Ephesians 2:4

Ephesians 2:4. But God. ‘But' resumes the main thought, yet not without an implied antithesis between those described in Ephesians 2:1-3, and ‘God.'

Being rich in mercy, ‘Being as He is,' not = ‘who is,' and not so strongly causal as ‘because He is.' ‘Rich in mercy; comp. similar expressions in 1 Corinthians 1:5; 2 Corinthians 9:11; James 2:5. ‘Mercy' is more general than ‘compassion' (comp. Romans 9:15); both refer to God's love toward sinners, as those who are miserable and need help.

Became of his great love wherewith he loved us. Strictly speaking, ‘love' is the general term, one of the forms of which is ‘mercy;' and this love belongs to God's essence; comp. 1 John 4:16. But here the whole phrase qualifies the verbs, ‘quickened,' etc., assigning the special ground for these actions; hence the reference is to love which has manifested itself, love for persons (‘us'). It was to satisfy this love that He wrought the saving acts afterwards named. Bengel well says: ‘ mercy removes misery, love confers salvation.' ‘Us' includes all believers, and is not to be limited to Jewish Christians.