For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, As the first chapter treated of THE FATHER'S office; the second, THE SON'S; so this, that of THE SPIRIT. OF JESUS CHRIST - Greek, 'Christ Jesus' (Philemon 1:13): the office is thus prominent; the person in the English version.... [ Continue Reading ]
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: (IF - not doubt [ ei-ge (G1489), 'if indeed']: 'assuming (what I know to be the fact, namely) that ye have heard,' etc. The indicative (Greek) implies: 'seeing that doubtless,' etc. He delicately reminds them... [ Continue Reading ]
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, HE MADE KNOWN. 'Aleph (') A B C Delta G f g, Vulgate, read 'that by way of revelation was the mystery (namely, of the admission of the Gentiles, ) made known [egnoristhe for egnorise] unto me' (; ). AS (THE... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) WHEREBY - `according to which,' writing in brief (Ephesians 3:3). UNDERSTAND MY KNOWLEDGE, [ noeesai (G3539) sunesin (G4907), 'observe my insight:' sunienai (G4920), to comprehend; noein, to perceive, observe, noti... [ Continue Reading ]
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; IN OTHER AGES - Greek, 'generations.' NOT MADE KNOWN. He does not say revealed. Making known by revelation is the source of making known by preaching (Bengel).... [ Continue Reading ]
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Translate, 'That the Gentiles are,' etc., 'and fellow-corporate [ sussooma (G4954)] and fellow-partakers of the ('Aleph (') A B C Delta, omit 'His') promise (of salvation) in (by l... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. WHEREOF - `of which' Gospel. ACCORDING TO - in consequence of, and in accordance with, "the gift of the grace of God." GIVEN - `which (gift of grace) was given to me,... [ Continue Reading ]
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; AM - not merely was I, but still am the least worthy of so high an office (cf. ). LEAST OF ALL SAINTS - not merely 'of all apostles' (1 Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: TO MAKE ALL MEN SEE, [ phootisai (G5461)] - not merely to preach, but, by the Spirit in the Word, 'to enlighten all' (Ephesians 1:18;... [ Continue Reading ]
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, God's design in giving Paul grace to proclaim to the Gentiles the mystery of salvation heretofore hidden. NOW - first: opposed to 'hidden from the beginning of t... [ Continue Reading ]
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: WHICH HE PURPOSED - Greek, made (to be fulfilled) in Christ Jesus' ().... [ Continue Reading ]
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Translate, 'Our boldness and our access () in confidence through our faith in Him.' 'THE access' (Greek); the formal introduction into a monarch's presence. Esther had access, but not access with confidence (, "So will I go... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. WHEREFORE - since our spiritual privileges are such (), 'I entreat you not to be dispirited' [ engkakein (G1457a)]: so intimate was their Christian union with him that they were in danger of losing heart at his... [ Continue Reading ]
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, FOR THIS CAUSE - resuming Ephesians 3:1, "For this cause." Because ye are so loved and favoured by God. BOW MY KNEES - the proper attitude in prayer. Posture affects the mind, and is therefore not unimportant. See Paul's p... [ Continue Reading ]
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, THE WHOLE FAMILY. Middleton, Ellicott, etc., translate, 'every family'-alluding to the several families in heaven and in earth supposed to exist (Theophylact) - the apostle thus implying that God, as Father to us His adopted children, is the... [ Continue Reading ]
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; ACCORDING TO - i:e., in abundance, consonant to the riches of His glory; not "according to" the narrowness of our hearts (Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:7). Colossians 1:11, ... [ Continue Reading ]
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, THAT - so that. DWELL, [ katoikeesai (G2730)] - abidingly (John 14:16; John 14:18; John 14:23). Where the Spirit is, there Christ is. BY FAITH - Greek, 'through faith,' which opens the door of the heart... [ Continue Reading ]
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; MAY BE ABLE - even still further: [ exischuseete (G1840)] 'May be fully able.' BREADTH, AND LENGTH, AND DEPTH, AND HEIGHT - namely, the full dimensions of the spiritual temple, answering to "the fu... [ Continue Reading ]
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. PASSETH - surpasseth. The paradox, "to know ... which passeth knowledge," implies that by "know" he does not mean that we can adequately know: all we know is, that His love exceeds far ou... [ Continue Reading ]
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, UNTO HIM - contrasted with ourselves and our needs. Translate, 'th... [ Continue Reading ]
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Translate, 'Unto Him be the glory (i:e., of the gracious dispensation of salvation just spoken of) in the Church (as the theater for its manifestation, ) in Christ Jesus (the only element wherein glory i... [ Continue Reading ]