The letter to the Ephesians begins with the phrase "...to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus." This question considers the manuscript evidence surrounding the words in Ephesus which are not found in a small number of manuscripts, but those manuscripts are considered among the best.
Based on the manuscripts, the letter might be addressed to τοῖς ἁγίοις τοῖς οὖσιν καὶ πιστοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ
or it might be addressed to τοῖς ἁγίοις τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν Ἐφέσῳ καὶ πιστοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ
.
- the saints who are [and?] faithful in Christ Jesus
- the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus
Assuming in Ephesus is included is there still a question about who exactly is addressed? Is there a single group, the saints, known by two characteristics, in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus?
- Option A [One Group]: τοῖς ἁγίοις [the saints]
- Characteristic 1: τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν Ἐφέσῳ [those in Ephesus]
- Characteristic 2: πιστοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ [faithful in Christ Jesus]
Or are there two different groups, the saints in Ephesus and [those] faithful in Christ Jesus?
- Option B: [Group 1]: τοῖς ἁγίοις [the saints] τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν Ἐφέσῳ [the saints, those being in Ephesus]
- Option B: [Group 2]: πιστοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ [and faithful in Christ Jesus]
Or are there two different groups of saints, those in Ephesus and those faithful in Christ Jesus?
- Option C: [Group 1]: τοῖς ἁγίοις τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν Ἐφέσῳ [(the saints) those being in Ephesus]
- Option C: [Group 2]: [τοῖς ἁγίοις] πιστοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ [(the saints) and faithful in Christ Jesus]
Which option is grammatically preferable?