to take a place at the second advent of Christ. Thus in Luke 21, 28, ‘They shall see the Son of man com- ing in a cloud with power and great glory;.... then lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Rom. 8, 23. Eph. 4, 30. There can be no doubt that it here refers to this final deliverance.
The word rendered purchased possession, is περι- ποίησις ; Which means either the act of acquiring, or, the thing acquired. If the former signification be adopted here, the word can only be taken as a partici- pial qualification of the preceding word. ‘The redemp- tion of acquisition,’ for ‘acquired or purchased re- demption.’ But this is unnatural. Redemption in it- self includes the idea of purchased deliverance. ‘ Pur- chased redemption’ is therefore tautological. If the word be taken for ‘the thing acquired,’ then it may refer to heaven, or the inheritance here spoken of. But heaven is never said to be redeemed. It is there- fore most naturally understood of God’s people. They are his possession, his peculium. They are in 1 Pet. 2, 9 called λαὸς εἰς περιποίησιν, a peculiar people. And in Mal. 3, 17 it is said, They shall be to me for a possession, ἔσονταί μοι eis περιποίησιν. Comp. Acts 20, 28, ἐκκλησία ἣν περιεποιήσατο. ‘This interpretation is, therefore, peculiarly suited to the scriptural usage, and the sense is perfectly appropriate. Ye are sealed, says the apostle, until the redemption of God’s peculiar people ; 1. 6. unto the great day of redemption spoken of in 4, 80.
Unto the praise of his glory, i. 6. that his glory or
CHAP. I. vs. 15-23. 67
excellence should be praised. Comp. vs. 6 and 12. This is the end both of the final redemption and of the present acceptance of believers. This clause, there- fore, is to be referred to the whole of the preceding passage. Ye have received an inheritance, have been sealed, and have received the Holy Spirit as an earnest, in order that God may be glorified. This is the last and highest end of redemption.