1:6 {9} To the {i} praise of the glory of his grace, {10} wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.(9) The uttermost and chiefest final cause is the glory of God the Father, who saves us freely in his Son.(i) That as his bountiful goodness deserves all praise, so also it should be set forth and proclaimed.(10) Another final cause more near is our justification, in that he freely accounted us as being righteous in his Son. read more
SALUTATION (vs.1-2) As an apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul writes this epistle as an authoritative communication from God. Indeed, his apostleship is "by the will of God." Nothing of his own or of any other person's activity is involved in this at all. God gave Paul this place: he must simply accept it and act for God in it. No other could possibly substitute for him here. The epistle is not addressed to the Ephesian assembly as such, but to the saints at Ephesus, for assembly order is not the... read more
THE BELIEVER ’S BLESSINGS IN CHURCH This is the first of what are called the “prison” epistles, because written by Paul while a prisoner at Rome, (Compare Ephesians 3:1 ; Ephesians 4:1 ; with Acts 28:0 ). The others are Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon. The apostle wrote these with the chain upon his wrist. This also (with Colossians) contains the profoundest truth God has been pleased to reveal to His people, even that of the church considered as the body of Christ, “the... read more
(3) ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) 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, wherein he hath made us accepted in the... read more
As by his eternal decree, according to the purpose of his good will and pleasure, he hath made choice of us to be his adoptive sons, and predestinated us to be saved and glorified by the merits and grace of his beloved Son, our Redeemer, without any merits of ours to the glorious praise and riches of his grace, by which he hath made us abound in all wisdom and true prudence. (Witham) read more
To the praise of the glory of his grace; i.e. unto the glorious praise or commendation of his grace. (Witham) read more
3-8 Spiritual and heavenly blessings are the best blessings; with which we cannot be miserable, and without which we cannot but be so. This was from the choice of them in Christ, before the foundation of the world, that they should be made holy by separation from sin, being set apart to God, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, in consequence of their election in Christ. All who are chosen to happiness as the end, are chosen to holiness as the means. In love they were predestinated, or... read more
Ephesians 1 AFTER THE OPENING words of salutation the Apostle goes straight to the heart of his theme in the spirit of a worshipper. We have been blessed in such rich fashion by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that He blesses God in return and carries our hearts with him in doing so. The blessings that are ours are characterized by three things. They are spiritual, not material as were Israel’s blessings under the old covenant, in such matters as ample food and health and peace... read more
Doxology to God for the blessings of His love and grace: v. 3. Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; v. 4. according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love; v. 5. having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, v. 6. to the praise... read more
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Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Ephesians 1:1-23
Analysis and Annotations I. THE MASTERWORK OF GOD (1-3) 1. The Godhead at Work CHAPTER 1 1. The introduction (Ephesians 1:1-2 ) 2. The great doxology (Ephesians 1:3 ) 3. The work of the Father (Ephesians 1:4-6 ) 4. The work of the Son (Ephesians 1:7-12 ) 5. The work of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14 ) 6. The parenthetical prayer to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory (Ephesians 1:15-23 ) In the brief introductory words to this Epistle, Paul speaks of himself as an... read more