_HE EXHORTETH TO UNITY; AND DECLARETH THAT GOD THEREFORE GIVETH DIVERS GIFTS UNTO MEN, THAT HIS CHURCH MIGHT BE EDIFIED AND GROW UP IN CHRIST: HE CALLETH THEM FROM THE IMPURITY OF THE GENTILES, TO PUT ON THE NEW MAN, AND TO CAST OFF LYING, AND CORRUPT COMMUNICATION._ _Anno Domini 62._ THE great di... [ Continue Reading ]
I THEREFORE THE PRISONER OF THE LORD, &C.— St. Paul having concluded the special part of his Epistle with the foregoing chapter, comes in this, as his manner is, to practical exhortations. He begins with _unity, love,_ and _concord,_ which he presses upon them from a consideration which he makes use... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH LONG-SUFFERING,— As there is no copulative between _meekness_ and _long-suffering,_ it seems most natural to connect the latter with the following clause, _with longsuffering forbearing one another in love._ And if the exhortation be thus rendered, it will prevent the solecism, which would aris... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, &C.— Though God may be stiled the Father of all things universally, who is above, through, and in them all, as he created and upholds them, and has supreme dominion over them: and as in him we live, and move, and have our being; yet _the father of all,_ &c. in this place,... [ Continue Reading ]
IS GIVEN GRACE, &C.— That their _differing_ in some respects, though united in so many, might not be urged as a plea for self-esteem, or neglect of others who wanted such advantages, the Apostle insists upon it, that all is communicated to us in the way of free gift and unmerited liberality.... [ Continue Reading ]
_EPHESIANS 4:9_. (_NOW, THAT HE ASCENDED,_ &C.— St. Paul's argumentation in these two verses is skilfully adapted to the main design of his Epistle. The convert Gentiles were attacked by the unconverted Jews, who were declared enemies to the thoughts of a Messiah who should die. St. Paul, to enervat... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE PERSECUTING OF THE SAINTS,— _For the fitting out holy persons,—to the edifying,_ &c. Blackwall.... [ Continue Reading ]
TILL WE ALL COME, &C.— "Till all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, that are faithful members of this mystical body of Christ (including those who now do, and hereafter shall perseveringly believe, in successive generations to the end of the world,) shall meet, and be cemented together in an entire ag... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE SLEIGHT OF MEN, &C.— The word κυβεια, rendered _sleight,_ properly signifies the artifice of those infamous gamesters, who know how to _cog the dice._ The next clause may be rendered, _and subtlety in every method of deceit._ Some render it, _and cunning craftiness, as to the art,_ or _method... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM WHOM THE WHOLE BODY— The sum of this whole figurative discourse is, that all real Christians, as members of one body, whereof Christ is the head, should, each in his proper sphere, according to the gifts bestowed upon him, labour with concern, good-will, and zeal, for the benefit and increase o... [ Continue Reading ]
_EPHESIANS 4:17_. — From this verse to Ephesians 4:24 the Apostle exhorts the Ephesians wholly to forsake the _former conversation,_ in which they had passed their lives, while they were Gentiles; and to take up that which became them, and was proper to them, now that they were Christians. The _vani... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING ALIENATED FROM THE LIFE OF GOD,— _The life of God_ seems to signify more than a life prescribed by God to his people, as some understand it. It intimates a life consisting in a righteous and holy imitation of his perfections, and a constant devotedness to his service; and perhaps it may also i... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH GREEDINESS.— The word πλεονεξια, rendered _greediness,_ in its common acceptation, is, "The letting loose our desires to that which we have no right to by the law of justice." But St. Paul, in some of his Epistles, uses it for "intemperate and exorbitant desires of carnal pleasures." See ch. Ep... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE HAVE NOT SO LEARNED CHRIST;— This may, perhaps, intimate, that there was a manner of learning Christ, which might seem more consistent with such irregularities; and may glance on some teachers, who called themselves Christians, and yet took very little care to inculcate practical religion.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF SO BE, &C.— _Forasmuch as,_ or _seeing ye have heard him,_ &c. See ch. Ephesians 3:2. Beza, Gataker, and others, translate and connect this and the preceding verse as follows: _But it is not so with you; you have learned Christ; for ye have heard of him,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE PUT OFF, &C.— The verbs _put off, be renewed,_ and _put on,_ in this and the following verses, are in the infinitive mood; which shews their connection with the preceding words, and that the sense is, "Ye have been instructed to put off the old man, to be renewed, to put on," &c. As particul... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MINDS;— "This saving knowledge of Christ excites and binds you, not only to mortify your corruptions, but also to abound in all grace and holiness, that you may press after a still further renovation, through the sanctifyinginfluences of the Holy Spirit, in the i... [ Continue Reading ]
TRUE HOLINESS.— As this stands in a beautiful contrast to _deceitful lusts,_ Ephesians 4:22 we may, with great propriety, retain our version; though archbishop Tillotson would translate the clause, _the holiness of truth,_ which is perfectly agreeable to the original—by _truth_ understanding the gos... [ Continue Reading ]
_EPHESIANS 4:25_.— After the general exhortation, in the foregoing verses, to renounce the old course of life which they led when they were heathens, and to become perfectly new men, conformed to the holy rules of the gospel,—St. Paul descends to particulars; dehorting them from many vices, and pres... [ Continue Reading ]
BE YE ANGRY, AND SIN NOT:— It is evident that this is not a _command_ to be angry, but a _concession_ only, with a caution to beware of sinning in it. Comp. Isaiah 8:9. Nahum 3:14. Some would read this interrogatively,—_Are ye angry, yet sin not?_ The next is a Hebrew expression,—used to intimate th... [ Continue Reading ]
LET HIM THAT STOLE STEAL NO MORE:— _Stealing_ properly signifies _private thefts,_ or _frauds,_ in distinction from public or violent robbery: and as in many of the Gentile nations theft was thought to be no sin; so, perhaps, some of the Ephesian converts had not perfectly divested themselves of the... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NO CORRUPT COMMUNICATION PROCEED, &C.— This primarily refers to obscene talk; which is, with great propriety, called _corrupt,_ or _putrid,_ as the word σαπρος, signifies, in direct opposition to that which is _seasoned with salt;_ and is recommended, Colossians 4:6 as tending to preserve from s... [ Continue Reading ]
GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, WHEREBY YE ARE SEALED.— The original is emphatical, _Grieve not that Holy Spirit of God;—whereby ye are sealed;_ that is to say, "As all the things, against which I have been cautioning you, are directly contrary to the holy nature, will, and operations, gifts and... [ Continue Reading ]
LET ALL BITTERNESS, &C. _BE PUT AWAY_— "Do not passionately resent every trifle, nor bitterly inveigh, with all the licentiousness and keenness of satire, against those who have greatly injured you;—for these things are most contrary to the nature of God, the genius of Christianity, and the characte... [ Continue Reading ]