(1) The salutation, Ephesians 1:1. (2) The doctrine of predestination, and its hearing and design, Ephesians 1:3. * It is the foundation of praise to God, and is a source of gratitude, Ephesians 1:3. * Christians have been chosen before the foundation of the world, Ephesians 1:4. * The object... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL, AN APOSTLE; - see the notes at Romans 1:1. BY THE WILL OF GOD - see the notes at 1 Corinthians 1:1. TO THE SAINTS - A name often given to Christians because they are holy; see the notes at 1 Corinthians 1:2. IN EPHESUS - see the introduction, sections 1 and 5. AND TO THE FAITHFUL IN CHRIST... [ Continue Reading ]
GRACE TO YOU, ... - see the notes, Romans 1:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - This commences a sentence which continues to the close of Ephesians 1:12. The length of the periods in the writings of Paul, is one cause of the obscurity of his style, and renders an explanation often difficult. The meaning of this phrase is,... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING AS - The importance of this verse will render proper a somewhat minute examination of the words and phrases of which it is composed. The general sense of the passage is, that these blessings pertaining to heaven were bestowed upon Christians in accordance with an eternal purpose. They were... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING PREDESTINATED US - On the meaning of the word here used, see the notes at Romans 1:4; Romans 8:29, note. The word used πρωρίζω prōrizō means properly “to set bounds before;” and then to “pre-determine.” There is the essential idea of setting bounds or limits, and of doing this beforehand.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE - This is a Hebraism, and means the same as “to his glorious grace.” The object was to excite thanksgiving for his glorious grace manifested in electing love. The real tendency of the doctrine in minds that are properly affected, is not to excite opposition to... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION - On the meaning of the word here rendered “redemption” - (ἀπολύτρωσις apolutrōsis) - see the notes at Romans 3:24. The word here, as there, denotes that deliverance from sin and from the evil consequences of sin, which has been procured by the atonement made by the Lor... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREIN HE HATH ABOUNDED - Which he has liberally manifested to us This grace has not been stinted and confined, but has been liberal and abundant. IN ALL WISDOM - That is, he has evinced great wisdom in the plan of salvation; wisdom in so saving people as to secure the honor of his own law, and in... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING MADE KNOWN TO US THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL - The word “mystery” (μυστήριον mustērion) means literally something into which one must be “initiated” before it is fully known (from μυέω _mueō_, to initiate, to instruct); and then anything which is concealed or hidden. We commonly use the word... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT IN THE DISPENSATION - The word rendered here as “dispensation,” οἰκονομία oikonomia, means properly “the management of household affairs.” Then it means stewardship or administration; a dispensation or arrangement of things: a scheme or plan. The meaning here is, that this plan was formed in... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHOM ALSO WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE - We who are Christians. Most commentators suppose that by the word “we” the Jews particularly are intended, and that it stands in contradistinction from “ye,” as referring to the Gentiles, in Ephesians 1:13. This construction, they suppose is demanded by... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WE SHOULD BE TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY - Should be the occasion or the means of celebrating his glory; or that praise should be ascribed to him as the result of our salvation. WHO FIRST TRUSTED IN CHRIST - Margin, “hoped.” This is in accordance with the original. The foundation of their “hope”... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHOM YE ALSO TRUSTED - This stands in contrast with those who had “first” embraced the gospel. HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH - The gospel; called the “word” or message of truth, the word of God, etc. See Romans 10:17. The phrase “the word of truth” means “the true word or message.” It was a message un... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IS THE EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE - On the meaning of this, see the notes at 2 Corinthians 1:22. UNTIL THE REDEMPTION - see the notes at Romans 8:23. The meaning here is, we have the Holy Spirit as the pledge that that shall be ours, and the Holy Spirit will be imparted to us until we enter o... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, I ALSO, AFTER I HEARD OF YOUR FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS - This is one of the passages usually relied on by those who suppose that this Epistle was not written to the Ephesians. The argument is, that he writes to them as if they were strangers to him, and that it is not language such as woul... [ Continue Reading ]
CEASE NOT TO GIVE THANKS FOR YOU - In the prosperity of the church at Ephesus he could not but feel the deepest interest, and their welfare he never forgot. MAKING MENTION OF YOU IN MY PRAYERS - Paul was far distant from them, and expected to see them no more. But he had faith in prayer, and he sou... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - The God who has sent the Lord Jesus into the world, and appointed him as the Mediator between himself and man. The particular reason why Paul here speaks of him as “the God of the Lord Jesus” is, that he prays that they might be further acquainted with the Red... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EYES OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING BEING ENLIGHTENED - The construction here in the Greek is, probably, “that he may give you (δώη dōē, Ephesians 1:17) the Spirit of wisdom, etc. - eyes of the understanding enlightened,” etc. Or the phrase, “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened,” may be i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHAT IS THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER - On the language used here, compare the notes at 2 Corinthians 4:17. There is much emphasis and energy of expression here, as if the apostle were laboring under the greatness of his theme, and wanted words to express the magnitude of his conception.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HE WROUGHT IN CHRIST - Which he exerted in relation to the Lord Jesus when he was dead. The “power” which was then exerted was as great as that of creation. It was imparting life to a cold and “mangled” frame. It was to open again the arteries and veins, and teach the heart to beat and the lun... [ Continue Reading ]
FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITY - The general sense in this verse is, that the Lord Jesus was exalted to the highest conceivable dignity and honor; compare Philippians 2:9; Colossians 2:10. In this beautiful and most important passage, the apostle labors for words to convey the greatness of his conceptio... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HATH PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET - See the notes at 1 Corinthians 15:27. AND GAVE HIM TO BE THE HEAD OVER ALL THINGS - Appointed him to be the supreme ruler. TO THE CHURCH - With reference to the church, or for ira benefit and welfare: see the notes or, John 17:2. The universe is under his c... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IS HIS BODY - This comparison of the church with “a person” or body, of which the Lord Jesus is the head, is not uncommon in the New Testament; compare the notes at 1Co 11:3; 1 Corinthians 12:27, note; Ephesians 4:15, notes. THE FULNESS OF HIM - The word rendered here as “fulness” - πλήρωμα p... [ Continue Reading ]