Ephesians 1:20

ἣν ἐνήργηκεν ἐν τῷ χριστῷ. This need not mean more than that God’s power was seen in operation in the case of the Christ, but (see Additional Note, p. 128) it is at least possible that, as in Galatians 3:5, ἐνεργῶν δυνάμεις ἐν ὑμῖν means ‘sets miraculous power to work in you,’ i.e. makes you centres of spiritual force, so here ἣν sc. ἐνέργειαν ἑνήργηκεν ἐν τῷ χριστῷ means that God has made the Christ the centre of spiritual force for the universe. The tense of ἐνήργηκεν suggests that the effects of the operation are felt in the present.

ἐν τῷ χριστῷ. The article suggests that the Christ is regarded as throughout one with His members, cf. on Ephesians 1:10.

ἐγείρας. See Hort on 1 Peter 1:21, where δόξαν αὐτῷ δόντα connects the thoughts of Resurrection and Ascension as here and in Ephesians 2:6.

καθίσας ἐν δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ. Cf. Psalms 110:1 κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου. Our Lord’s quotation of this Psalm (Matthew 22:44 and parallels) is taken up by St Peter on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:34. St Paul refers to it also in Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1. It supplies, with Ephesians 1:4 of the same Psalm, one of the main themes of the Epistle to the Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 12:2. The only other allusion to it is in 1 Peter 3:22. ἐν δεξιᾷ. In LXX. and in express quotations in N.T. (Matthew 22:44, &c.; Acts 2:25; Hebrews 1:13) the phrase is ἐκ δεξιῶν. With ἐν cp. Revelation 3:21 καθίσαι … ἐν τῷ θρόνῳ. The right hand of the Lord is a constant figure in the Psalms for the sovereign power of God as seen in the deliverance, support and protection of His people, and in judgement on His and their enemies.

ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις. See on Ephesians 1:3.