The Longest Sentence in the Bible?
By Gary L. Fiscus, 2024
Here is a study I made and then preached on the above title. We begin with data explaining some distinction between Hebrew and Greek writing. E.G., Esther 8:9 has 80 words and 367 characters or letters. Such lengthy verses are not just about word count; they bring drama and important messages from history that still speak to us today. Each long verse carries weighty words that tell complex tales or deep thoughts from way back when people wrote on scrolls instead of computers. In the account of Esther 8:9 particulars are given by the Holy Spirit in the queen’s saving the Jews. Integral points like scribes, the third month Sivan, 23rd day, Mordecai, satraps, governors, princes, provinces, India, Ethiopia, 127 provinces, every province, every people and their language, Jews and their writing and language. These details are thick, heavy and dense. They infer many particulars not given but implied in an individual study.
Here is another example of such, this time in New Testament Greek. Read Revelation 20:4. ~ Comparing then the Hebrew words of Esther with the Greek words of Revelation we see that there are actually more words in Revelation 20:4 than in Esther 8:9. When translated into English, however, Esther 8:9 is still longer than Revelation 20:4.
I note these facts to call attention to content and purpose. It is not enough just to be a number cruncher or letter counter. What does the text say – in any language?
In our English translations Ephesians 1:3-14 is the longest sentence of the New Testament. Paul is well known for his extensive phrases; sometimes using several within one sentence. Again, regardless of length what is the weight of the matter? What is the author saying. Some tend to read through several verses, just for the sake of reading the Bible, but do not analyze the content of those verses to develop understanding of them.
Open your Bible at Ephesians 1:3-14 and read ~. Rather than be consumed or overwhelmed with the number of words, look at content and purpose. What is he telling the Ephesians? This epistle includes Jehovah’s work in the world and in the individual believer. The whole letter is about God’s being omnipresent and His purpose(s) to be fulfilled in Christ where His children are. This Ephesians 1 passage has a general theme of being “in Christ,” and accepting God’s “grace.” In fact the entire epistle lends itself to this type of composition.
From Ephesians 1:3 we learn that grammatically the subject is “God,” the verb is “blesses,” and the direct object is “us,” i.e., those who are “in Christ.” Look at a syllogism, i.e., Major Premise, minor premise, and conclusion:
MP-God does not fish for nice things to say about us.
Mp-He makes these things true of us, and then He speaks well of us about them.
Conclusion: Therefore, this sentence, [Ephesians 1:3-14] is a long statement of all the glorious things God makes true of us in Christ, Jesus.
In verse 4 we learn the first thing that He says of us: “We are chosen in Christ to be holy and flawless in His sight.” Matthew 5:48 reads, “Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” I.E., in Jesus Christ one can mature, grow, become complete. That is the blessing Paul stresses. Out of Christ one cannot enjoy the consecration of development and become spiritually adult person.
Ephesians 1:5 tells us of the importance of being in Christ is that the designation was made beforehand that Jesus was to be God’s Son, and not just A Son but by the record of Hebrews 1:5, “…Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son?” Jesus is the “only begotten Son of God.” At Ephesians 1:5 we also learn that His plan was predestined including Christians being adopted as His sons. The Lord’s family plan was for believers to enjoy the fellowship of being “in Christ.” We are members of His family. This was His plan from the beginning. Predestination does not mean individuals are predetermined for heaven or hell. As per the entire plan through the Son’s death, burial and resurrection, people can be saved. That affords all men and women who would obey the rules of adoption to enjoy that family plan of God’s.
Many corrupt the essence of “predestination.” This is done under the pretext that God chooses who will be saved and who will be lost. Predestination just means that because of God’s plan believers are designated beforehand, not to initial salvation but to a spiritual family relationship. We have the prerogative to either abide by the rules or reject them. We are not predestined to heaven or hell. That would take away the God-given gift of choice, determining our own destiny and being able to “work out my own salvation,” (Philippians 2:12). If anything is predetermined it is that God’s blessings are granted to those who love and obey Him.
In the Greek culture adopted sons became heir to the family business. Sons of course were naturally born into a family, but an adopted son would receive proper and legal recognition by following certain procedures. The son would take over when the father was no longer able. Usually, the oldest boy in the family would be trained all through his childhood on how to oversee and manage the family and the business. When the son was considered old enough to do the job the father would pass the responsibility on. With the adopted son, (with proper and legal acknowledgement), he was then him The son in charge. From then on, he had all the authority the father had had. He was able to represent the Father in all ways.
The adoption of sons has to do with the position that we as believers hold. This is true of both men and women who are Christians. We will be sons with Jesus Christ as our elder brother to God the Father. That means we will have authority from God and will represent Him to others. This is according to His good pleasure. Rev 4:11 reads, “Worthy art thou, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power: for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will (pleasure, KJV), they were and were created.” As Christians we are blessed in having God’s authority from His word. We share it with others. We are not legislators but delegates by which that word is shared, (2 Tim. 2:2; Gal. 6:6). This is Paul’s message t Ephesians 1:5.
Ephesians 1:6 states that the purpose of this text in Paul’s writing is that we will extol the glories of God’s grace! When will this be? Ephesians 2:7, “that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:10-12 “to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.” The kingdom of God, the church, is the place of justice and fairness as it is the bridal part of the family. Our vision of God’s grace might well be impeded if left to our own agenda; yet we are here now and will be there in heaven as living examples of His grace because of our love and obedience to the Father’s will.
Turn to Luke 1:28 and consider the words “highly favored,” regarding Jesus’s mother Mary. The real meaning is to be “accepted,” from the Greek charitoo. We are “highly favored,” or as some have said, “greatly graced!” This is Paul’s blessing at Ephesians 1:7, “the riches of His grace.” By God’s grace we as His family members are “highly favored” as adopted to be His sons. He has given us this grace “in the beloved one, Christ.”
At Ephesians 1:8 we note that Paul is emphasizing the word “wisdom.” This same author writes by inspiration at 1 Corinthians 1:24, “But unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” These scriptures help us understand Jehovah’s purpose in this predestined plan, and that is to save all men, Jew and Gentile by that predetermined design.
Let us go to Ephesians 1:9 and see again the “purpose and intent,” i.e., the reason for Paul’s writing this longest sentence. Paul’s authority was from Divinity. He had been shown the “mystery” that God presented before him. He even uses the words “purposed in Him.” It is not the length of the sentence nor the number of characters; it is the comprehension of God’s resolution in writing via Paul to all people that concerns us. Later at Ephesians 3:1-5 the apostle would explain even further this revelation procedure as to content. For this study we are content to study the context of Ephesians 1:9 and allow Paul to unravel the “mystery” (secret) of God and His purpose.
“In Christ,” and “in Him” is again emphasized as to the intent of this longest sentence. Read just here Ephesians 1:10. “To sum up all things in Christ…” is inclusive of why Jesus came to this earth, “…to save man from his sins…” (Matthew 1:21). The “heaven and earth” relationship is a reference to God’s authority given to Paul and the earlier apostles, (e.g., Matthew 16:19). The Lord intended, i.e., purposed in this fashion to convey His good news to all men.
“In whom” are the first two words of Ephesians 1:11. It is through Jesus that we as obedient believers become heirs, (i.e., “heritage”), as “adopted sons.” As we have repeated, the “foreordaining” is the entire gospel system. It was predetermined even before time as we know it. At Galatians 4:4 the pen of Paul wrote, “But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son…” In God’s own time He planned, i.e., foreordained the coming of the Messiah and the carrying out of His word to all mankind. This was “according to the purpose of Him.”
All of these above mentioned verses culminate at Ephesians 1:12-14. “To the end” we are provided “hope in Christ.” It is also “in Him” (v 13) that the “word of the truth, the gospel of our salvation” that we have been “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” Not only was Jehovah’s plan to spread the gospel through men like Paul, it would be a surety, guarantee, a warrant that the promises, purpose and intent would be honored by the Lord. In this manner one is “sealed” in that scheme of redemption presented by the Lord. I.E., stamped with a signet ring or a mark to indicate that the promise of God would be kept. This is not to say as some erroneously teach that one is sealed and therefore cannot be lost. No, the “seal” can be broken but only by the individual wearing it. God has assured us that He will not damage, i.e., break the seal of the relationship, but it is possible for us to crack open the seal and invite the rot of sin to spoil our salvation! It is up to us. God has done His part. We must do ours.
Finally, at Ephesians 1:14 we find language similar to the apostle’s words to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 1:2, “Who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” John revealed in Revelation 7:3, “…Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” This is symbolic grammar indicating or identifying Christians as belonging to the family of God. It is assurity again as adopted children into the Lord’s family. We are identified or sealed by the marks of being IN CHRIST! In this, the longest sentence in the English translation of the Bible we learn all the glorious things God says are true of us in Christ. In verse 5, we learned that the Lord’s entire plan was designated beforehand in order for Christians to have their family relationship as sons of God. I.E., we will be privileged to represent God in the future as we are preparing by our citizenship in His kingdom now. In verse 6, we saw that our task is extolling the glories of His grace. We indeed have every reason to be thankful.
In the remaining texts, vv 7-14, we absorb the divine concept of redemption through Jesus’ blood, the forgiveness of sins, the revealing of God’s will through the apostles, the unity in Christ, eternal inheritance, the privilege of praising His glory, being sealed by the Holy Spirit’s power, and the granting of salvation through love and obedience toward and for the Godhead! All three members of the godhead are mentioned and identified in this Ephesians 1:3-14 text. They are three separate entities with a divine purpose through the apostle Paul to express hope, love, and a view toward eternity for those who love and obey Him.