PREFACE TO THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. xx. 17–35, forewarning them both of great persecutions from without, and of divers heresies and schisms, which would arise among themselves. After this it appears that he never visited Ephesus again, nor saw any of the elders whom he now addressed. He wrote, however, this epistle to them for their further instruction and establishment in the faith; and that, it seems, within three or four years from this period; or, as is generally supposed, during the latter part of the time of his imprisonment at Rome. For, from what he himself says, (chap. iii. 1; iv. 1; vi. 20,) he was a prisoner when he wrote it, as he was likewise when he wrote to the Colossians, Col. iv. 10. Indeed, there is such a manifest correspondence between these two epistles, both in their subject matter and in the very form of the expression, that it may be justly concluded they were written at the same time, and sent together by Tychicus, who was intrusted with the care of both, but was attended by Onesimus, when he delivered that to the Colossians, Col. iv. 9. ་ The design of the apostle in this epistle was to establish the Ephesian believers in the doctrine he had delivered; and for that purpose to give them more exalted views of the love of God, and of the excellence and dignity of the Lord Jesus; to show them that they were saved by grace; and that the Gentiles, however wretched they had been once, were now invited to enjoy equal privileges with the Jews; to encourage them, by declaring with what steadiness the apostle himself suffered for the truth, and with what earnestness he prayed for their establishment and perseverance. He also intended to arm them against false teachers, and to build them up in love and holiness, both of heart and conversation. If it be remembered that the most flourishing sects of philosophers had been, or were, settled at Ephesus, and in its neighbourhood; it will not be doubted that the apostle would make use of extraordinary caution in writing; and it is evident that this epistle is full of the sublimest doctrines, and written in a style equal to the nobleness of his sentiments, and the learning of those to whom it was addressed. Though this, perhaps, at first sight may render his meaning a little obscure, yet, by the assistance of the forementioned epistle to the Colossians, written while he was in the same circumstances, upon the same occasion, and to the same purpose, the sense and doctrine of the apostle here may be so clearly seen, and so perfectly comprehended, that there can be hardly any doubt left about it, to any one who will examine them diligently, and carefully compare them together. He begins this epistle, as he does most of the others, with thanksgiving to God, for their embracing and adhering to the gospel. He shows the inestimable blessings and advantages they received thereby, as far above all the Jewish privileges as all the wisdom and philosophy of the heathen. He proves that our Lord is the head of the whole church; of angels and spirits, the church triumphant; and of Jews and Gentiles, now equally members of the church militant. In the last three chapters he exhorts them to various duties, civil and religious, personal and relative, suitable to their Christian character, privileges, assistances, and obligations. To be a little more particular: In this epistle we may observe, I. The inscription, chap. i. 1, 2. II. The doctrine pathetically explained, which contains, 1. Praise to God for the whole gospel blessing, verses 3-14, with thanksgiving and prayer for the saints, verse 15 to chap. ii. 10. 2. A more particular admonition concerning their once miserable, but now happy condition, verses 11-22; a prayer for their establishment, chap. iii. 1-19; a doxology, verses 20, 21. III. The exhortation. First, general: To walk worthy of their calling, agreeably to, 1. The unity of the Spirit, and the diversity of his gifts, chap. iv. 1-16. 2. The difference between their former and their present state, verses 17-24. Secondly, particular: To avoid, 1. Lying, chap. iv. 25. 2. Anger, verse 26. 3. Theft, verse 28. 4. Corrupt communication, verses 29, 30. 5. Bitterness, verse 31 to chap. v. 2. 6. Uncleanness, verses 3-14. 7. Drunkenness, verses 15-21. With a commendation of the opposite virtues: To do their duty, as, 1. Wives and husbands, verses 22-33. 2. Children and parents, chap. vi. 1-4. 3. Servants and masters, verses 5-9. Thirdly, final: To war the spiritual warfare, verses 10-20. IV. The conclusion, verses 21-24. 300 b THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE то THE EPHESIANS. CHAPTER I. After the inscription and benediction, 1, 2, the apostle enters on the subject of his epistle, by solemnly and devoutly thanking God for the blessings of the gospel conferred on true believers, whether Jews or Gentiles, in consequence of his eternal · purpose to glorify his grace in pardoning, accepting for his children, sanctifying and saving such, through the blood of his Son, and the communication of his Spirit, 3-14. He assures the Ephesians of the fervency with which he offered his prayers to God on their account, that they might have still higher and worthier conceptions of the gospel, and of its glorious Author, as raised from the dead, and exalted to supreme dominion in the heavenly world, 15-23. A. D. 64. b A. D. 64. A. M. 4069. PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ || Father, and from the Lord Jesus A. M. 4068. a by the will of God, to the Christ. saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 3 e Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spirit 2 d Grace be to you, and peace, from God our ual blessings in heavenly 1places in Christ : a 2 Cor. i. 1.——————b Rom. i. 7; 2 Cor. i. 1.————o 1 Cor. iv. 17; Chap. vi. 21; Col. i. 2. NOTES ON CHAPTER I. d Gal. i. 3; Titus i. 4. 2 Cor. i. 3; 1 Peter i. 3.1 Or, things, Chap. vi. 12. the light of the gospel, the influences of the Spirit of Verses 1, 2. Paul, an apostle by the will of God God, the pardon of sin, adoption into God's fam-Not by any merit of my own; to the saints-Orily, the sanctification of our nature, and eternal life. holy persons, as Tolç ayious properly signifies; who These blessings are here opposed to the earthly blessare at Ephesus-And in all the adjacent places: for ings which were promised to the natural descendants this epistle was not directed to the Ephesians only, of Abraham, the ancient church of God, which consistbut likewise to all the other churches of Asia; and ed in the possession of Canaan, in victory over their to the faithful in Christ Jesus-Or the believers, as enemies, fruitful seasons, &c., as described Deut. the word 50s is rendered Acts x. 45; 2 Cor. vi. 15; xxviii. To these, and such like blessings, Abraham's and 1 Tim. iv. 3, 10, 12. There seems to be no rea- seed, by faith, were entitled by the promise, In thy son to suppose that the apostle gave the Christians || seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. In at Ephesus this title on account of their being re-heavenly places-Or rather, In heavenly things, as markably faithful to Christ, in relying on him alone EV TOIS ETTEPAVIOs, it seems, ought to be here translated. for salvation, without that attachment to the Mosaic Certainly, we must enjoy spiritual blessings in healaw, which was found in some other churches, and venly things, before we can enjoy them in heavenly particularly among the Galatians. For we find he places; namely, blessings which are heavenly in uses the same title when addressing the Colossians, their nature, original, and tendency, and shall be (chap. i. 2,) whom yet he reproves on this very ac- completed in heaven; far different from the external count, chap. ii. 16. Grace be to you, &c.-See on privileges of the Jews, and the earthly blessings they Rom. i. 7. expected from the Messiah. According as he hath Verses 3-6. Blessed be God, who hath blessed us chosen us in him-Both Jews and Gentiles, whom -God's blessing us is his bestowing spiritual and he foreknew as believing in Christ, 1 Pet. i. 2. That heavenly blessings upon us. Our blessing God is he speaks of such, and of such only, is evident from the paying him our solemn and grateful acknow- || verses 12-14, where see the notes. Indeed, none ledgments, both on account of his own essential but true believers in Christ, none but those whose blessedness, and of the blessings which he bestows || faith in him works by love, are ever termed, in the New on us; with all spiritual blessings-The spiritual Testament, God's chosen, or elect. For the election blessings here spoken of are such as are necessary to spoken of in the New Testament is not the election the perfection and happiness of our spirits; namely, || of individuals, out of the mass of mankind, to repent. || Redemption and salvation are A. M. 4068. f A. D. 64. 4 According as he hath chosen us his blood, the forgiveness of sins, ac- A. M. 4068. in him, & before the foundation of the || cording to the riches of his grace; world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: h 5 i Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, ' according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, m wherein he hath made us accepted in Beloved. the 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence ; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, " which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times the might gather together in one "all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, 7 °In whom we have redemption through and which are on earth; even in him : f Rom. viii. 28; 2 Thess. ii. 13; 2 Tim.i.9; James ii. 5; 1 Pet. i. 2; ii. 9. 1 Pet. i. 20. -s h Luke i. 75; Chap. ii. 10; v. 27 Col. i. 22; 1 Thess. iv. 7; Titus ii. 12.-i Rom. viii. 29, 30; Verse 11.- k John i. 12; Rom. viii. 15; 2 Cor. vi. 18; Gal. iv. 5; 1 John iii. 1.- Matt. xi. 26; Luke xii. 32; 1 Cor. i. 21 ; Verse 9. Rom. iii. 24; v. 15. m "Matt. iii. 17; xvii. 5. ; • Acts xx. 28; Rom. iii. 24; Heb. ix. 12; 1 Pet. i. 18, 19; Rev. v. 9.- -P Rom. ii. 4; iii. 24; ix. 23; Chap. ii. 7; iii. 8, 16 9 Rom. xvi. 25; Chap. iii. 4. 9; Col. i. 26.—Chap. iii. 11 2 Tim. i. 9.———— Gal. iv. 4; Heb. i. 2. ix. 10; 1 Pet. i. 20 t 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23; xi. 3; Chap. ii. 15; iii. 15." Phil. ii. 9 10; Col. i. 20. 2 Gr. the heavens. believe, and obey, passing by the rest; but it is the Verses 7,8. In, or by, whom we have redemption election of such as are already possessed of faith, ||-By price and by power, are bought and delivered love, and a new nature, to be the people and children from the guilt and dominion of sin, the tyranny of of God; which election it behooves them to make || Satan, and the final displeasure and wrath of God. sure, by aspiring after a larger measure of these, and Through his blood-Shed for these purposes; or of all other graces and virtues, and by enduring to through what he hath done and suffered; having the end, 2 Pet. i. 10. Before the foundation of the || undertaken the great and awful work of making world—Or, before the world began This, as Mac- an atonement for us by the sacrifice of himself, by knight observes, "being said of the Ephesian breth-which we obtain, what is an introduction to all the ren in general, it cannot be an election of the whole other blessings here mentioned, the forgiveness of of them as individuals" [unconditionally] "to eter- || sins-For, being pardoned, God's wrath is removed nal life;" but must be that election, which, before from us; we are taken into his favour; adopted into the foundation of the world, God made of true be- || his family; born of his Spirit; love him who hath lievers, of all nations, to be his children and people, || thus first loved us; and, through this Love, become and to enjoy the blessings promised to such. That|| holy, and without blame before him. And by these we should be holy-Dedicated to God, employed for blessings in heavenly things, we are qualified to rehim, and transformed into his image; and without || ceive blessings in heavenly places; according to the blame—As to our whole spirit and conduct; before||riches of his grace--According to the abundant him-Or in his sight, who searches the heart, and overflowings of his free, undeserved mercy and faobserves all our ways. As the election here spoken vour, to such sinful and guilty creatures; wherein of is an election of believers to be holy, all such ought || he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom-Manicontinually to keep in mind this end of their election, fested by God in the whole scheme of our salvation ; that they may press on toward it more and more. and prudence-Which he hath wrought in us, that In love-To God, his people, and all mankind, the we may know and do all his acceptable and perfect source of all true holiness; Having predestinated, || will. or fore-appointed, us-Who do now, or shall here- Verses 9, 10. Having made known to us-By his after, believe in him with our heart unto righteous-Word and Spirit; the mystery of his will—The graness; unto the adoption of children-For those who cious scheme of salvation by faith, the appointment receive Christ, namely, in all his offices and charac- of which depended on his sovereign will alone; ters, or who believe aright in him, enjoy the dignity || termed a mystery, because it was but darkly revealed of being his children and heirs, and joint heirs with under the law, is now totally hid from unbelievers, Christ. See on John i. 12; Gal. iii. 26. According || and has heights and depths in it which surpass all to the good pleasure of his will-According to his the knowledge even of true believers. "The whole free, fixed, and unalterable purpose to confer these doctrine of the gospel, taken complexly, is called the blessings on all those who believe in Christ, and those || wisdom of God in a mystery, 1 Cor. ii. 7; not beonly. Of the word πρоopiš, here, and frequently || cause any part of it is unintelligible, but for the reaelsewhere, rendered to predestinate, see the notes on sons mentioned in the note on that verse." "The Rom. viii. 29, 30. To the praise of the glory of his || same appellation is given to particular discoveries grace-His glorious, unmerited, and free love, with- || made in the gospel. For example, the salvation of out any desert on our part; wherein he hath made the Gentiles through faith, without obedience to the us accepted-Greek, exapitwσev, he hath taken us law of Moses, is called a mystery, Rom. xi. 25; xvi. into favour, namely, his peculiar favour; in the Be- 25. So likewise is the great discovery, that such of loved-In Christ, his beloved Son, through whom, the saints as are alive on the earth at the coming of though in ourselves we are so unworthy of them, we|| Christ, shall not die, but be changed, 1 Cor. xv. 51; receive these inestimable blessings. and 2 Thess. ii. 7, we have the mystery of iniquity ; 13 In whom ye also trusted, after A. M. 4068. that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, d 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance funtil the redemption of the purchased b James i. 18.- 3 Or, hoped. John i. 17; 2 Cor. vi. 7. d 2 Cor. i. 22; Chap. iv. 30.- 2 Cor. i. 22; v. 5. Luke xxi. 28.8 Acts xx. 28. and Rev. i. 20, the mystery of the seven stars; and at first in sweet and harmonious subjection to the Rev. x. 7, the mystery of God; and Rev. xvii. 5, 7,|| Son of God, the great Creator of both; but man mystery, Babylon, the woman, the beast, and the|| having broken himself off from this society, the Son false prophet. To this latter group, the appellation of man, by his humiliation and sufferings, recovers of mystery is given with singular propriety. For as all who believe in him, and in his human nature prethe initiated [into the heathen mysteries] were in- || sides over the kingdom to which, in the world of structed by having certain mystic shows set before || glory, they and his angels belong. This interpretathem, the visions in the Revelation of the seven stars, || tion presents so noble a view, that no other will bear and of the woman, and the beast, and the false prophet, representing the future state of the church, are all very aptly termed mysteries." That in the dispensation of the fulness of times-When that time was fully come, which he, in his wise appointment and distribution of things, had judged most suitable and eligible; or in this last administration of his fullest grace, in which all the former dispensations ter-nated-To it when we became true believers, and minated, which took place at the time most proper as long as we continue such, see on verse 5; acfor it. "The word oɩkovoμia, here rendered dispen- cording to the purpose of him—Of God; who worksation, signifies the plan which the master of a eth all things—As he formed and governs all things; family, or his steward, has established for the man- after the counsel of his own will-The unalterable agement of the family. Also it signifies a plan decree, He that believeth shall be saved: which is formed for the management of any sort of business. not an arbitrary will, but a will flowing from the In this passage it signifies the plan which God had rectitude of his nature; otherwise what security formed for accomplishing the salvation of believers." would there be that it would be his will to keep his -Macknight. He might gather together in one— word even with the elect? The apostle seems to Greek, avakɛpahaιwoaodai, he might recapitulate, or have added this clause with a view to convince the unite again under one head; all things in Christ- believing Jews that God would bestow on them, and All persons, whether angels or men, whether living on the believing Gentiles, the inheritance of heaven or dead, with all things that are connected with or through faith, whether their unbelieving brethren concern them; both in heaven and on earth-This were pleased or displeased therewith. That weis considered by some as a Jewish phrase, to express Believing Jews; should be to the praise of his glory the whole world; and Locke thinks it may be equi- |-Should give men occasion to praise God for his valent to Jews and Gentiles, which is the meaning || goodness and truth; who first trusted-Or hoped, as adopted also by Macknight, who says, "According TроnλTIKоTaç signifies; in Christ-That is, believed to this interpretation, the gathering of all things in him, and hoped for eternal salvation from him, under Christ, means both the forming of believing before the Gentiles did. And this was the case, Jews and Gentiles into one catholic church, and not only in Judea, but in most places where the the bringing of them both into the heavenly country || apostles preached; some of the Jews generally bethrough the mediation of Christ." Beza, by things||lieving before the Gentiles. Here is another branch in heaven, understands the saints in heaven, who|| of the true gospel predestination: he that believes is died before Christ came into the world, and who are not only elected to eternal salvation if he endure to not to be made perfect till the resurrection. But the the end, but is fore-appointed of God to walk in hointerpretation adopted by Whitby, Chandler, Dod-liness and righteousness, to the praise of his glory. dridge, Wesley, and many others, seems more pro- Verses 13, 14. In whom ye, Gentiles, also trusted bable, namely, that by things in heaven, both in this |--Believed and hoped for eternal life; after ye heard passage and Col. i. 20, the angelical hosts are to be the word of truth-The word which reveals and understood; and by things on earth, believers of all attests most important truth, the faithful saying, nations, who, with the angels, shall at length be (1 Tim. i. 15,) that Jesus of Nazareth is the true Mesjoined in one great society, or church, for the pur- siah, the Son of God, who came into the world to pose of worshipping God through all eternity, agree-save sinners; the gospel of your salvation-Which ably to Heb. xii. 22. "Both angels and men were brings the good tidings of salvation to you as well as a comparison."-Doddridge. Verses 11, 12. In whom also we-Believing Jews; have obtained an inheritance-Namely, that of the promises made to the children of Abraham and of || God, even the blessings of grace and of glory, the privileges belonging to the true members of the church militant and triumphant. Being predesti || The apostle prays for the h EPHESIANS. A. M. 4068. possession, unto the praise of his glory A. D. 64. k full salvation of the Ephesians. A. D. 64. 16 Cease not to give thanks for A. M. 4068. you, making mention of you in my 15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your prayers; i faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, n Verses 6, 12; 1 Pet. ii. 9.-——i Col. i. 4. 1 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, m may give unto you the others: or, which God has made the means of your sal- by report an account of their first believing in the vation; in whom after ye believed—Or rather, as Tiev-|| Lord Jesus, and therefore that he wrote this epistle σavτeç signifies, having believed; ye were sealed- || to them before he had been at Ephesus in person, or Probably immediately after believing; with that Holy || was personally acquainted with them. He wrote in Spirit of promise-Holy both in his nature and in the same terms to the Thessalonians, who were his his operations, and promised to all true believers, to converts, (1 Thess. iii. 4, 6,) and to his convert Phileall the children of God. Of the seal and earnest of mon, verses 4, 5. Therefore, as his saying that he this Spirit, see the note on 2 Cor. i. 22, where the|| heard of the faith and love of the Thessalonians and apostles are said to have been sealed by the Spirit, || of Philemon, does not mean that he was ignorant of and to have the earnest thereof in their hearts. As these things till they were reported to him, but only applied to them, the expressions undoubtedly signi- that he had heard of their persevering in the true fied their having received the extraordinary gifts, as faith of the gospel, and in their love to the saints; so well as the sanctifying graces of the Spirit. But the faith of the Ephesians, which he says he had here being applied to all the Gentile believers, but || heard of, was not their first faith, or their conversion few of whom certainly were endowed with these to Christianity, but their continued and increasing extraordinary gifts, the words can only mean those faith, evidencing itself by the fruit here spoken of. ordinary influences of the Spirit, whereby they were Love unto all the saints-Namely, whether circumassured of their adoption and regeneration, were cised or uncircumcised. For, by praising the Ephestamped with the image of God, and thereby consti- sians for their love to all the saints, the apostle tuted heirs of the heavenly inheritance, and pre- || seems to intimate that they were free from that narpared for the enjoyment of it. This sealing of the row, bigoted spirit, which prevailed in some other Spirit produces, in every man that possesses it, a new || churches, where difference in opinion about the nature, whereby he is marked, or declared to be, the necessity of circumcision had interrupted love. I son of God; a mark which, as Macknight observes, || cease not-In all my solemn addresses to God; to is to him a stronger evidence of his title to eternal || give thanks for you-On account of your perselife, than if he possessed the miraculous gifts. See verance in the true faith of the gospel, and in your on Matt. vii. 22; 1 Cor. xiii. 2. How earnest then love to all Christ's disciples; making mention of ought we to be in our endeavours to obtain this im- || you in my prayers-So he did of all the churches, portant blessing! See also Eph. iv. 30, where be- Col. i. 9. That the God and Father of our Lord lievers are said to be sealed with the Holy Spirit to || Jesus Christ, the Father of glory-Of which he is the day of redemption. When this sealing of the || eternally and immutably possessed; from whom all Spirit is enjoyed in the most perfect manner, it seems glory proceeds, and to whom it returns; and whose to imply, 1st, A full impression of the image of God || glory shines in the face of Christ his beloved Son; on a man's soul; 2d, A full assurance of his receiv- || or, as the expression might have been rendered, the ing all the promises, whether relating to time or eter- || glorious Father; may give you the Spirit of wisdom nity. Which is the earnest-Both a pledge and a and revelation-This Spirit, termed the Spirit of foretaste; of our inheritance, in heaven, until the promise, (verse 13,) they had already received, in redemption of the purchased possession--Till the a great measure, for he had sealed them, as is there church, which he has purchased with his own blood, signified, and was an earnest of their inheritance in shall be fully delivered from all sin and sorrow, and their hearts; but the apostle here prays that the same advanced to everlasting glory. As the redemption || Spirit might be still more largely communicated to here spoken of includes the redemption of the bodies them, revealing more fully the deep things of God, of Christ's purchased people from death, by the re- and rendering them still more wise in all matters surrection, (Rom. viii. 23,) the earnest of the Spirit, that concerned their own salvation, and the salvation which is to remain in the church, that is, in the of others. In the knowledge of him—Of Christ, of hearts of its true members, till that glorious event is his person and offices, of his wonderful process in accomplished, must be principally those ordinary || accomplishing the work of man's redemption; of his influences of the Spirit, which produce in believers humiliation and exaltation, his grace and glory, that holiness which is necessary to fit them for which he termed, (Phil. iii. 8,) the excellency of the heaven, and that happiness which is an anticipation || knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord, for whom he thereof. had willingly suffered the loss of all things, and acVerses 15-17. Wherefore, after I heard of your counted them despicable, in comparison of this faith in the Lord Jesus-That is, of your perse- || knowledge of him. Some commentators understand verance and increase therein. For the apostle's the clause as signifying the acknowledgment of manner of speaking does not imply that he received || him, namely, by professing faith in him and his || |