“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”
For he chose us in him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight — election (exelexato) before the kosmokatabolēs ('foundation of the world') reveals God's choice as pre-temporal, not reactive to human history; the purpose is holiness (hagioi) and blamelessness (amōmoi), terms drawn from Temple sacrifice and purity language, now applied to the redeemed community.
Church Fathers on Ephesians 1:4
“Even as,” he proceeds, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before Him in love.” His meaning is somewhat of this sort. Through whom He has blessed us, through Him He has also chosen us. And He, then, it is that shall bestow upon us all those rewards hereafter. He is the very Judge that shall say, “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matthew 25:34…
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