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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 2:19

Verse 19 19.Now therefore ye are no more strangers. The Ephesians are now exclusively addressed. They were formerly strangers from the covenants of promise, but their condition was now changed. They were foreigners, but God had made them citizens of his church. The high value of that honor which God had been pleased to bestow upon them, is expressed in a variety of language. They are first called fellow-citizens with the saints, — next, of the household of God, — and lastly, stones properly... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 2:20

Verse 20 20.And are built. The third comparison illustrates the manner in which the Ephesians, and all other Christians are admitted to the honor of being fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God. They are built on the foundation, — they are founded on the doctrine, of the apostles and prophets. We are thus enabled to distinguish between a true and a false church. This is of the greatest importance; for the tendency to error is always strong, and the consequences of mistake... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 2:21

Verse 21 21.In whom all the building groweth. If this be true, what will become of Peter? When Paul, in writing to the Corinthians, speaks of Christ as a “Foundation,” he does not mean that the church is begun by him and completed by others, but draws a distinction arising out of a comparison of his own labors with those of other men. It had been his duty to found the church at Corinth, and to leave to his successors the completion of the building. “According to the grace of God which is given... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 2:22

Verse 22 22.In whom ye also are builded together, or in whom also Be Ye Builded together. The termination of the Greek verb , συνοικοδομεῖσθε, like that of the Latin, cooedificamini, does not enable us to determine whether it is in the imperative or indicative mood. The context will admit either, but I prefer the latter sense. It is, I think, an exhortation to the Ephesians to grow more and more in the faith of Christ, after having been once founded in it, and thus to form a part of that new... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:11-22

The spiritual temple. In the apostle's prayer for the Ephesians the power of God to us-ward who believe was illustrated first in the experience of our risen and reigning Head, and secondly in the experience of us as risen and. reigning members of his mystical body. The unity of the members, however, has not been as fully brought out in the preceding verses as Paul desired, and so we have in the section now before us the subject amplified and completed mainly round the figure of a " ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:11-22

Union of Jews and Gentiles in the Christian Church. "Wherefore remember, that aforetime." The Ephesian Christians are reminded of what they were "aforetime," that is, before they received the gospel. It is a good exercise of memory for us all to go back on what we once were. For we did not all receive the gospel when it was first presented to us. Many of us who now believe were for years in a state of indifference; How well, then, does it become us to "remember" our former unconverted... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:11-22

Gospel reconciliation—its subjects, agency, and results. "Wherefore remember, that ye being in lime past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:14-19

Christ and his work of reconciliation. Here we have three topics: I. CHRIST OUR PEACE . Observe the several statements ( Ephesians 2:14-17 ). 1. He made both Jew and Gentile one (see Exposition). 2. He broke down the middle wall of partition. 3. He abolished the cause of enmity between Jew and Gentile—the Law of commandments in ordinances. 4. He constituted himself a new Man, to which both Jew and Gentile belong. 5. He thereby reconciled both to God. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:19

So then ye are no more strangers and foreigners. "Sojourners" is nearer πάροικοι than "foreigners;" it denotes persons dwelling in a place, but without citizen rights and privileges; but as such persons are usually foreigners, it is immaterial which term is used. But ye are fellow-citizens with the saints. The saints are the chosen ones of all time (comp. Hebrews 12:22 , "But ye are come unto Mount Zion," etc.). "Their names are engraven on the same civic roll with all whom ' the... read more

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