gives a good sense, and is consistent with the force of the preposition.
The ground of this predestination and of the elec- tion founded upon it, is expressed by the clause, κατὰ τὴν εὐδοκίαν τοῦ δελήματος αὑτοῦ, according to the good pleasure of his will. The word εὐδοκία means either benevolence, favour, as in Luke 2, 143; or good pleasure, free or sovereign purpose, as in Matt. 11, 26; and Luke 10, 21. Phil. 2,13. The meaning therefore may be either: ‘according to his benevolent will,’ or ‘according to his sovereign will,’ i. 6. his good plea- sure. The latter is to be preferred. 1. Because it agrees better with the usage of the word in the N. T. In Matt. 11, 26, ὅτε οὕτως ἐγένετο εὐδοκία ἔμπροσθέν σου means, ‘ Because thus it seemed good in thy sight.’ In Luke 10, 21, the same words occur in the same sense. In Phil. 2, 19, ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐδοκίας. means, ‘Of good pleasure.’ 2. The words εὐδοκία τοῦ ϑελή- ματος naturally mean voluntas liberrima, beneplacitum, sovereign purpose ; to make them mean benevolent will, is contrary to scriptural usage. 3. In this connection it is not the predestinated that are the objects of εὐδοκία, but the act of predestination itself. God chose to have that purpose. It seemed good to him. 4. The expressions, “purpose of his will,” ‘counsel of his will,” v. 11, are used interchangeably with that in the text, and determine its meaning. 5. The analogy of Scripture is in favour of this interpretation, because the ground of election is always said to be the good pleasure of God.