I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Ver. 1. _Worthy of the vocation_] There is a το πρεπον, a seemliness appertaining to each calling; so here. We must walk nobly and comfortably, as becometh the heirs of God and coheirs of... [ Continue Reading ]
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Ver. 2. _With all lowliness and meekness_] These are _virtutes collectaneae, _ as Bernard calleth them, a pair of twin sisters, never asunder.... [ Continue Reading ]
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ver. 3. _The unity of the Spirit_] That is, unanimity; this keeps all together which else will shatter and fall asunder. The daughter of dissension is dissolution, saith Nazianzen. _ Endeavouring_] σπουδαζοντες, Or using all possib... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is_ one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; Ver. 4. _In one hope of your calling_] That is, unto one inheritance, which we all hope for. Fall not out therefore by the way, as Joseph charged his brethren.... [ Continue Reading ]
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, Ver. 5. _One baptism_] The author to the Hebrews speaketh of baptisms, Ephesians 6:2. But either he puts the plural for the singular; or else he meaneth it of the outward and inward washing, which the schools call _baptismum fluminis et flaminis, _ the baptism of w... [ Continue Reading ]
One God and Father of all, who _is_ above all, and through all, and in you all. Ver. 6. _One God and Father of all_] Have we not all one Father? saith Malachi. Mal 2:10 Why then dissent and jar we? How is it that these many ones here instanced unite us not? "My dove, mine undefiled is but one," Son... [ Continue Reading ]
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Ver. 7. _According to the measure_] And may not Christ do with his own as he listeth? Those of greater gifts are put upon hotter service, στεργε παροντα .... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Ver. 8. _He led captivity captive, &c._] As in the Roman triumphs, the victor ascended up to the Capitol in a chariot of state, the prisoners following on foot with their hands bound behind, and they... [ Continue Reading ]
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? Ver. 9. _Into the lower parts_] That is, into his mother's womb; according to Psalms 139:15; "I was curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth," _i.e._ in the womb, where God formed and fea... [ Continue Reading ]
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) Ver. 10. _Far above all heavens_] That is, above all visible heavens, into the third heaven; not in the Utopia of the Ubiquitaries. _ That he might fill all things_] viz. With the gifts of hi... [ Continue Reading ]
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Ver. 11. _Some pastors and teachers_] Distinct officers,Romans 12:7,8, yet one man may be both, 1 Corinthians 12:28,29. The essential differences between pastors and teachers in each congregation... [ Continue Reading ]
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Ver. 12. _For the perfecting of the saints_] καταρτισμον, for the jointing of them whom the devil hath dislocated.... [ Continue Reading ]
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Ver. 13. _Unto the measure of the stature_] Or age; that age wherein Christ filleth all in all, as Ephesians 3:19. The saints (say some)... [ Continue Reading ]
That we _henceforth_ be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, _and_ cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Ver. 14. _Be no more children_] But young men,1 John 2:14, strong men. Many men's heads today are so big... [ Continue Reading ]
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, _even_ Christ: Ver. 15. _But speaking the truth_] Or, doing the truth, as the Vulgate hath it, αληθευοντες. Truthifying, or following the truth, as one rendereth it. St John bids, love in truth, 1 John 3:18. St P... [ Continue Reading ]
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Ver. 16. _Compacted by that, &c._] The saints are knit unto Christ by h... [ Continue Reading ]
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Ver. 17. _This I say therefore_] Matters of great importance must be urged and pressed with greatest vehemence. _ As other Gentiles walk_] Singular things are expected fr... [ Continue Reading ]
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Ver. 18. _Having the understanding darkened_] By the devil's black hand held before their eyes, 2 Corinthians 4:4. _See Trapp on "_ 2Co 4:4 _"_ Al... [ Continue Reading ]
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Ver. 19. _Who being past feeling_] Under a dead and dedolent disposition, being desperately sinful. Some there are of cauterized consciences, that, like devils, will have nothing to do wi... [ Continue Reading ]
But ye have not so learned Christ; Ver. 20. _But ye have not so learned Christ_] Caracalla never minded any good, _quia id non didicerat_ (saith Dio), _quod ipse fatebatur, _ because he had never learned it, as himself confessed. One main cause of Julian's apostasy were his two heathenish tutors, L... [ Continue Reading ]
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: Ver. 21. _Ye have heard him, &c._] When Christ speaks once, we must hear him twice, as David did, Psalms 62:11, to wit, by an after deliberate meditation; for otherwise we learn nothing.... [ Continue Reading ]
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; Ver. 22. _That ye put off, &c._] As the beggar puts off his rags, as the master puts off his bad servant, as the porter puts off his burden, as the husband puts off his lewd wife, as t... [ Continue Reading ]
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Ver. 23. _In the spirit of your mind_] That is, in the most inward and subtle parts of the soul, the bosom and bottom, the _vis vivifica, _ and very quintessence of it. This he calls elsewhere the wisdom of the flesh, Romans 8:7, that carnal reason, that,... [ Continue Reading ]
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ver. 24. _Which after God is created_] The new man is nothing else but the happy cluster of heavenly graces. _ And true holiness_] Or, holiness of truth. Opposite to that deceitfulness of lusts, Ephesian... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Ver. 25. _Wherefore putting away lying_] A base tinkerly sin, as Plutarch calls it, shameful and hateful: therefore the liar denies his own lie, as ashamed to be taken with it. Cicero indeed a... [ Continue Reading ]
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Ver. 26. _Be angry and sin not_] The easiest charge under the hardest condition that can be. Anger is a tender virtue, and must be warily managed. He that will be angry and not sin, let him be angry at nothing but sin. _ Let not th... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither give place to the devil. Ver. 27. _Neither give place, &c._] Vindictive spirits let the devil into their hearts; and though they defy him, and spit at him, yet they spit not low enough; for he is still at inn with them, as Mr Bradford speaketh. As the master of the pit often sets two cocks... [ Continue Reading ]
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with _his_ hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Ver. 28. _Let him labour, working, &c._] This is the best remedy against poverty, which often prompts a man to theft, Proverbs 30:9. _See Trap... [ Continue Reading ]
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Ver. 29. _Let no corrupt communication_] Gr. σαπρος. Rotten, putrid speech. A metaphor from rotten trees, or stinking flesh, or stinking breath. Shun o... [ Continue Reading ]
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ver. 30. _And grieve not, &c._] As men in heaviness cannot despatch their work as they were wont; so neither doth the Spirit. if we grieve the Holy Ghost, how should we expect that he should comfort us? It is a... [ Continue Reading ]
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Ver. 31. _Let all bitterness, &c._] If the godly man suddenly fall into hitter words, it maketh the Holy Ghost stir within him. _ And clamour and evil speaking_] These are as smoke to t... [ Continue Reading ]
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ver. 32. _And be ye kind_] χρηστοι. Sweet natured, facile, and fair conditioned; as Cranmer, whose gentleness in pardoning wrongs was such, as it grew to a common proverb, Do my Lor... [ Continue Reading ]