for the government of the world when the times are ripe for it--the purpose which He has cherished in His own mind of restoring the whole creation to find its one Head in Christ; yes, things in Heaven and things on earth, to find their one Head in Him.

so that we who were the first to hope in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him as our Lord and Savior] would exist to the praise of His glory.

(But what does "He ascended" mean if not that He also [first] descended to the lower parts of the earth [i.e., to the earth below]? [Note: Of the three principal interpretations given to this verse: a) Christ descended to earth, b) Christ descended to the grave, c) Christ descended to Mary's womb. The first is to be preferred. See John 3:13; 6:38, 62].

Honour thy father and thy mother, - which indeed is the first commandment with promise,

Even as he made selection of us in him from the first, so that we might be holy and free from all evil before him in love:

In whom we have a heritage, being marked out from the first in his purpose who does all things in agreement with his designs;

Which is the first-fruit of our heritage, till God gets back that which is his, to the praise of his glory.

And make all men see what is the ordering of the secret which from the first has been kept in God who made all things;