II. [2. The unity of all in Christ (Ephesians 2:1). (1) — (_a_) THE QUICKENING OF MEN FROM THE DEATH OF SIN AND BONDAGE OF SATAN, by a personal union with Christ, making them partakers of His resurrection, His ascension, His endless glory (Ephesians 2:1). (_b_) _All this not of themselves, but... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YOU HATH HE QUICKENED. — _And you also._ St. Paul here begins the particular application to the Ephesians, which is the main subject of this chapter, broken off in Ephesians 2:3, and resumed in Ephesians 2:11. The words “hath He quickened” (or, properly, _did He quicken_) are supplied here from... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COURSE (or, _age_) OF THIS WORLD. — Here again are united the two words often rendered by “world,” the former signifying simply “the age,” or appointed period of this visible universe, the latter its material and sensuous character. When we are warned against the one (as in Romans 12:2, “Be not... [ Continue Reading ]
AMONG WHOM ALSO WE ALL... — Up to this point St. Paul had addressed himself especially to the Ephesians as Gentiles: now he extends the description of alienation to “all,” Jews and Gentiles alike, as formerly reckoned among the children of disobedience. It is indeed the great object of this chapter... [ Continue Reading ]
RICH IN MERCY. — Not only merciful, but rich “in the multitude of mercy,” as attaching even to those dead in sin (see Chrysostom on this passage). The idea of richness in grace, glory, mercy, is especially frequent in this Epistle. (See Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 2:7; Ephesians 3:8; Ep... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN SINS. — These words should be connected, not with “loved us,” but with “hath quickened,” or rather, _quickened._ He brought life out of spiritual death.... [ Continue Reading ]
The thought in these verses follows exactly the same course as in Ephesians 1:19. There the type and earnest of the working of God’s mighty power are placed in the resurrection, the ascension, the glorification of Christ Himself in His human nature. Here what is there implied is worked out — (1) All... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE AGES TO COME. — Properly, _the ages which are coming on_ — the ages both of time and of eternity, looked upon in one great continuity. Here, again, the manifestation of the riches of God’s grace is looked upon as His special delight, and as His chosen way of manifesting His own self to His cr... [ Continue Reading ]
BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH. — Properly, _ye have been saved;_ ye were saved at first, and continue in a state of salvation. In Ephesians 2:5 this thought is introduced parenthetically, naturally and irresistibly suggested by the declaration of the various steps of regeneration in Christ. St... [ Continue Reading ]
(1_ b._) Ephesians 2:8 (taking up and working out the parenthetical “by grace ye are saved” of Ephesians 2:5) form an instructive link of connection between these Epistles and those of the earlier group, especially the Epistles to the Galatians and Romans. (Comp. Philippians 3:9.) In both there is t... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST. — In this verse we have the echo of the past Judaising controversy; it sums up briefly the whole argument of Romans 3:27 to Romans 4:25. There is a similar reminiscence, but more distinct and detached, in Philippians 3:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP. — This verse, on the contrary, is unique and remarkable, characteristic of the idea with which this Epistle starts — the election and predestination of God, making us what we are — and applying it very strikingly, not only to the first regeneration, but even to the good works... [ Continue Reading ]
GENTILES IN THE FLESH — _i.e.,_ not having the bodily impress of circumcision, sealing the Jewish covenant. WHO ARE CALLED UNCIRCUMCISION BY THAT WHICH IS CALLED THE CIRCUMCISION. — The use of the phrase “called” — with a touch of the contempt implied in our phrase “the so-called” — simply implies t... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse gives a dark and terrible picture of the former heathen condition of the Ephesians, intentionally contrasted in every point with the description of Christian privilege in Ephesians 2:19. That condition is first summed up in one expression. They were “separate from Christ.” Then from this... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse speaks of the restoration of the heathen as taking place, first, “in Christ Jesus” — in virtue, that is, of union with Him through all the acts of His mediation; and next, “by the blood of Christ” — that is, through that especial act of mediation, which is emphatically an atonement for si... [ Continue Reading ]
HE (_Himself_) IS OUR PEACE. — There is clearly allusion, as to the many promises in the Old Testament of the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:5, _et_ al.), so still more to the “Peace of Earth” of the angelic song of Bethlehem, and to the repeated declarations of our Lord, such as, “Peace I leave with y... [ Continue Reading ]
(2 _b._)_ Ephesians 2:14_ pass on from the description of the call of the heathen to personal union with God in Christ, to dwell on the perfect unity and equality of Jew and Gentile with each other in Him, and the access of both to the Father.... [ Continue Reading ]
The connection in the original is doubtful. The words the “enmity in His flesh” may be in apposition to the “wall of partition” in the previous verse; or, as in our version, to “the law of commandments.” The general sense, however, is but little affected in either case. HAVING ABOLISHED IN HIS FLESH... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THAT HE MIGHT RECONCILE BOTH UNTO GOD IN ONE BODY. — In this verse the latter subject opens — the reconciliation of all to God. On the reconciliation of man to God, see the great passage 2 Corinthians 5:18. But it should be noted that in the original the word used here and in Colossians 1:20 (an... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CAME AND PREACHED PEACE. — The word “came” certainly carries back our thoughts to our Lord’s own preaching, when, after the Resurrection, He came “and stood in the midst of them, and said, Peace be unto you” (Luke 24:36; John 20:19; John 20:21). But we note that at that very time He repeated the... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THROUGH HIM WE BOTH HAVE ACCESS BY ONE SPIRIT UNTO THE FATHER. — In this verse the two meanings again unite. In the original the order is emphatic: “Through Him we have the access, both of us in one Spirit, to the Father.” The greater idea of access to God is still prominent; but the lesser idea... [ Continue Reading ]
STRANGERS AND FOREIGNERS. — Here the word rendered “stranger” means properly _an alien,_ or foreigner; while the word translated “foreigners” signifies the resident aliens of an ancient city, who were but _half-aliens,_ having free intercourse with the citizens, although no rights of citizenship. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
(2 _c._)_ Ephesians 2:19_ sum up the two-fold idea of this chapter — union of the Gentiles, with God and with God’s chosen people — in the metaphor of the One Temple, of which Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone, and which, both collectively and in the individuality of each part, grows into a habi... [ Continue Reading ]
BUILT UPON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS. — In spite of much ancient and valuable authority, it seems impossible to take “the prophets” of this verse to be the prophets of the Old Testament. The order of the two words and the comparison of Ephesians 3:5; Ephesians 4:11, appear to be de... [ Continue Reading ]
(20-22) In these verses there is a sudden change from a political to a physical metaphor, possibly suggested by the word “household.” The metaphor itself, of the Church as “a building of God” — frequently used in the New Testament — reaches its full perfection in this passage. (1) It starts, of cour... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHOM ALL THE BUILDING FITLY FRAMED TOGETHER GROWETH UNTO AN HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD. — There is some difficulty about the rendering-”all the building.” Generally the best MSS. omit the article in the original. But the sense seems to demand the rendering of the text, unless, indeed, we adopt the o... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHOM YE ALSO ARE BUILDED TOGETHER FOR AN HABITATION OF GOD THROUGH THE SPIRIT. — This verse seems primarily intended simply to emphasise the truth already enunciated (in Ephesians 2:20), that the Ephesians themselves are now being made part of the Church of Christ, “being built up together in Chr... [ Continue Reading ]