_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_
Ephesians 3:1. THE PRISONER OF JESUS CHRIST may be regarded as “the
prisoner whom the Lord has bound” (so Winer and Meyer), or as “a
prisoner belonging to Christ,” or again as “the prisoner for
Christ’s sake.” The indignity of an ambassador being “thrown
into irons”... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_
Ephesians 3:7. WHEREOF I WAS MADE A MINISTER.—A deacon, a runner of
errands. A lowly word, which reminds us of his own
self-estimate—“not worthy to be called an apostle”—and
prepares us for the strange expression in Ephesians 3:8.
Ephesians 3:8. LESS THAN THE LEAST... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_
Ephesians 3:10. TO THE INTENT THAT NOW … MIGHT BE KNOWN BY THE
CHURCH THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD.—The Church as it expands from a
“little flock” to a “multitude which no man can number” is to
declare the multiform wisdom of God, ever fertile in new modes of
operatio... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_
Ephesians 3:15. THE WHOLE FAMILY.—R.V. “every family.” The word
for “family” is only found in the New Testament in St. Luke 2:4
and Acts 3:25; in one translated “lineage,” in the other
“kindreds” in A.V.; consistently as “family” by R.V.
Chrysostom, and others who f... [ Continue Reading ]