Verse 21
21. Unto him Repeated with majestic emphasis.
Be glory Namely, an ascription of supreme adoring honour.
Throughout all ages… end Literal Greek, into all generations of the age of ages. And here we might be surprised at generations being ascribed to the eternal ages. But the word generation designates, not a real progeny, but a time period. With the elder Hebrews a generation seems to have been a century, with the Greeks, one third of a century. (See Robinson’s Greek N.T. Lexicon on the word.) Grotius rightly says, For the purpose of magnifying, the apostle here mingles two Hebrew idioms, namely, “to generations of generations,” (as in Psalms 10:6,) and “to ages of ages,” (as in Isaiah 45:17, and elsewhere.) But it may be asked how does this phrase truly and completely express eternity? for it appears to express not time infinite, but merely time indefinite. We may reply, that, at any rate, St. Paul here uses it for time infinite or endless, since he uses it to measure the duration of Jehovah’s glory, which must be infinite in duration.
Amen Grotius suggests: “The Churches were accustomed to acclaim amen at such doxologies, which, that they may do, Paul gives them a lead.” A beautiful thought, confirming the idea that St. Paul conceptually dedicates his Ephesian and universal Church with this prayer and choral finishing.
And now, this glorious Church, as viewed from its divine side, is delineated, erected, finished, and dedicated with prayer and rapturous anthem. Let us next contemplate the human side of its churchly and Christian duties.
PART SECOND.
HUMAN SIDE OF CHURCHDOM DUTIES OF GOD’S ELECT CHURCH ON EARTH, Ephesians 4:1 to Ephesians 6:24.
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