1After saluting the Ephesians, 3Paul blesseth God for his spiritual blessings on those whom he had chosen in Christ, and predestinated to the adoption of children; 7for our redemption by his grace, according to his revealed purpose of gathering together all in one under Christ; 11for the inheritance already obtained by those who first trusted in Christ; 13and for the Spirit given to after-believers, as an earnest of the same. 15He declareth his continual thankfulness to God for their faith, and his prayers that God would perfect them in the knowledge of those things, which concerned their state in Christ, 20whom God had raised up, and exalted to be the supreme head of his body the church.
1PAUL, 1an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to thea saints which are at Ephesus, and to 2the faithful in Christ Jesus:
1 Of this entire inscription of Paul, see the annotations on Rom. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:1, 2.
a Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1.
2 This last title he adjoins for the exposition of the first, namely, that he understands such saints who are sanctified by faith and the Spirit of Christ, Acts 15:8, 9; 1 Peter 1:22; not as many Jews called themselves saints because they were outwardly sanctified by the ceremonies, Heb. 9:13, 23.
2Gracebbe to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
b Gal. 1:3; 1 Peter 1:2.
33Blessed be thec God and 4Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with 5all spiritual blessings 6in heavenly places 7in Christ:
3 The word bless in this verse is taken in two ways. For, man blesses God when he gives praise and thanks unto Him; and God blesses man when He shows him His grace and mercies; both are Hebraic expressions. And the apostle here has respect to the words of the covenant, And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, Gen. 22:18.
c 2 Cor. 1:3; 1 Peter 1:3.
4 That is, God, Who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 15:24. This manner of naming God is used by Paul and the other apostles in the New Testament in the place of those appellations in the Old Testament where God is called in such blessings, the Lord, the God of Israel, or, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with whom God had first made His covenant, see Luke 1:68.
5 That is, all manner of.
6 Gr. in the heavenly or super celestial, namely, places, as verse 20, and Eph. 2:6. And hereby is given to understand that God as from His throne has imparted these spiritual blessings unto us, and that they serve for this purpose to make us blessed in heaven, Mat. 5:12; 1 Peter 1:4, which blessings are particularly related hereafter unto the 15th verse.
7 Namely, as in our Head, see verses 22, 23; Eph. 2:5, 6, 7; 4:15, 16. See also John 1:16; Philip. 3:20. Or, to save us.
4According asd he hath 8chosen us 9in him 10before the foundation of the world, thate we should be 11holy and 12without blame before him 13in love:
d John 15:16; 2 Tim. 1:9.
8 Or, selected, namely, out of the common heap of corrupt people, see John 15:16, 19; Rom. 8:29; 2 Thes. 2:13; 1 Peter 1:1, 2, etc.
9 Namely, Christ, as our Head, even as in the previous verse, to make us conformable to the image of His Son, John 17:6; Rom. 8:29. Or, by him, John 15:16, 19.
10 That is, from everlasting, as this phrase is everywhere taken, see John 17:24; 1 Peter 1:20. See also Psalm 90:2; Prov. 8:23.
e Luke 1:75; Eph. 5:27; Col. 1:22; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 2:12.
11 Among this true faith is also understood, which is never without holiness, likewise as holiness and love cannot be without true faith, for by faith our hearts are purified, Acts 15:9; 1 Peter 1:22 and that we are also chosen in Christ by grace unto faith, appears in Acts 13:48; Rom. 8:30; 2 Tim. 1:9; James 2:5.
12 That is, not only before men, as hypocrites are also sometimes for a while, but sincerely, as in the presence of God, see Gen. 17:1; Luke 1:6. And this holiness and irreproachableness is indeed sincere in this life, and begun by the power of God’s Spirit, but shall first come to be perfect in all parts till in the life to come. See 1 Cor. 13:9; Eph. 5:27; Philip. 3:12, etc. Yet this our imperfect holiness and irreproachableness is also in this life pleasing to God in Christ Jesus, and accepted by Him as perfect, because through faith in Christ He forgives us our failings, and connives at them in Christ, Col. 2:10; Heb. 13:21; 1 Peter 2:5, etc.
13 This some understand of the love wherewith God has loved us, and join it to the foregoing word chosen, but may properly be joined with the words, holy and without blame, and be understood of our love towards God, and our neighbor, wherein this holiness principally manifests itself, see 1 Cor. 13:1, etc.; Gal. 5:6.
5Having 14predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ 15to himself, 16according to the good pleasure of his will,
14 Namely, from eternity, as in the previous verse. Here the supreme end of our election to glory, in respect of us, is further expressed, namely, our adoption unto children and heirs of God, and co-heirs of Christ, whereof we have here indeed the beginning and expectation, John 1:12; Rom. 8:15, but the full possession of this sonship and this inheritance we shall first receive till hereafter. See Rom. 8:23; Gal. 4:5; Heb. 9:15; 1 John 3:2.
15 Or, in himself, that is, for His glory, for His own sake, for Himself, on Himself. For, God the Father ordained us in Christ to be His children and heirs, Rom. 8:17.
16 That is, not for any merit or worthiness of ours, by only according to His undeserved favor, grace and pleasure. See Rom. 9:11, 12, 15, 16; 11:6; 2 Tim. 1:9, as in the following verse is also declared.
617To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us 18accepted inf the 19beloved.
17 That is, in order that this His glorious grace be lauded and praised by us; which is the supreme end of this eternal and gracious election of God, Rom. 9:23.
18 Or, by which he hath graced us, namely, for Himself, as this word is also used of the Virgin Mary, Luke 1:28.
f Mat. 3:17.
19 Namely, Christ, His beloved Son, Mat. 3:17.
720Ing whom we have 21redemption 22through his blood, 23the forgiveness of sins, according 24to the riches of his grace;
20 Namely, this beloved Son Jesus Christ. For, as from eternity we were chosen in Him to salvation, and to the means of salvation, as is said in the three previous verses, so also is the execution of this eternal purpose of God accomplished in Him, and by Him, in due time.
g Acts 20:28; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:12; 1 Peter 1:18.
21 The Greek word properly signifies a deliverance which is brought to pass by paying a ransom or price. See Mat. 20:28; 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18, etc.
22 That is, His bloody sacrifice, accomplished on the cross, Heb. 9:12, etc.
23 Namely, which is the first fruit of this redemption for those who appropriate the same to themselves by faith, Rom. 3:24, 25, whereupon eternal salvation follows, Rom. 8:30.
24 That is, His exceeding great and abundant grace, Rom. 2:4; Eph. 2:7.
8Wherein he hath 25abounded toward us 26in all wisdom and 27prudence;
25 Namely, when He has manifested this unto us by His Gospel, and by His Spirit, as is declared in verse 9.
26 This some understand of the wisdom of God which He uses in distributing these benefits, but is more aptly taken for the wisdom wherewith God endues us by the Gospel, namely, the knowledge of Him and of Jesus Christ, our Mediator; see John 17:3; 1 Cor. 1:24; 2:6, 7.
27 Or, knowledge, which is a virtue whereby this wisdom is well ordered and used to the glory of God, and the edification of our neighbor.
9Having made known unto us 28theh mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath 29purposed in himself:
28 That is, the secret counsel of God concerning our redemption by Christ, which is known to no man by nature; as also a part thereof is what is related in the following verse. See 1 Cor. 2:8; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:26; 1 Tim. 3:16, etc.
h Rom. 16:25; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:26; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:2; 1 Peter 1:20.
29 Or, propounded, that is, without being moved thereto by anything outside of Himself, or having foreseen anything in men that might have moved Him thereunto, but took this counsel only out of His own wisdom, grace and mercy, Rom. 11:34, 35, 36.
10That 30in the dispensationi31of thej fulness of times he might gather together 32in one all things in Christ, 33both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even 34in him:
30 That is, in or against the time of the dispensation. The Greek word signifies such a dispensation as a father of a family uses in the governing of his house, appointing for every business and the necessities of life, the time, persons, and manner of proceeding. And so has God also in His house, that is, in His congregation, from the beginning of the world, ordained certain persons, manner of proceeding, and times and seasons, in which and by which all things must be performed and revealed accordingly.
i administration, stewardship, distribution.
31 That is, of the appointed time in which God had decreed to send His Son, and by His Gospel to call also the Gentiles unto the communion of His Son, as well as the Jews, see Gal. 4:4.
j Gen. 49:10; Dan. 9:24; Gal. 4:4.
32 Gr. into one head, or, to bring together into one total sum.
33 Some understand thereby the faithful, who are already in heaven, and those who are yet upon earth. Others compare this place with Col. 1:16, 20, and think of those who are in heaven must be understood the angels in heaven, who, together with the believers on earth of all times, are gathered by Christ under Him as one Head, and reconciled one with another, and so become one body, when, as before, through the sins of men, they were as rent and divided one from another, Heb. 12:22, 23; Rev. 19:10.
34 Namely, Christ, as our Head, as is declared previously.
11In whom also 35we have obtained 36ank inheritance, being 37predestinated 38according to the purpose of him who worketh 39all things after the counsel of his own will:
35 Namely, who of the Jews are converted unto Christ, as is also declared in the following verse.
36 Or, have obtained a lot, namely, of the Lord in His congregation. And the apostle seems to have respect here to the distribution of the inheritance of the land of Canaan by lot among the twelve tribes of Israel, which was a shadow and type of this eternal inheritance, obtained by our true Joshua. See Num. 26:55, etc.; 33:55; Joshua 13:6.
k Rom. 8:17.
37 That is, not all who were the fleshly seed of Abraham, but the children of the promise, Rom. 9:8, and whom He before had elected by grace among this people, Rom. 11:2, 5, 6, 7.
38 That is, not for any worthiness in us, or for any works on our part, but of mere grace, 2 Tim. 1:9. This the apostle adds in order that the believers of the Jews might not think that there had been anything more in them than in the Gentiles, for which they were worthy of this foreordination or predestination unto this inheritance, see Rom. 8:29, etc.
39 Namely, which concern the salvation of the Jews or Gentiles, of which he here speaks. See Philip. 2:13; though it is also true in general of all other things, Psalm 115:3.
12That we should be to the praise of his glory, 40who first 41trusted in Christ.
40 Namely, of the Jews, to whom this precedence was promised by God. See Acts 13:46; Rom. 15:8.
41 Namely, through faith in Him. For, faith receives the promises, whereof hope expects the fulfillment, see Rom. 8:24, 25; Heb. 11:1.
13In 42whom 43ye also trusted, after that ye heard 44the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also 45after that ye believed, yel were 46sealed with that holy Spirit 47of promise,
42 Namely, Christ Jesus, as before.
43 Or, ye also are become an inheritance. For, as he spoke of the believers of the Jews, verse 11, so he now speaks of the Gentiles, who have also obtained a lot in the inheritance, see Acts 26:17, 18.
44 Thus the Gospel is called, not only because it is the very truth of God, extraordinarily revealed unto us by God, for our salvation, John 17:17, but also because the truth of all the shadows of the Old Testament is fulfilled therein, see John 1:17.
45 Or, when ye believed. For, this sealing of the Spirit is done by faith, and upon faith, Gal. 3:2.
l Rom. 8:15; 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 4:30.
46 This manner of speaking is taken from people, who, for confirmation of any promises made, use to give sealed papers, and that many times with imprinting of their own Coat of Arms or image. The promises of the forgiveness of our sins, of our adoption unto children and our eternal inheritance, are made to us by the Gospel, and we appropriate this through faith. The sealing of the Spirit, which is joined thereto, is regeneration or the renewing of God’s image in us, wherewith He induces our souls, and imprints the same thereon when we believe in Christ, to assure us more and more of the full performance of these promises, 2 Cor. 1:21, 22; 3:18. And witnesses besides that the same to our mind, as by a divine inspiration, which emboldens us also to call upon God, as our Father, Rom. 8:15 and Gal. 4:6, and boast in hope of the glory of God, Rom. 5:2; 8:38, 39.
47 That is, Who is promised us. Or, whereby the promises of God are assured within us.
14Which is 48the earnestm of our inheritance 49untiln the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
48 Gr. arrhabon, of which word see 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5. See also Rom. 8:23; Eph. 4:30.
m pledge, security, deposit*
49 Or, unto the purchased redemption, that is, unto the full enjoyment of the redemption which Christ has purchased for us. Or, unto the full redemption of His purchased or peculiar people, 1 Peter 2:9.
n Exod. 19:5; Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 26:18; Rom. 8:23; 1 Peter 2:9.
15Whereforeo50I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
o Philip. 1:3; Col. 1:3; 1 Thes. 1:2; 2 Thes. 1:3.
50 Namely, not only being present with you, but now also being absent from you, in these my bonds, Eph. 6:20.
16Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may 51give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation 52in the knowledge of him:
51 That is, give you that you increase more and more in wisdom through the Holy Spirit.
52 Or, with the knowledge of Him, or, in the acknowledgment of Him. For, true wisdom consists not only in the knowledge of God, but also in the acknowledgment of His grace and majesty.
1853The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the 54hope of his calling, and what 55the riches of the glory of his inheritance 56in the saints,
53 This relates to the previous words, may give unto you. Others read, to be enlightened according to the eyes of your understanding.
54 That is, the thing hoped for, which is declared in the following words. See 1 Peter 1:3, 4.
55 That is, the abundance, as verse 7.
56 That is, true believers. For this inheritance does not concern the others.
19And what is the exceeding greatness of 57his power to us-wardp who believe, accordingq to the working of his mighty power,
57 Namely, whereby we are now born again, and wherein we are strengthened more and more, until we shall hereafter by the same power be fully delivered and glorified in soul and body. For, the apostle desires not only that they may know this, but also that after his example they would pray to God, that this power may be more and more revealed in them, which power is set forth by him in very exquisite terms.
p toward us.
q Col. 2:12.
2058Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, andr59set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
58 This the apostle adjoins, because upon the resurrection and glorification of Christ, our regeneration and glorification also depends, and because the same power which wrought this work in Christ as our Head, works also in us as His members, not only the future resurrection from the spiritual death of sin, as is declared in Eph. 2:1, 4. See also Rom. 6:4; 8:11; Philip. 3:21; 1 Peter 1:3 and 2 Peter 1:3.
r Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:34; 1 Cor. 15:25; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3; 10:12; 1 Peter 3:22.
59 By setting at the right hand of God is understood that God has exalted Him to the highest power and glory; a similitude taken from princes and kings, who, sitting upon their throne, cause to sit at their right hand him who is mightiest and greatest next unto themselves in the kingdom. See Psalm 45:9; Mat. 20:21. As this also is further declared, Heb. 1:3; 8:1; 1 Cor. 15:25, compared with Psalm 110:1.
2160Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and 61every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which 62is to come:
60 These titles are not only given to rulers and powers in this world, but also to the angels in heaven, Col. 1:16, far above all which Christ is exalted, even according to His human nature.
61 Namely, of dignity and glory.
62 This some understand of the Kingdom of heaven, or of the state of the heavenly creatures; but seeing this state is now also present, therefore it is better taken for the state of all creatures, even after the end of this world, when the faithful shall be glorified, and Christ notwithstanding, even according to His human nature, as the Head, shall remain exalted far above all creatures. See Luke 1:32, 33; Rev. 5:13 and elsewhere.
22Ands hath put 63all things under 64his feet, and gave him to be 65the head over all things to the church,
s Psalm 8:6; Mat. 28:18; 1 Cor. 15:27; Heb. 2:8.
63 That is, even those who are strangers to, yea, are enemies of His congregation, 1 Cor. 15:25, 26.
64 That is, under His power and authority, Mat. 28:18.
65 Namely, not only to govern all, but also to defend the same and to give them spiritual life and motion, as the head does to the members. See Eph. 4:8, 10, etc.; Col. 2:10, 19.
23Whicht is his body, the 66fulness of him that filleth all in all.
t Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 4:16; 5:23.
66 That is, whereby Christ is made as a perfect Person, consisting of the Head and His body; as the word Christ is sometimes taken for both. See 1 Cor. 12:12, 13, for the close union which is between both.