eternity past and that which is to come, and which