Eph 1:3:
in heavenly places: A better sense may be “in heavenly realms”
because of the context. The Greek plural expression εν τοις
επουρανιοις (en tois epouraniois)
mean literally “in the heavenlies.” (The phrase occurs also in 1:20; 2:6; 3:10;
6:12). On the one hand, we are dealing with the celestial region both where the
action took place in a premotal setting and where bold action occurs that not
only assists us in our present personal struggles but also will settle
important issues at the end-time (see 6:12). The future triumphs of Jesus in
all realms—in heaven, on the earth, and under the earth—will make it possible
for us to take our places with him (see 2:6-7; 4:7-10; and Philip. 2:10;
3:20-21). On the other hand, the expression in Ephesians always has to do with
a place, a locale. That is, it is the place of Christ’s throne (1:20), the
location of the thrones of those raised to be with Christ (2:6), the locale of “the
principalities and powers” in the unseen world (3:10), and possibly the place of
“powers” hostile to the Saints (6:11-13). Hence, one gets the sense that,
except possibly an abode that houses inimical forces, Paul is here pointing to
a celestial locale prepared for the faithful, elsewhere called “mansions” in
the house of the father (see John 14:2; D&C 59;2; 72:4; etc.; the Notes on
1:20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12; and the Analysis of 1:15-23). (S. Kent Brown, The
Epistle to the Ephesians [Brigham Young University New Testament
Commentary; Provo, Utah: BYU Studies, 2023], 43)
Eph 6:12:
in high places: On four earlier occasions, we have encountered the
Greek phrase (εν τοις επουρανιοις, en tois epouraniois), translated in the KJV
as “in (the) heavenly places” (1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10). In all these cases, this
celestial region links to Christ and his work, except this last one. Obviously,
the phrase in 6:12 pertains to a realm of evil. This territory differs markedly
from the area “far above all heavens” where Christ ascended after his
Resurrection (4:10). Instead, we are to think of a lower region through which
Jesus passed both on his way into this world (see John 1:14) and into the world
of departed spirits (see 4:9). For, when coming into this world, Jesus shined “in
darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:5). The verb translated
“comprehended” is the past tense of GK (katalambanō), whose basic sense
in this passage is “to seize” or “to arrest.” Hence, it appears that during his
descent into this world Christ was set upon by powers above the earth that tried
to interrupt his arrival as the infant Jesus (see D&C 6:21; 39:2-3; 45:7-8;
the Notes on1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10; and the Analysis of 1:15-23). (Ιbid., 560)
