I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord — Imprisoned for his sake and for your sakes; for the sake of the gospel which he had preached amongst them. This was therefore a powerful motive to them to comfort him under it by their obedience.... [ Continue Reading ]
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit — That mutual union and harmony, which is a fruit of the Spirit. The bond of peace is love.... [ Continue Reading ]
There is one body — The universal church, all believers throughout the world. One Spirit, one Lord, one God and Father — The ever — blessed Trinity. One hope — Of heaven.... [ Continue Reading ]
One outward baptism.... [ Continue Reading ]
One God and Father of all — That believe. Who is above all — Presiding over all his children, operating through them all by Christ, and dwelling in all by his Spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
According to the measure of the gift of Christ — According as Christ is pleased to give to each.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore he saith — That is, in reference to which God saith by David, Having ascended on high, he led captivity captive — He triumphed over all his enemies, Satan, sin, and death, which had before enslaved all the world: alluding to the custom of ancient conquerors, who led those they had conquere... [ Continue Reading ]
Now this expression, He ascended, what is it, but that he descended — That is, does it not imply, that he descended first? Certainly it does, on the supposition of his being God. Otherwise it would not: since all the saints will ascend to heaven, though none of them descended thence. Into the lower... [ Continue Reading ]
He that descended — That thus amazingly humbled himself. Is the same that ascended — That was so highly exalted. That he might fill all things — The whole church, with his Spirit, presence, and operations.... [ Continue Reading ]
And, among other his free gifts, he gave some apostles — His chief ministers and special witnesses, as having seen him after his resurrection, and received their commission immediately from him. And same prophets, and some evangelists — A prophet testifies of things to come; an evangelist of things... [ Continue Reading ]
In this verse is noted the office of ministers; in Ephesians 4:13, the aim of the saints; in Ephesians 4:14, the way of growing in grace. And each of these has three parts, standing in the same order. For the perfecting the saints — The completing them both in number and their various gifts and grac... [ Continue Reading ]
Till we all — And every one of us. Come to the unity of the faith, and knowledge of the Son of God — To both an exact agreement in the Christian doctrine, and an experimental knowledge of Christ as the Son of God. To a perfect man — To a state of spiritual manhood both in understanding and strength.... [ Continue Reading ]
Fluctuating to and fro — From within, even when there is no wind. And carried about with every wind — From without; when we are assaulted by others, who are unstable as the wind. By the sleight of men — By their "cogging the dice;" so the original word implies.... [ Continue Reading ]
Into him — Into his image and Spirit, and into a full union with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
From whom the whole mystical body fitly joined together — All the parts being fitted for and adapted to each other, and most exactly harmonizing with the whole. And compacted — Knit and cemented together with the utmost firmness. Maketh increase by that which every joint supplieth — Or by the mutual... [ Continue Reading ]
This therefore I say — He returns thither where he begun, Ephesians 4:1. And testify in the Lord — In the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus. In the vanity of their mind — Having lost the knowledge of the true God, Romans 1:21. This is the root of all evil walking.... [ Continue Reading ]
Having their understanding darkened, through the ignorance that is in them — So that they are totally void of the light of God, neither have they any knowledge of his will. Being alienated from the life of God — Utter strangers to the divine, the spiritual life. Through the hardness of their hearts... [ Continue Reading ]
Who being past feeling — The original word is peculiarly significant. It properly means, past feeling pain. Pain urges the sick to seek a remedy, which, where there is no pain, is little thought of. Have given themselves up — Freely, of their own accord. Lasciviousness is but one branch of uncleanne... [ Continue Reading ]
But ye have not so learned Christ — That is, ye cannot act thus, now ye know him, since you know the Christian dispensation allows of no sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
Seeing ye have heard him — Teaching you inwardly by his Spirit. As the truth is in Jesus — According to his own gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
The old man — That is, the whole body of sin. All sinful desires are deceitful; promising the happiness which they cannot give.... [ Continue Reading ]
The spirit of your mind — The very ground of your heart.... [ Continue Reading ]
The new man — Universal holiness. After — In the very image of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore — Seeing ye are thus created anew, walk accordingly, in every particular. For we are members one of another — To which intimate union all deceit is quite repugnant.... [ Continue Reading ]
Be ye angry, and sin not — That is, if ye are angry, take heed ye sin not. Anger at sin is not evil; but we should feel only pity to the sinner. If we are angry at the person, as well as the fault, we sin. And how hardly do we avoid it. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath — Reprove your brother,... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither give place to the devil — By any delay.... [ Continue Reading ]
But rather let him labour — Lest idleness lead him to steal again. And whoever has sinned in any kind ought the more zealously to practise the opposite virtue. That he may have to give — And so be no longer a burden and nuisance, but a blessing, to his neighbours.... [ Continue Reading ]
But that which is good — Profitable to the speaker and hearers. To the use of edifying — To forward them in repentance, faith, or holiness. That it may minister grace — Be a means of conveying more grace into their hearts. Hence we learn, what discourse is corrupt, as it were stinking in the nostril... [ Continue Reading ]
Grieve not the Holy Spirit — By any disobedience. Particularly by corrupt discourse; or by any of the following sins. Do not force him to withdraw from you, as a friend does whom you grieve by unkind behaviour. The day of redemption — That is, the day of judgment, in which our redemption will be com... [ Continue Reading ]
Let all bitterness — The height of settled anger, opposite to kindness, Ephesians 4:32. And wrath — Lasting displeasure toward the ignorant, and them that are out of the way, opposite to tenderheartedness. And anger — The very first risings of disgust at those that injure you, opposite to forgiving... [ Continue Reading ]
As God, showing himself kind and tenderhearted in the highest degree, hath forgiven you.... [ Continue Reading ]