Would you believe that the ASV & NASB actually have one of the most dynamic renderings of the beginning of Ephesians 1.12???

I nearly fell backwards in my chair!

Look at this:

“so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” ESV

“in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.” TNIV

Bland, bland, bland!

But look at the ASV:

“to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ” ASV

“to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.” NASB95

Now granted, they pretty much fail completely right after those three words, but that’s a very good beginning for this verse. If only they could have maintained the momentum.