Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Foreknew (proegnw). Second aorist active indicative of proginwskw, old verb as in Acts 26:5. See Psalms 1:6 (LXX) and Matthew 7:23. This fore-knowledge and choice is placed in eternity in Ephesians 1:4.
He foreordained (prowrisen). First aorist active indicative of proorizw, late verb to appoint beforehand as in Acts 4:28; 1 Corinthians 2:7. Another compound with pro- (for eternity).
Conformed to the image (summorfouv thv eikonov). Late adjective from sun and morfh and so an inward and not merely superficial conformity. Eikwn is used of Christ as the very image of the Father (2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15). See Philippians 2:6 f. for morfh. Here we have both morfh and eikwn to express the gradual change in us till we acquire the likeness of Christ the Son of God so that we ourselves shall ultimately have the family likeness of sons of God. Glorious destiny.
That he might be (eiv to einai auton). Common idiom for purpose.
First born among many brethren (prwtotokon en polloiv adelfoiv). Christ is "first born" of all creation (Colossians 1:15), but here he is "first born from the dead" (Colossians 1:18), the Eldest Brother in this family of God's sons, though "Son" in a sense not true of us.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
John 14:16
Romans 8:17
Romans 9:23
Romans 11:2
2 Corinthians 3:18
Ephesians 1:5
Ephesians 2:19
Ephesians 3:19
Ephesians 4:24
Philippians 3:21
Colossians 1:15
Colossians 3:10
2 Thessalonians 1:11
1 Timothy 3:16
Hebrews 1:6
Hebrews 2:10
Hebrews 2:17
1 Peter 1:2
1 Peter 1:20
1 Peter 5:10
2 Peter 1:5
1 John 3:2
1 John 3:3
Revelation 22:4
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