This chapter Ephesians 2 is closely connected in sense with the preceding, and should not have been separated from it. The great object is to illustrate the subject which was commenced in the previous chapter Ephesians 2:19 - the greatness of the power of God, evinced in the salvation of his people.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YOU HATH HE QUICKENED - The words “hath he quickened,” or “made to live,” are supplied, but not improperly, by our translators. The object of the apostle is to show the great power which God had evinced toward the people Ephesians 1:19; and to show that this was put forth in connection with the... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREIN - In which sins, or in the practice of which transgressions. YE WALKED - You lived, life being often compared to a journey or a race. note, Romans 6:4. ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD - In conformity with the customs and manners of the world at large. The word rendered here as “world”... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ALL HAD OUR CONVERSATION - see the notes at 2 Corinthians 1:12; compare 1 Peter 4:3. IN THE LUSTS OF OUR FLESH - Living to gratify the flesh, or the propensities of a corrupt nature. It is observable here that the apostle changes the form of the address from “ye” to “we,” thus including himself w... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GOD, WHO IS RICH IN MERCY - On the use of the word “rich” by Paul, see the notes at Ephesians 1:7. It is a beautiful expression. “God is ‘rich’ in mercy;” overflowing, abundant. Mercy is the riches or the wealth of God. People are often rich in gold, and silver, and diamonds, and they pride them... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN SINS - notes, Ephesians 2:1; compare Romans 5:8. The construction here is, “God, who is rich in mercy, on account of the great love which he bare unto us, even being dead in sin, hath quickened us,” etc. It does not mean that he quickened us when we were dead in sin, but th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HATH RAISED US UP TOGETHER - That is, we are raised from the death of sin to the life of religion, in connection with the resurrection of Jesus, and in virtue of that. So close is the connection between him and his people, that his resurrection made theirs certain; compare Colossians 2:12; notes... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT IN THE AGES TO COME - In all future times. The sense is, that the riches of divine grace, and the divine benignity, would be shown in the conversion of Christians and their salvation, to all future times. Such was his love to those who were lost, that it would be an everlasting monument of his... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED - By mere favor. It is not by your Own merit; it is not because you have any claim. This is a favorite doctrine with Paul, as it is with all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity; compare the notes at Romans 1:7; Romans 3:24, note. THROUGH FAITH - Grace bestowed through fai... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT OF WORKS - see the notes at Romans 3:20, Romans 3:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP - We are his “making” - ποίημα poiēma. That is, we are “created or formed” by him, not only in the general sense in which all things are made by him, but in that special sense which is denoted by the new creation; see the notes at 2 Corinthians 5:17. Whatever of peace, o... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE REMEMBER - The design of this evidently is, to excite a sense of gratitude in their bosoms for that mercy which had called them from the errors and sins of their former lives, to the privileges of Christians. It is a good thing for Christians to “remember” what they were. No faculty of the... [ Continue Reading ]
YE WERE WITHOUT CHRIST - You were without the knowledge of the Messiah. You had not heard of him; of course you had not embraced him. You were living without any of the hopes and consolations which you now have, from having embraced him. The object of the apostle is to remind them of the deplorable... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT NOW, IN CHRIST JESUS - By the coming and atonement of the Lord Jesus, and by the gospel which he preached. YE WHO SOMETIMES WERE AFAR OFF - Who were “formerly” - ποτὲ pote Tyndale translates it, “a whyle agoo.” The phrase “afar off” - μακρὰν makran - means that they were formerly far off from... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE IS OUR PEACE - There is evident allusion here to Isaiah 57:19. See the notes at that verse. The “peace” here referred to is that by which a “union” in worship and in feeling has been produced between the Jews and the Gentiles Formerly they were alienated and separate. They had different objec... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING ABOLISHED - Having brought to naught, or put an end to it - καταργήσας katargēsas. IN HIS FLESH - By the sacrifice of his body on the cross. It was not by instruction merely; it was not by communicating the knowledge of God; it was not as a teacher; it was not by the mere exertion of power;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THAT HE MIGHT RECONCILE BOTH UNTO GOD - This was another of the effects of the work of redemption, and indeed the main effect. It was not merely to make them harmonious, but it was that both, who had been alienated from God, should be reconciled to “him.” This was a different effect from that of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CAME AND PREACHED PEACE - That is, the system of religion which he proclaimed, was adapted to produce peace with God. This he preached personally to those who “were nigh,” that is, the Jews; to those who were “afar off “ - the Gentiles - he preached it by his apostles. He was the author of the s... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THROUGH HIM - That is, he has secured this result that we have access to God. This he did by his death - reconciling us to God by the doctrines which he taught - acquainting us with God; and by his intercession in heaven - by which our “prayers gain acceptance” with him. WE BOTH HAVE ACCESS - B... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THEREFORE YE ARE NO MORE STRANGERS AND FOREIGNERS - You are reckoned with the people of God. You are entitled to their privileges, and are not to be regarded as outcasts and aliens. The meaning is, that they belonged to the same community - the same family - as the people of God. The word render... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ARE BUILT UPON THE FOUNDATION - The comparison of the church with a building, is common in the Scriptures: compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 3:9. The comparison was probably taken from the temple, and as that was an edifice of great beauty, expense, and sacredness, it was natural to compare the... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHOM - That is, “by” whom, or “upon” whom. It was in connection with him, or by being reared on him as a foundation. ALL THE BUILDING - The whole church of Christ. FITLY FRAMED TOGETHER - The word used here means “to joint together,” as a carpenter does the frame-work of a building. The material... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHOM - In Christ, or on Christ, as the solid and precious foundation. YE ALSO ARE BUILDED TOGETHER - You are built into that, or constitute a part of it. You are not merely “added” to it, but you constitute a part of the building. FOR AN HABITATION OF GOD - For the indwelling, or the dwelling-p... [ Continue Reading ]