Title The oldest known form is the briefest, To (the) Ephesians. So in the "Subscription" to the Epistle, which see. The title as in the Authorized Version agrees with that adopted in the editions of the Greek Testament printed (1624, 1633), at Leyden by the brothers B. and A. Elzevir.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ephesians 1:1-2. Greeting 1. _Paul_ See Acts 13:9 for the first occurrence of this name of the Apostle. He probably bore, from infancy, both the two names, _Saul_(_Saoul, Saulus_) and _Paulus_, the first as a Hebrew home-name, the latter for use in the Gentile world. Paulus (Paul) would thus natura... [ Continue Reading ]
_Grace_be _to you, and peace_ So in the opening words of Rom., 1 Cor., 2 Cor., Gal., Phil., Col., 1 Thess., 2 Thess., Philem., 1 Pet., 2 Pet., and Rev. In the Pastoral Epistles, and in 2 John, the remarkable addition "mercy" appears; in Jude, "mercy, peace, and love." In these salutations, "Grace" i... [ Continue Reading ]
Ascription of Praise, in view of the Election and Redemption of the Saints 3. _Blessed_be _the God_, &c. The same Benediction occurs (verbatim in the Greek, nearly so in A. V.), 2 Corinthians 1:3; 1 Peter 1:3. Observe the different motive of the same phrase in each case. The word rendered "Blessed... [ Continue Reading ]
_According as he hath chosen_, &c. Better, ACCORDING AS HE CHOSE, &c. The time-reference is the same as just above; to the Divine premundane deed of purpose. "_Chosen_": out of mankind. See Romans 8:33 and its context for commentary on the idea of the word. The word "elect" (chosen) is generally use... [ Continue Reading ]
_Having predestinated us_ Again an aorist, not a perfect, in the Greek; referring to a definite past act. For the same word, in the Greek, cp. Ephesians 1:11; Acts 4:28 (E. V. "determined"); Romans 8:29-30; 1 Corinthians 2:7 (E. V. "ordained"). It is lit. "to define, mark out, set apart, beforehand.... [ Continue Reading ]
_To the praise_, &c. I. e., that the _grace_of Redemption might be adored and _praised_in respect of that _glory_of God which is the harmony of His attributes, His Character. See Romans 3:23 and note in this Series. Possibly, but far less probably, the meaning is "that praise may be rendered for the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherein he hath abounded_ Better, probably, WHICH HE MADE TO ABOUND; at the time of manifestation and impartation, the great crisis of the Gospel proclamation. This time-reference is fixed by the next verse. Ideally, and for the Church as a body, this time was _one;_actually, for individuals, it is... [ Continue Reading ]
_Having made known_ An aorist participle. The time-reference is to the actual revelation of the Gospel. Cp. e.g. Romans 3:21; Romans 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 1:10. And see last note. _unto us_ the believing Church; as throughout this passage. No special reference to St Paul, or other Apostles, is intend... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the dispensation_, &c. Lit., IN VIEW OF THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE FULNESS OF THE SEASONS. The word rendered "dispensation" is lit. "stewardship, house-management." Its special meaning here seems to be that the eternal Son is the True Steward in the great House of the Father's spiritual Church; and... [ Continue Reading ]
_In whom also we_ "We" is not emphatic. The emphasis ("also" or "even") is on the actual attainment, not on the persons attaining. Not only was the "mystery made known to us," but we came _in fact_to share its blessing. _have obtained an inheritance_ Better, WERE TAKEN INTO THE INHERITANCE, made pa... [ Continue Reading ]
_That we should be_, &c. On the _time when_of this, see next note but one, at the end. _his glory_ His revealed Character, of which the Gospel of the Son is the grand illustration; being thus "the Gospel of the glory of the blissful God" (1 Timothy 1:11; and cp. 2 Corinthians 4:4, "the Gospel of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_In whom ye also_trusted] Here then (see last note) the thought moves from the general case of Christians to the particular case of the Ephesian Christians; "_we_" includes "_you_." The verb "trusted" is supplied by A. V. In R. V. we have: "In Whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the go... [ Continue Reading ]
_the earnest_ The Gr. word is _arrhabôn_. It appears in the LXX. (only in Genesis 38:17-18; Genesis 38:20); in the later Greek classics (e.g. Aristotle); and in the Latin classics. It is Shemitic (Heb. _"êrâbhôn_, Genesis 38) by derivation. See further, Additional Note, p. 164. It probably reached t... [ Continue Reading ]
Prayer, that the Saints may fully realize their Divine privileges and prospects in Christ 15. _Wherefore_, &c.. The Apostle now passes from the adoring view of Divine Redemption to prayer that its treasures of grace may be realized in the whole experience and life of the saints. And this he does, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_cease not_, &c. For similar thanksgivings cp. Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Philippians 1:3; Col 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 1Th 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Philemon 1:4. The thanks were literally "unceasing" in principle, and, in practice, came out on _every_fit occasion. _maki... [ Continue Reading ]
_the God of our Lord Jesus Christ_ Cp. the Saviour's own words on the Cross, "Eli, Eli" (Matthew 27:46); and after Resurrection (John 20:17), "I ascend unto … my God." See also John 4:22. The Father is the God of the Son Incarnate, in a sense which, however partially, we may be said to understand. H... [ Continue Reading ]
_The eyes_, &c. The Gr. grammar here is free, and difficult to analyse. We may explain it either, "[that He may grant you to be] enlightened in your eyes," or, "[grant] your eyes enlightenment." But the meaning is unmistakable, and well conveyed in A. V. For the metaphor, cp. Psalms 119:18; Matthew... [ Continue Reading ]
_And what is the exceeding greatness_, &c. The Gr. word rendered "exceeding" is, with its cognates, found, in the N. T., in St Paul's writings only; a characteristic of the ardour of his style. The passages are Romans 7:13; 1 Corinthians 12:31; 2Co 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 4:7; 2Co 4:1... [ Continue Reading ]
_which he wrought_ The verb is aorist. Another reading, but without equal support, gives the perfect: "He _hath_wrought." The time-reference is to the actual past crisis of the Lord's exaltation. _in Christ_ In the supreme instance of Christ. Cp. "_in me_" 1 Timothy 1:16. Olshausen (quoted by Bp Ell... [ Continue Reading ]
_and hath put_ Lit. AND DID PUT; at the great act of Enthronement after Resurrection. Cp. 1 Corinthians 15:27 &c., where we have explicit reference to Psalms 110:1, and in a way which suggests here the interpretation that the subjection of all things was then accomplished in the _earnest_, but is no... [ Continue Reading ]