“BLESSED” AND “BLESSED”
(TWO DIFFERENT WORDS)
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 INTERESTINGLY, there are two different words translated “blessed” in the New Testament. They are (1) makaríos and (2) eulogetós (with its similar variants). The first word means to be happy and fortunate; the second involves speaking well of, to praise, eulogize, and when applied to man, invoking a benediction (blessing) upon.
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“Blessed” (Happy, Fortunate)
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 (1) Makaríos is well illustrated by the beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. They start with the words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). In rapid succession the others follow (but not without great depth of meaning, which prompts us to pause and think about them): “Blessed are they that mourn… Blessed are the meek…Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness…Blessed are the merciful…Blessed are the pure in heart… Blessed are the peacemakers…Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake…” (Matthew 5:4-12). In the midst of these beatitudes one especially stands out, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” This beatitude seems to show the over-all jest of all of them considered together, moving toward and attaining the righteousness of God. Blessedness or true happiness does not come by seeking after happiness, but it comes rather by seeking after God—hungering and thirsting after righteousness. It is a by-product of being right with God. Each of the beatitudes seems to logically follow those that go before them. Then when finally this righteousness is attained, we will be persecuted for it—“persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” Happy is the person who embraces and personally experiences the truths of each beatitude, now, even climaxing in persecution, and ultimately in eternity. “Rejoice, and be ye exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven…”
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“Blessed” (Praise, Eulogize)
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 (2) Eulogetós (with its similar variants) is represented in Ephesians 1:3. “Blessed [eulogetós] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed [eulogéo] us with all spiritual blessings [eulogía] in heavenly places in Christ.” The Great God of eternity is to be “blessed” (praised and eulogized) because He has “blessed” or invoked great and wonderful things upon us in well-spoken words. This eulogy of God in what He has done for us through Christ begins with this verse 3 and extends through verse 14, all said to be one sentence. Paul keeps tacking one great thought right on to another in the praise of God. God is to be praised, not by saying, “Praise the Lord,” but by eulogizing Him; sayings good things about Him. Paul here repeatedly speaks of all of this being “to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:6,12,14). It is truly marvelous to think about what is said here.
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 The scope of this eulogy praising God is from everlasting to everlasting with the Lord Jesus Christ and man being in the very center of what is being said. The spiritual blessings that we are now enjoying in Christ are because God has “chosen us in him [Christ] before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). And he goes on to say, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (1:5). Included in what is said here is praise for God’s grace (1:6), redemption through the blood of Christ (1:7), how that heaven and earth have been brought together in Christ (1:10), the eternal inheritance that awaits us in Christ (1:11), and the assurance that we have of it now with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1:12-14). Marvelous! Amazing!
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Questions Prompted by
“Chosen” and “Predestinated”
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 Some questions are prompted by Paul saying that Christians are chosen “in him [Christ] before the foundation of the world.” The word “predestined” is also found here (1:5,11). In what sense are we chosen (or “predestinated”)? (And he says that it is all “according to the good pleasure of his will,” 1:5). God, with total omniscience, knew that man would sin and need a Savior, even before man was created. God’s plan called for Christ (1 Peter 1:18-20). And Christians are spoken of as being chosen “in him” (in Christ) from all eternity. 
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 But when Paul speaks of Christians being chosen “in him,” is he speaking generally or specifically? 
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 If he is speaking in a general sense, John 3:16 comes to mind. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” And the “good pleasure of his will” is that “whosoever will” (Revelation 22:17) may be saved (God leaves it up to us). In 1 Timothy 2:4, it declares that God “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” Then 2 Peter 3:9 asserts that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (And even after becoming Christians we are admonished to make our “calling and election sure,” 2 Peter 1:10). If Paul is speaking generally in Ephesians, it collectively speaks of “whosoever will” being chosen “in him” (with the emphasis being on “in him,” in what Christ has done in dying for all). 
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 However, if Paul is speaking specifically when he says that we are chosen or predestinated, that we have individually been picked out from eternity, this adds another dimension to our study. According to Romans 8:29, foreknowledge came before predestination. God foreknew and then He predestinated. The predestination did not come first. What did God foreknow? Being God, and knowing all things from the beginning, He could look down through the ages and see, even individually see, who would have good and honest hearts and of their own free will and volition accept the Savior. These are the “whosoever will” mentioned in the Scriptures. God, in essence says, “It is the good pleasure of my will to choose these people. I choose and predestinate them to be conformed to the image of my Son, holy and without blame in love.” So, Biblical predestination is all interwoven with the foreknowledge of God that goes before it. It is not an over-riding of man’s free will, but knowing in advance and telling us about it. 
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 How wonderful to know all of this, and with the apostle Paul, praise Him who from all eternity has brought it about. “Blessed” be the God and Father of us all! Amen!
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