however. What God does, he does “in Christ,” a phrase repeated in one form or another eleven times throughout 1:3–14. Moreover, God’s praiseworthy deeds draw human beings into the story as receivers of God’s grace who, chosen by God, exist “for the praise of his glory” (1:12, 14). Praise … blessed us … blessing (1:3). Ephesians 1:3 begins with an expression of praise. Beneath the NIV’s “Praise be to” God lies a Greek adjective, eulogētos, which can be translated