Observe here, 1. The penman of this epistle described by his name, PAUL by his office, AN APOSTLE; by his commission to that office, THE WILL OF GOD; that is, by the command and appointment of God. It is matter of great consolation to the ministers of Christ, as well as great satisfaction to their p... [ Continue Reading ]
These words may be considered two ways, 1. As. religious salutation, taken from the manner of the Jews, who expressed their desires for one another's well-doing, by wishing PEACE, that is, all kind of happiness and prosperity to each other; Christianity doth neither forbid or abolish, but doth spiri... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The work which the heart of the apostle was set upon, and that is, the work of blessing God: we bless God one way, he blesses us another; he blesses us imperatoriously, by commanding his blessings upon us; we bless him optatively, when with thankful hearts we praise him, when we wis... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having in the former verse offered up. very solemn thanksgiving to God, for blessing the Ephesians with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ, he comes in this verse to discover and declare the fountain from whence all these spiritual blessings did proceed and flow, namely... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "having predestinated us Gentiles, who in the esteem of the Jews were accounted dogs, to be his adopted sons and daughters, in and by Jesus Christ, in whom he hath made us accepted, to the abundant praise and glory of his free grace and mercy." Observe here, 1. That none are the children o... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having, in the foregoing verses, enumerated the great and glorious privileges which the children of God were made partakers of before all time, comes next to discover what they are admitted to the participation of in time: and here in this verse he mentions two of them, namely, redemptio... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, in which dispensation of his, namely, our redemption from sin and wrath by the blood of his Son, God the Father hath discovered abundant wisdom, wonderful wisdom, riches of divine wisdom, to the children of men. Taking the words in this sense, the observation is, that God's sending his Son... [ Continue Reading ]
These words discover to us the end and design of God in making known the mystery of his will, that is, in revealing the gospel: it was to gather into one universal church both angels and men, Jews and Gentiles, under Christ their head, and by virtue of that union to become one with the Father, as he... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having hitherto spoken of the glorious privileges of the gospel in general, he comes now to make application of this his doctrine, first to the Jews, and next to the Gentiles in particular. As to the Jews, who were first called by Christ and his apostles, and who were the first that trus... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle recounts the favours and privileges which the Gentiles, as well as the Jews, upon their believing in Christ were admitted to the participation of; he assures them, that in and through Christ they had obtained. right to this heavenly inheritance also, as well as the Jews, having been... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The special duties which St. Paul performed on the behalf of these Ephesians: he gave thanks for them, he prayed for them, and both without ceasing. I CEASE NOT TO GIVE THANKS FOR YOU, MAKING MENTION OF YOU IN MY PRAYERS. Where note, How enlarged St. Paul's heart was in thankfulnes... [ Continue Reading ]
These words give us. short, but very comprehensive, account of that affectionate prayer which St. Paul put up to God on the behalf of these Ephesians, newly converted to Christianity; in which observe, 1. The person whom he prays unto, GOD, under. very endearing title, for the strengthening of his... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle proceeds in this verse, and to the end of the chapter, in. very affectionate and fervent prayer, on the behalf of the Ephesians; namely, that the blessed Spirit of God, the author of all divine illumination, would FARTHER open the eyes of their understanding, FORMERLY shut up in heatheni... [ Continue Reading ]
The next particular which the aposstle prays for, on behalf of the converted Ephesians, is this, that they might know or sensibly apprehend, the greatness of that divine power which God had exerted; first, in their conversion; next, in carrying on that work step by step, in spite of all opposition:... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle, in these words, discovers to us Christ's exaltation, or that glory and dignity which, after his resurrection and ascension, the Father put upon him as God-man, or Mediator; far surpassing the glory of all created beings. Now this is represented to us by the notion, and under the metapho... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle expresses more plainly what he has said in the former verse figuratively; God hath exalted Christ FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS, MIGHT AND DOMINION, AND EVERY NAME THAT IS NAMED; AND HATH PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET. Where note, 1. The eminency, 2. The universality, of our... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Paul having spoken of Christ's sovereignty in general, over all created beings, both in heaven and in earth, in the foregoing verses, doth in the words before us declare, that as he is an head of dominion and authority to the whole creation in general, so he is an head of influence to his church... [ Continue Reading ]