CHAPTER III. _Paul, a prisoner for the testimony of Jesus, declares his_ _knowledge of what had been a mystery from all ages, that the_ _Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body with the_ _Jews_, 1-6. _Which doctrine he was made a minister, that he might declare the_ _unsearchable... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 3:2. _IF YE HAVE HEARD OF THE DISPENSATION_] The compound particle ειγε, which is commonly translated _if indeed_, in several places means _since indeed, seeing that_, and should be translated so in this verse, and in several other places of the New Testament. _Seeing ye have heard o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 3:3. _BY REVELATION HE MADE KNOWN UNTO ME_] Instead of εγνωρισε, _he made known_, εγνωρισθη, _was made known_, is the reading of ABCD*FG, several others, both the _Syriac, Coptic,_ _Slavonic, Vulgate_, and _Itala_, with _Clemens, Cyril, Chrysostom,_ _Theodoret, Damascenus_, and other... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 3:4. _WHEREBY, WHEN YE READ_] When ye refer back to them. _YE MAY UNDERSTAND MY KNOWLEDGE_] Ye may see what God has given me to know concerning what has been hitherto a _mystery_-the calling of the Gentiles, and the breaking down the _middle wall_ between them and the Jews, so as to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 3:5. _WHICH IN OTHER AGES WAS NOT MADE KNOWN_] That the calling of the Gentiles was made known by the prophets in different ages of the Jewish Church is exceedingly clear; but it certainly was not made known in that _clear and precise manner_ in which it was now revealed by the Spiri... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 3:6. _THAT THE GENTILES SHOULD BE FELLOW HEIRS_] This is the _substance_ of that mystery which had been hidden from all ages, and which was now made known to the New Testament apostles and prophets, and more particularly to St. Paul. _HIS PROMISE IN CHRIST_] That the promise made to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _WHEREOF I WAS MADE A MINISTER_] διακονος. A _deacon_, a _servant_ acting _under_ and by the _direction_ of the _great_ _Master_, Jesus Christ; from whom, by an especial call and revelation, I received the apostolic gifts and office, and by την ενεργειαντηςδυναμεωςαυτου, the _energy_, the _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _LESS THAN THE LEAST OF ALL SAINTS_] ελαχιστοτερω παντων αγιων. As the design of the apostle was to _magnify_ the grace of Christ in the salvation of the world, he uses every precaution to prevent the eyes of the people from being turned to _any thing but Christ crucified_; and although he... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _AND TO MAKE ALL MEN SEE_] και φωτισαι παντας. _And to_ _illuminate all_; to give _information_ both to Jews and Gentiles; to afford them a _sufficiency of light_, so that they might be able distinctly to discern the great objects exhibited in this Gospel. _WHAT_ IS _THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _THAT NOW UNTO THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS IN_ _HEAVENLY PLACES_] _Who_ are these principalities and powers? Some think _evil angels_ are intended, because they are thus denominated, Ephesians 6:12. Others think _good angels_ are meant; for as these heavenly beings are curious to invest... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _ACCORDING TO THE ETERNAL PURPOSE_] κατα προθεσιν των αιωνων. _According to the purpose concerning the periods_. This seems to refer to the _complete round_ of the _Jewish system_, and to that of the _Gospel_. I have often observed, that though the proper grammatical meaning of the word is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _IN WHOM WE HAVE BOLDNESS_] _By whom we_, Gentiles, _have_ την παρρησιαν, _this liberty of speech_; so that we may _say_ any thing by _prayer_ and supplication, and την προσαγωγην, _this_ _introduction_, into the Divine presence by faith in Christ. It is only in _his name_ we can _pray_ to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _I DESIRE THAT YE FAINT NOT_] In those primitive times, when there was much persecution, people were in continual danger of falling away from the faith who were not well grounded in it. This the apostle deprecates, and advances a strong reason why they should be _firm_: "I suffer my presen... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _FOR THIS CAUSE I BOW MY KNEES_] That you may not faint, but persevere, I frequently pray to God, who is our God and the Father of our Lord Jesus. Some very ancient and excellent MSS. and _versions_ omit the words του Κυριου ἡμων Ιησου Χριστου, _of_ _our Lord Jesus Christ_. And in them t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _OF WHOM THE WHOLE FAMILY_] _Believers_ in the Lord Jesus Christ on _earth_, the _spirits_ of _just men made perfect_ in a _separate state_, and all the holy _angels_ in heaven, make but _one_ _family_, of which God is the Father and Head. St. Paul does not say, of whom the _families_, as... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _THAT HE WOULD GRANT YOU_] This prayer of the apostle is one of the most grand and sublime in the whole oracles of God. The riches of the grace of the Gospel, and the extent to which the soul of man may be saved here below, are most emphatically pointed out here. Every word seems to have c... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS BY FAITH_] In this as well as in many other passages, and particularly that in Ephesians 2:21, (where see the note,) the apostle compares the _body_ or _Church_ of true believers to a _temple_, which, like that of Solomon, is built up to be a _habitat... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _MAY BE ABLE TO COMPREHEND WITH ALL SAINTS_] ινα εξισχυσητε καταλαβεσθαι. These words are so exceedingly nervous and full of meaning, that it is almost impossible to translate them. The first word, εξισχυσητε, from εξ, _intensive_, and ισχυω, _to be strong_, signifies that they might be _t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST, WHICH PASSETH KNOWLEDGE_] It is only by the _love of Christ_ that we can know the _love of God_: the love of God to man induced him to give Christ for his redemption; Christ's love to man induced him to give his life's blood for his salvation. The gift of Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _NOW UNTO HIM_] Having finished his short, but most wonderfully comprehensive and energetic _prayer_, the apostle brings in his _doxology_, giving praise to Him from whom all blessings come, and to whom all thanks are due. _THAT IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY_] It is impossible to exp... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 3:21. _UNTO HIM_] Thus possessed of power and goodness, _be_ _glory in the Church_-be unceasing praises ascribed in all the _assemblies_ of the people of God, wherever these glad tidings are preached, and wherever this glorious doctrine shall be credited. _BY CHRIST JESUS_] Through... [ Continue Reading ]