Ephesians 1:22

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, PUT ALL THINGS UNDER, [ hupetaxen (G5293)] - 'put in subjection under' (Genesis 1:28; Psalms 8:6; 1 Corinthians 15:27). Not only is He infinitely exalted (Ephesians 1:21), but He has universal dominion. The original grant of it to man is realized for him in Christ. TO THE CHURCH - for her special advantage. The Greek order is emphatic: 'HIM (exalted and supremely glorious as He is),...

22._And gave him to be the head. _He was made the head of the Church, on the condition that he should have the administration of all things. The apostle shews that it was not a mere honorary title, but was accompanied by the entire command and government of the universe. The metaphor of a _head _denotes the highest authority. I am unwilling to dispute about a name, but we are driven to it by the base conduct of those who flatter the Romish idol. Since Christ alone is called “the head,” all others, whether angels or men, must rank as members; so that he who holds the highest place among his fellows is still one of the members of the same body. And yet they are not ashamed to make an open avowal that the Church will be ἀκέφαλον, _without a head_, if it has not another head on earth besides Christ. So small is the respect which they pay to Christ, that, if he obtain undivided that honor whi...

15-23 God has laid up spiritual blessings for us in his Son the Lord Jesus; but requires us to draw them out and fetch them in by prayer. Even the best Christians need to be prayed for: and while we hear of the welfare of Christian friends, we should pray for them. Even true believers greatly want heavenly wisdom. Are not the best of us unwilling to come under God's yoke, though there is no other way to find rest for the soul? Do we not for a little pleasure often part with our peace? And if we dispute less, and prayed more with and for each other, we should daily see more and more what is the hope of our calling, and the riches of the Divine glory in this inheritance. It is desirable to feel the mighty power of Divine grace, beginning and carrying on the work of faith in our souls. But it is difficult to bring a soul to believe fully in Christ, and to venture its all, and the hope of e...

Verse 22. _AND HATH PUT ALL_ THINGS _UNDER HIS FEET_] All beings and things are subject to him, whether they be _thrones, dominions,_ _principalities_, or _powers_, 1 Corinthians 1:16; 2 Corinthians 2:10; for he, God the Father, has _given him to be head_-chief, and supreme, over all, _to_ _the Church_, the Church having no ruler but Jesus Christ; others may be _officers_ in his Church, but he alone is _head_ and _supreme_....

AND HATH PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET - See the notes at 1 Corinthians 15:27. AND GAVE HIM TO BE THE HEAD OVER ALL THINGS - Appointed him to be the supreme ruler. TO THE CHURCH - With reference to the church, or for ira benefit and welfare: see the notes or, John 17:2. The universe is under his control and direction for the welfare of his people. (1) All the elements - the physical works of God - the winds and waves - the seas and rivers - all are under him, and all are to be made tributary to the welfare of the church. (2) Earthly kings and rulers; kingdoms and nations are under his control. Thus far Christ ha

EXPOSITION EPHESIANS 1:1, EPHESIANS 1:2 ADDRESS AND SALUTATION. EPHESIANS 1:1 PAUL AN APOSTLE OF CHRIST JESUS. Paul's one but all-sufficient claim on the Ephesians is his relation to Christ: he is Christ's apostle, not only as sent forth by him, but also as belonging to him; elsewhere his servant or bondman. He makes no claim to their attention on the ground of his great experience in the gospel, his profound study of it, or even his gifts, but rests simply on his being Christ's apostle; thus recognizing Christ as the only Head of the Church, and source

AND HATH PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET,.... These words are taken out of Psalms 8:6. 1 Corinthians 15:27. AND GAVE HIM TO BE THE HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH; the Vulgate Latin version reads, "and gave him to be the head over every church", or "all the church"; the Ethiopic version, "the whole church"; which intends not barely professors of religion, or a family of faithful persons, or a particular congregation, in which sense the word is sometimes used; but the whole body of God's elect, the church, which is built on Christ the rock, for which he gave himself, and which is the general assembly and church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven: Christ is an head to this church; in what sense he is so,...

Ephesians 1:1. _Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ._ That is a sort of crossing of the Jordan to go into the land and get grace and peace. Grace changes us, peace quiets us, and then we are over Jordan. Ephesians 1:3. _Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:_ They are all yours. He has not blessed you with a part of the blessings, but with all of them, they are all yours. Have you the courage and the faith to take possession of them? That is the point. If you have grace and peace you are in the land. No

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. THE MASTERWORK OF GOD (1-3) 1. The Godhead at Work CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The introduction (Ephesians 1:1)_ 2. The great doxology (Ephesians 1:3) 3. The work of the Father (Ephesians 1:4) 4. The work of the Son (Ephesians 1:7) 5. The work of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) 6. The parenthetical prayer to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory (Ephesians 1:15)

A PARAGRAPH OF PRAYER. The writer, who has been informed (by letter?) of the Christian faith and love of his correspondents, reciprocates their thanksgiving and prayers (Ephesians 1:15 f.); he beseeches God, the glorious Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, to bestow on them the Spirit, giver of wisdom, revealer in the knowledge of God (Ephesians 1:17); that the eyes of their hearts may be opened, so that they may know the hope implied in God's calling, the wealth of glory involved in God's inheritance in His people, and the overwhelming greatness of His power towards believers, as displayed in the working of His strong might wrought in Christ (Ephesians 1:18): whom God raised from the dead and made assessor of His