THANKSGIVING FOR BLESSINGS AND PRAYER FOR WISDOM 1, 2. The salutation. I. In the Salutations to the Colossians and to Philemon, written at the same time, 'Timothy the brother' is coupled with St. Paul. He is omitted here because of the general character of the letter. At Ephesus was omitted for the... [ Continue Reading ]
This is the usual salutation in the Pauline, as in the Petrine Epistles; 1 and 2 Timothy are exceptions. 3-14. This doxology or thanksgiving should be compared with that in 2 Corinthians 1:3. That is for a special deliverance; this is for God's general mercy in revealing His purpose to sum up all th... [ Continue Reading ]
With THE GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST cp. Ephesians 1:17; Hebrews 1:9; John 20:17; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 3:2; Revelation 3:12. WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS] RV 'with every spiritual blessing.' Something much higher than the material, temporal blessings promised in the OT. IN HEAVENLY _places_]... [ Continue Reading ]
In history God selected the Jews first, and then the Gentiles; but the selection of both was made in eternity, independently of time, and through Christ. IN LOVE] man's love to God and his fellows, not God's love to man (Ephesians 3:17; Ephesians 4:2; Ephesians 4:16; Ephesians 4:16; Ephesians 5:2).... [ Continue Reading ]
All are God's children by creation; but He adopted first the Jews (Romans 9:4), and then believers (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5), into a special sonship. St. Paul is the only NT. writer who uses this metaphor of adoption, taken from Roman law.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY] This phrase comes thrice, as a sort of refrain: cp. Ephesians 1:12; Ephesians 1:14. God's amazing bounty is a glory to be ceaselessly praised.... [ Continue Reading ]
Israel had been redeemed by Jehovah from bondage; Israelites and Gentiles are redeemed by Christ from sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
WISDOM AND PRUDENCE] These are the fruits of God's grace in us; insight into His counsels and consequent wise conduct: in all = in giving us all, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
MYSTERY] In the NT. this means a secret that has been revealed; a favourite word with St. Paul (Ephesians 3:3; Ephesians 3:9; Ephesians 5:32; Ephesians 6:19, etc.): cp. 2Es 12:36.... [ Continue Reading ]
'For carrying out a dispensation which was carried out in the fulness of the seasons, so as to gather up in one all things in Christ.' When all the seasons had run out, the final revelation came: cp. 2Es 4:37. DISPENSATION] = (1) office of steward, (2) household management, (3) any provision or arra... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ALSO] 'ye Gentiles as well as we Jews.' SEALED WITH] 'received the Holy Spirit as a pledge that your deliverance should be complete.'... [ Continue Reading ]
AN EARNEST = SCOTCH 'ARLES,' is more than a 'pledge'; it is an instalment handed over in advance, as a guarantee that the remainder will follow (2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5). It is part of the whole to be delivered. REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION] 'the emancipation of all that God... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARD] This looks as if there were some whom St. Paul had not seen, i.e. others besides Ephesians.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. 2Es 14:22-25.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Apostle partly adopts and partly rejects Jewish phraseology about unseen powers. 'Call them what you please, Christ is above them all.' 22. An echo of Psalms 8:5. If that could be said of man, how much more of Christ! 23. Cp. the Vine and the branches (John 15:5); Christ is the source of the li... [ Continue Reading ]