Whom or Him?
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace Ephesians 1:7 NASB
Him – There’s no debate about the Greek. The word is ho (since it precedes a vowel it is not hos). There’s also no debate that the word means “who, which, whom, that,” or “this.” It is a relative pronoun. What is quite clear is that this word is not autos or any of its forms. So the translation “Him” is an interpolation. The NASB recognizes this in a footnote, “lit. whom.” So what does the ho refer to? Who is the “whom”?
I suppose we can’t answer this question until we have thoroughly investigated the use of the pronouns in the rest of the sentence. Actually, Ephesians 1:3 to 1:14 is a single, run-on sentence (Paul doesn’t get high marks in English grammar). So we need to look at the whole section to determine the pronoun designation. The opening sentence (v. 1-2) clearly distinguishes “God our Father” from “the Lord Yeshua HaMashiach.” Verse 3 states that God is the Father of Yeshua HaMashiach and the article before the verb eulogesas (“has blessed”) certainly refers to God, not to “our Lord Jesus Christ.” In fact, from this point on, it is God who:
- blesses us with every spiritual blessing
- chooses us before the foundation of the world
- predestines us to adoption
- is praised for grace freely bestowed
Then comes the verse in question. Do you suppose that Paul is switching subjects in the middle of a continuous sentence with a relative pronoun that refers to Yeshua who has not been the subject of any of the verbs Paul has used to this point? If the verse is translated as it is written with the normal meaning of hos, then the pronoun should be “whom,” not “him.” That means the sentence says that God provides redemption through the blood of the Son, not that the Son provides redemption through his own blood. This reading is fully consistent with the numerous expressions in the Tanakh that God alone is the One who saves. The sacrifice that brings salvation is accomplished through the blood offered, but it is not the blood that saves nor is it the Messiah who saves. These are vehicles by which YHVH saves.
The rest of the verse and the following statement should have made this clear. We are saved “according to the riches of His grace.” The relative pronoun once again refers to the only true subject of this run-on sentence, that is, YHVH. The next two verses recall YHVH’s freely given offer and the “mystery” of His will.
With this linguistic, grammatical and prior Scriptural evidence, why did the translators of the NASB choose to insert “Him” instead of “whom”? The answer seems to be that they are committed to a Trinitarian view. By glossing ho as “Him,” they subtly shift the subject of the sentence from YHVH to Yeshua, who then becomes the person who saves rather than the means by which salvation is accomplished.
Can I suggest that we re-read Ephesians as a non-Trinitarian text. It seems to me that Paul is giving us a hymn to whom, not a whom to him.
Topical Index: whom, hos, him, Trinity, Ephesians 1:7
Interesting….Would’nt it have been an abomination to worship,pray to,adore, the sacrifice on the alter?
Skip, How does this relate to “being in Christ” like in Rom.3-24?
I think this is best answered by Cheryl Durham since she did her PhD thesis on the technical term, “in Christ” Hopefully she will see this an reply
“A hymn to whom, not a whom to him”–Love the play on words. Your humor is showing through here this morning. Thanks, Skip.
Yeah, sometimes the way the text gets changed is just laughable.
A grin for your clever use of homonym.
My son has been studying The Didache at Kings University and questions your dating of it in light of its Jewish-centric orientation. Could you explain why you believe it is not a first century composition (or have I misunderstood the entire matter)?
I assume you are referring to an earlier post (More or Less) that discusses the Didache with regard to the Trinity. I included a link in that post about the controversy surrounding the dating of this document. Is that what you mean?
But doesn’t Skip posit that Yeshua does NOT exactly fit the description of the sacrificial sin offering upon that altar?
oooh….please continue with pronouns thru Eph 1:14…next post?
Certainly Peter agrees with this, as he writes in 1 Peter 1 that because of what Christ has done our faith and hope are in YHWH.
Asking Abraham
One of the most influential, life-changing “revelations” I have ever have come across, was the “na” (or hidden “please”) spoken by God to His friend, Abraham.
God (Mighty God, – El Elyon – the God of Heaven’s Armies) said “please?” — This is no commanding “Zeus!”
And then, there is this.. ~ Behold, I stand at the door and knock.. if “any man” hears My voice and opens the door.. I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me. ~ (Revelation 3.20)
And then there is this.. ~Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls ~
We have, beyond any doubt, uncertainty or peradventure, a God who speaks. Is a quick review in order? God spoke and.. — this green planet was created. He spoke everything into existence.
“And God said… ____________ and there was _____________ .” He created [and creates!] “Life” by speaking!
Then we see God speaking through the prophets. Holy men of God, each chosen by God for His purposes. Moses was another mouthpiece. God’s command (request?) of Moses was for him to “speak unto the children of Israel and say..” And we read in the scriptures of each of the prophets.. “and the word of the LORD came unto… (this one or that one..) God spoke to each of them and then, they in turn repeated whatever God had said unto the people. Jonah, I’ve got a job for you.. “go unto the people of Nineveh and say unto them…”
Ahh.. “but that was then…- this is now,” we might say. Does the One who spoke, still speak?
What do the Scriptures say? “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.” “But..” (always transitional!) — but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the Heir of all things, through whom also He created the world.
The Son of God, and the Word of God incarnate or (made flesh). Yes, He is Yeshua, Jesus, who is the Christ, the Messiah, the risen and now reigning Living Word. His words of Life (and His personal invitation) are unto “whosoever will,..” —
~ Come unto Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I AM meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls ~
Who’s Tangue is Toungled?
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7)
“Him” refers to “He,” the One who was wounded for our transgressions, the One who was bruised for our iniquities, the One upon whom fell the chastisement for our peace, and the One by whose stripes we are healed. The One refers to the Messiah, the Prince of Peace. The One refers to Him who conquered Death, Sin and the Grave. The One refers to our Savior and Redeemer and ever Living, ever interceding, LORD of lords and King of kings.
The One refers to Him who “went about doing good,” healing the sick, the blind, the deaf, the halt, the diseased. The One refers to the Christ, the Messiah, the LORD of the dead and of the Living. The One refers to Him who said, “All authority has been given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth. The One refers to Him who said, “I and My Father are One.” “All things” were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.
The One, according to the words of John the Immerser, is Him Who stands among you, —One whom you do not know, and “This is One who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
It is also written of Him in Revelation 19.12: And I saw Heaven opened and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.. And THIS is why we do “err,” not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God! And when He again brings the Firstborn into the world, He says, — “AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.”
~ [and] When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, — “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” ~
[Yes], the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to [those of] us who are being saved it is the power of God.
[and may] God forbid that I should [ever] glory, save in the cross of our LORD Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Amen.
Amen, Carl. You know that One, whom the Scriptures speak of
from beginning to end. I know Him, too.
Today’s TW and the resulting responses reminds me of Gruber’s statement in Copernicus and the Jews:
“Don’t tell me what the text means. Tell me what the texts says. Many people cannot do that. They cannot see the text. Their tradition tells them what the text means and that’s all they can see. In a sense they really don’t care what the text says. They see no need to see things from outside their traditions.” Thank you Skip for telling us what the text says.
Amein v’amein, Skip, “This reading is fully consistent with the numerous expressions in the Tanakh that God alone is the One who saves.” through Messiah, the Son who is a vessel/instrument through whom YHWH saves.
Carl has gotten it wrong, missing what Skip is pointing to.
These Bible translations have it as “Whom”/YHWH, and not “Him”/Messiah-
KJV, ASV, YLT, DBY, WEB, HNV, BBE, ERV.