CHAPTER II. _The character of the Ephesians previously to their conversion_ _to Christianity_, 1-3. _By what virtue they were changed, and for what purpose_, 4-7. _They were saved by faith_, 8, 9. _And created unto good works_, 10. _The apostle enters into the particulars of their former_ _mi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 2:2. _WHEREIN IN TIME PAST YE WALKED_] There is much _force_ in these expressions; the Ephesians had not sinned _casually_, or _now_ and _then_, but _continually_; it was their continual employment; they _walked in trespasses and sins_: and this was not a _solitary_ case, all the na... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 2:3. _AMONG WHOM ALSO WE ALL HAD OUR CONVERSATION_] _We_ JEWS, as well as you _Gentiles_, have lived in transgressions and sins; ανεστραφημεν, this was the _course_ of our _life_; we lived in sin, walked in sin, it was woven through our whole constitution, it tinged every temper, pol... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 2:4. _BUT GOD, WHO IS RICH IN MERCY_] As they were _corrupt_ in their _nature_, and _sinful_ in their _practice_, they could possess no _merit_, nor have any _claim_ upon God; and it required much _mercy_ to remove so much _misery_, and to pardon such transgressions. _HIS GREAT LOV... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 2:5. _EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN SINS_] Dead in our souls; dead towards God; dead in law; and exposed to death eternal, _HATH QUICKENED US TOGETHER WITH CHRIST_] God has given us as complete a _resurrection_ from the _death of sin_ to a _life of_ _righteousness_, as the body of Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 2:6. _AND HATH RAISED US UP TOGETHER IN CHRIST_] Or rather, _by Christ_; his resurrection being the proof that he had made the full atonement, and that we might be justified by his blood. Believing, therefore, the record which God gave of his Son, we received this atonement, and were... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _THAT IN THE AGES TO COME_] God has produced us an _example_, and one which shall be on record through all generations, that he quickens dead souls; that he forgives the sins of the most sinful, when they repent and believe in Christ Jesus. So that what God has done for the sinners at _Ephe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED, THROUGH FAITH_] As ye are now brought into a state of salvation, your sins being all blotted out, and you made partakers of the Holy Spirit; and, having a hope full of immortality, you must not attribute this to any _works_ or _merit_ of yours; for when this Gos... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP_] So far is this salvation from being _our own work_, or granted for our own _works' sake_, that we are ourselves not only the _creatures_ of God, but our _new_ _creation_ was produced by his power; for we are _created in Christ_ _Jesus unto good works_. He has... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _WHEREFORE REMEMBER_] That ye may ever see and feel your obligations to live a pure and holy life, and be unfeignedly _thankful_ to God for your salvation, remember that ye _were once_ _heathens_ in the _flesh_-without the pure doctrine, and under the influence of your corrupt nature; such... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _THAT AT THAT TIME YE WERE WITHOUT CHRIST_] Not only were not _Christians_, but had no knowledge of the _Christ_ or _Messiah_, and no title to the blessings which were to proceed from him. _ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL_] Ye were by your birth, idolatry, c., _alienated_ from the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _YE WHO SOMETIMES WERE FAR OFF_] To be _far off_, and to be _near_, are sayings much in use among the Jews; and among them, to be _near_ signifies, 1. To be in the _approbation_ or _favour_ of God; and to be _far off_ signifies to be under his _displeasure_. So a _wicked_ Jew might be sai... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _FOR HE IS OUR PEACE_] Jesus Christ has died for both Jews and Gentiles, and has become a _peace-offering_, _shalom_, to reconcile both to God and to each other. _WHO HATH MADE BOTH ONE_] Formed one Church out of the believers of both people. _THE MIDDLE WALL OF PARTITION_] By abolishing... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _HAVING ABOLISHED IN HIS FLESH_] By his _incarnation_ and _death_ he not only made an atonement for sin, but he appointed the _doctrine of reconciliation_ to God, and of _love to each other_, to be preached in all nations; and thus glory was brought to God in the highest, and on earth, pea... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _THAT HE MIGHT RECONCILE BOTH - IN ONE BODY_] That the Jews and Gentiles, believing on the Lord Jesus, might lay aside all their causes of contention, and become one spiritual _body_, or _society_ of men, influenced by the _Spirit_, and acting according to the _precepts_ of the _Gospel_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _AND CAME AND PREACHED PEACE_] Proclaimed the readiness of God to forgive and save both Jews and Gentiles. Ephesians 2:13, Ephesians 2:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _FOR THROUGH HIM_] Christ Jesus, _we both_-Jews and Gentiles, _have access by one Spirit_-through the influence of the Holy Ghost, _unto the Father_-God Almighty. This text is a plain proof of the _holy Trinity_. Jews and Gentiles are to be presented unto _God the_ FATHER; the SPIRIT of Go... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _YE ARE NO MORE STRANGERS_] In this chapter the _Church_ of God is compared to a _city_, which, has a variety of privileges, rights, c., founded on regular _charters_ and _grants_. The _Gentiles_, having believed in Christ, are all incorporated with the believing _Jews_ in this holy city.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _AND ARE BUILT UPON THE FOUNDATION_] Following the same metaphor, comparing the Church of Christ to a _city_, and to the _temple_, the believing Ephesians are represented as _parts of_ _that building_; the _living stones_ out of which it is principally formed, 1 Peter 2:4, having for _fou... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _IN WHOM_] By which foundation corner stone, Christ Jesus, _all the building_, composed of converted Jews and Gentiles, _fitly framed together_, συναρμολογουμενη, _properly jointed and_ _connected together, groweth unto a holy temple_-is _continually_ _increasing_, as new converts from Jud... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 2:22. _IN WHOM YE ALSO ARE BUILDED_] The apostle now applies the _metaphor to the purpose for which he produced it, retaining_ _however some of the_ figurative expressions. As the stones in a temple are all properly placed so as to form a complete house, and be a habitation for the _... [ Continue Reading ]