By the will of God — Not by any merit of my own. To the saints who are at Ephesus — And in all the adjacent places. For this epistle is not directed to the Ephesians only, but likewise to all the other churches of Asia.... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us — God's blessing us is his bestowing all spiritual and heavenly blessings upon us. Our blessing God is the paying him our solemn and grateful acknowledgments, both on account of his own essential blessedness, and of the bles... [ Continue Reading ]
As he hath chosen us — Both Jews and gentiles, whom he foreknew as believing in Christ, 1 Peter 1:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Having predestinated us to the adoption of sons — Having foreordained that all who afterwards believed should enjoy the dignity of being sons of God, and joint — heirs with Christ. According to the good pleasure of his will — According to his free, fixed, unalterable purpose to confer this blessing... [ Continue Reading ]
To the praise of the glory of his grace — His glorious, free love without any desert on our part.... [ Continue Reading ]
By whom we — Who believe. Have — From the moment we believe. Redemption — From the guilt and power of sin. Through his blood — Through what he hath done and suffered for us. According to the riches of his grace — According to the abundant overflowings of his free mercy and favour.... [ Continue Reading ]
In all wisdom — Manifested by God in the whole scheme of our salvation. And prudence — Which be hath wrought in us, that we may know and do all his acceptable and perfect will.... [ Continue Reading ]
Having made known to us — By his word and by his Spirit. The mystery of his will — The gracious scheme of salvation by faith, which depends on his own sovereign will alone. This was but darkly discovered under the law; is now totally hid from unbelievers; and has heights and depths which surpass all... [ Continue Reading ]
That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times — In this last administration of God's fullest grace, which took place when the time appointed was fully come. He might gather together into one in Christ — Might recapitulate, re — unite, and place in order again under Christ, their common Head.... [ Continue Reading ]
Through whom we — Jews. Also have obtained an inheritance — The glorious inheritance of the heavenly Canaan, to which, when believers, we were predestinated according to the purpose of him that worketh all things after the counsel of his own will — The unalterable decree, "He that believeth shall be... [ Continue Reading ]
That we — Jews. Who first believed — Before the gentiles. So did some of them in every place. Here is another branch of the true gospel predestination: he that believes is not only elected to salvation, (if he endures to the end,) but is fore — appointed of God to walk in holiness, to the praise of... [ Continue Reading ]
In whom ye — Gentiles. Likewise believed, after ye had heard the gospel — Which God made the means of your salvation; in whom after ye had believed — Probably some time after their first believing. Ye were sealed by that Holy Spirit of promise — Holy both in his nature and in his operations, and pro... [ Continue Reading ]
Who, thus sealing us, is an earnest — Both a pledge and a foretaste of our inheritance. Till the redemption of the purchased possession — Till the church, which he has purchased with his own blood, shall be fully delivered from all sin and sorrow, and advanced to everlasting glory. To the praise of... [ Continue Reading ]
Since I heard of your faith and love — That is, of their perseverance and increase therein.... [ Continue Reading ]
I cease not — In all my solemn addresses to God. To give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers — So he did of all the churches, Colossians 1:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
That the Father of that infinite glory which shines in the face of Christ, from whom also we receive the glorious inheritance, Ephesians 1:18, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation — The same who is the Spirit of promise is also, in the progress of the faithful, the Spirit of wisdom and r... [ Continue Reading ]
The eyes of your understanding — It is with these alone that we discern the things of God. Being first opened, and then enlightened — — By his Spirit. That ye may know what is the hope of his calling — That ye may experimentally and delightfully know what are the blessings which God has called you t... [ Continue Reading ]
And what the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe — Both in quickening our dead souls, and preserving them in spiritual life. According to the power which he exerted in Christ, raising him from the dead — By the very same almighty power whereby he raised Christ; for no less would s... [ Continue Reading ]
And he hath seated him at his own right hand — That is, he hath exalted him in his human nature, as a recompence for his sufferings, to a quiet, everlasting possession of all possible blessedness, majesty, and glory.... [ Continue Reading ]
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion — That is, God hath invested him with uncontrollable authority over all demons in hell, all angels in heaven, and all the princes and potentates on earth. And every name that is named — We know the king is above all, though we cannot nam... [ Continue Reading ]
And he hath given him to be head over all things to the church — An head both of guidance and government, and likewise of life and influence, to the whole and every member of it. All these stand in the nearest union with him, and have as continual and effectual a communication of activity, growth, a... [ Continue Reading ]
The fulness of him that filleth all in all — It is hard to say in what sense this can be spoken of the church; but the sense is easy and natural, if we refer it to Christ, who is the fulness of the Father.... [ Continue Reading ]