CHAPTER IV. _The apostle exhorts them to walk worthy of their vocation, and_ _to live in peace and unity_, 1-6. _Shows that God has distributed a variety of gifts, and_ _instituted a variety of offices in his Church, for the building_ _up and perfecting of the body of Christ_, 7-13. _Teaches t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 4:2. _WITH ALL LOWLINESS_] It is by acting as the apostle here directs that a man walks worthy of this high vocation; ταπεινοφροσυνη signifies _subjection_ or _humility of mind_. _MEEKNESS_] The opposite to anger and irritability of disposition. _LONG-SUFFERING_] μακροθυμια. _Long-... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 4:3. _ENDEAVOURING TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE_ _BOND OF PEACE._] There can be no doubt that the Church at Ephesus was composed partly of converted _Jews_, as well as _Gentiles_. Now, from the different manner in which they had been brought up, there might be frequent cau... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 4:4. THERE IS _ONE BODY_] Viz. of Christ, which is his Church. _ONE SPIRIT_] The Holy Ghost, who animates this body. _ONE HOPE_] Of everlasting glory, to which glory ye have been called by the preaching of the Gospel; through which ye have become the body of Christ, instinct with t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 4:5. _ONE LORD_] Jesus Christ, who is the governor of this Church. _ONE FAITH_] One system of religion, proposing the same objects to the faith of all. _ONE BAPTISM_] Administered in the name of the holy Trinity; indicative of the influences, privileges, and effects of the Christia... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 4:6. _ONE GOD_] The fountain of all being, self-existent and eternal; and _Father of all_, both Jews and Gentiles, because he is the Father of the spirits of all flesh. _WHO_ IS _ABOVE ALL_] ο επι παντων. _Who is over all_; as the King of kings, and Lord of lords. _AND THROUGH ALL_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _UNTO EVERY ONE OF US IS GIVEN GRACE_] _Grace_ may here signify a particular _office_; as if the apostle had said: Though we are all _equal_ in the respects already mentioned, yet we have all different offices and situations to fill up in the Church and in the world; and we receive a _free... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _WHEREFORE HE SAITH_] The reference seems to be to Psalms 68:18, which, however it may speak of the removal of the tabernacle, appears to have been intended to point out the glorious ascension of Christ after his resurrection from the dead. The expositions of various commentators have made... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _BUT THAT HE ALSO DESCENDED_] The meaning of the apostle appears to be this: The person who _ascended_ is the Messiah, and his _ascension_ plainly intimates his _descension_; that is, his incarnation, humiliation, death, and resurrection.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _HE THAT DESCENDED_] And he who descended _so low_ is the same who has ascended _so high_. He came to the _lower parts of_ _the earth_-the very deepest abasement; having emptied himself; taken upon him; the form of a servant, and humbled himself unto death, even the death of the cross; now... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _HE GAVE SOME, APOSTLES_] He established several _offices_ in his Church; furnished these with the proper _officers_; and, to qualify them for their work, gave them the proper _gifts_. For a full illustration of this verse, the reader is requested to refer to the notes on 1 Corinthians 12:... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS_] For the complete instruction, purification, and union of all who have believed in Christ Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles. For the meaning of καταρτισμος, _perfecting_, 2 Corinthians 13:9. _FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY_] All these various officers, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _IN THE UNITY OF THE FAITH_] Jews and Gentiles being all converted according to the doctrines laid down in the _faith_-the Christian system. _THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD_] A trite understanding of the mystery of the incarnation; why God was manifest in the flesh, and why this was nece... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _BE NO MORE CHILDREN_] _Children_, here, are opposed to the _perfect man_ in the preceding verse; and the state of both is well explained by the apostle's allusions. The man is grown up strong and healthy, and has attained such a measure or height as qualifies him for the most respectable... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _BUT, SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE_] The _truth_ recommended by the apostle is the whole system of Gospel doctrine; this they are to teach and preach, and this is opposed to the _deceit_ mentioned above. This truth, as it is the doctrine of God's eternal love to mankind, must be preached in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _FROM WHOM THE WHOLE BODY_] Dr. Macknight has a just view of this passage, and I cannot express my own in more suitable terms: "The apostle's meaning is, that, as the human body is formed by the union of all the members to each other, under the head, and by the fitness of each member for i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _WALK NOT AS OTHER GENTILES WALK_] Ye are called to holiness by the Gospel, the other Gentiles have no such calling; walk not as _they_ walk. In this and the two following verses the apostle gives a most awful account of the conduct of the heathens who were without the knowledge of the tru... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. 2. _HAVING THE UNDERSTANDING DARKENED_] This is the _second_ instance alleged by the apostle of the degradation of the Gentiles. Having no means of knowledge, the heart, naturally dark, became more and more so by means of habitual transgression; every thing in the Gentile system having an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. 5. _WHO BEING PAST FEELING_] οιτινεςαπηλγηκοτες. The verb απαλγειν signifies, 1. To throw off all _sense of shame_, and to be utterly _devoid of pain_, for committing unrighteous acts. 2. To be _desperate_, having neither _hope_ nor _desire_ of reformation; in a word, to be _without remo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _BUT YE HAVE NOT SO LEARNED CHRIST_] Ye have received the doctrines of Christianity, and therefore are taught differently; ye have received the Spirit of Christ, and therefore are saved from such dispositions. Some would point and translate the original thus: Ὑμεις δε ουχ οὑτως· εμαθετε... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _IF SO BE THAT YE HAVE HEARD HIM_] ειγε, _Seeing that,_ _since indeed_, ye have heard us proclaim his eternal truth; we have delivered it to you as we received it from Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _THAT YE PUT OFF_] And this has been one especial part of our teaching, that ye should abandon all these, and live a life totally opposite to what it was before. _THE OLD MAN_] Romans 6:6, and especially the notes on Romans 13:13; Romans 13:14. _WHICH IS CORRUPT_] The whole of your forme... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _AND BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND_] Their _old_ _mode_ of living was to be abandoned; a _new_ one to be assumed. The _mind_ is to be renovated; and not only its _general_ complexion, but the very _spirit_ of it; all its faculties and powers must be thoroughly, completely, and univ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _PUT ON THE NEW MAN_] Get a new nature; for in Christ Jesus-under the Christian dispensation, neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new _creation_. Therefore ye must be renewed in the spirit of your mind. _WHICH AFTER GOD IS CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS_] Here is c... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _WHEREFORE PUTTING AWAY LYING_] All _falsity_, all _prevarication_, because this is opposite to the _truth_ as it is in Jesus, Ephesians 4:21, and to the _holiness_ of _truth_, Ephesians 4:24. _SPEAK EVERY MAN TRUTH WITH HIS NEIGHBOUR_] Truth was but of small account among many of even th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _BE YE ANGRY, AND SIN NOT_] οργιζεσθε, here, is the same as ει μεν οργιζεσθε, IF YE _be angry, do not sin_. We can never suppose that the apostle delivers this as a _precept_, if we take the words as they stand in our version. Perhaps the sense is, _Take heed that ye be not angry, lest ye... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _NEITHER GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL._] Your adversary will strive to influence your mind, and irritate your spirit; watch and pray that he may not get any place _in_ you, or ascendancy _over_ you. As the word διαβολος is sometimes used to signify a _calumniator,_ _tale-bearer, whisperer_, o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _LET HIM THAT STOLE STEAL NO MORE_] It is supposed that, among the rabbins, stealing was not entirely discountenanced, provided a portion was given to the poor. The apostle here teaches them a different doctrine: as they should speak truth every man with his neighbour, so they should in ev... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _LET NO CORRUPT COMMUNICATION_] πασ λογος σαπρος. _Kypke_ observes that λογος σαπρος signifies a _useless, putrid,_ _unsavoury_, and _obscene word_ or _conversation_. 1. _Useless_, particularly that which has been rendered so by old age and corruption. 2. _Putrid, impure_; so Aristophane... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD_] By giving way to any wrong temper, unholy word, or unrighteous action. Even those who have already a measure of the light and life of God, both of which are not only brought in by the Holy Spirit, but maintained by his constant indwelling, may give way... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _LET ALL BITTERNESS_] πασα πικρια. It is astonishing that any who profess the Christian name should indulge _bitterness_ of spirit. Those who are _censorious_, who are _unmerciful_ to the _failings_ of others, who have fixed a _certain standard_ by which they measure all persons in all ci... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ephesians 4:32. _BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER_] γινεσθε χρηστοι. Be _kind_ and _obliging_ to each other; study _good breeding_ and _gentleness of_ _manners_. A Christian _cannot_ be a _savage_, and he _need not_ be a _boor_. Never put any person to needless pain. _TENDER-HEARTED_] ευσπλαγχνοι. _... [ Continue Reading ]