The enthusiasm and eloquence of the Ephesians' author are magnificently apparent in these opening texts. Ephesians 1:3-14 is actually one very long complex sentence, into which the author weaves both the traditional opening blessing format of a formal letter, an internalized hymn and the outline of concerns and issues that will direct the rest of this epistle.

While far richer and more extensive, Ephesians 1:3-14 is similar in style to the opening texts in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 and 1 Peter 1:3-12. All of these follow the formal salutation praising God for all God's gifts. Because these texts focus on the "blessings" of God they are referred to as berakah texts. Often because of its intended content, the berakah used excerpts from known hymns of praise. In this section of Ephesians some schol…