Ephesians 1:12

To the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ.

Unto the praise of his glory ... The great purpose for which God created men is that of glorifying God. The catechisms used for ages often begin with this very fact. The Westminster Shorter Catechism has this: Question: What is the chief end of man? Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.[25] See more on this under Galatians 1:5.

Who had before hoped in Christ ... This is generally interpreted to mean that the Jewish dispensation looked to the coming of Christ, hoping for the deliverance that he would bring. Anna and Simeon are representative of those who did this; but, despite the popularity of this explanation, there is also the glaring possibility that the clause might very well be a qualifier of them who shall be "unto the praise of God's glory," the same being limited to those, and only those, who had before that future event, laid hold upon the hope in Christ. Even if we agree with the vast majority of the scholars who interpret it differently, it must be admitted that the alternate understanding suggested here does no violence to the truth.