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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:3

Verse 3 3.Blessed (108) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The lofty terms in which he extolls the grace of God toward the Ephesians, are intended to rouse their hearts to gratitude, to set them all on flame, to fill them even to overflowing with this thought. They who perceive in themselves discoveries of the Divine goodness, so full and absolutely perfect, and who make them the subject of earnest meditation, will never embrace new doctrines, by which the very grace which they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:1

Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus . Paul's one but all-sufficient claim on the Ephesians is his relation to Christ: he is Christ's apostle, not only as sent forth by him, but also as belonging to him; elsewhere his servant or bondman. He makes no claim to their attention on the ground of his great experience in the gospel, his profound study of it, or even his gifts, but rests simply on his being Christ's apostle; thus recognizing Christ as the only Head of the Church, and source of authority... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:1-2

Address and salutation. Character and scope of the Epistle as a whole (see Introduction); circumstances of the writer; jubilant tone of the Epistle; cordiality of the Ephesian Church. I. The writer speaks with authority. He is an "apostle," sent and commissioned directly by Christ, and acting in his name—a real ambassador of the Lord of glory. II. He holds this office "by the will of God;" pursues neither an irregular nor a merely volunteer course unsanctioned by the supreme Ruler,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:1-2

The salutation. The apostle introduces his Epistle by a duplicate order of ideas: a double blessing—"grace and peace;" a double source of blessing—"God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ;" a double designation of the Christian people—"saints and faithful in Christ Jesus;" and a double source of authority—"an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God." I. THE AUTHOR . "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God." As one standing outside the circle of the twelve, who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:1-2

The salutation of the saints. In the present case Paul, without associating any brethren with himself, proceeds to state his apostleship, and to transmit his salutation to the saints at Ephesus. These saints had been gathered for the most part out of paganism, and this will account for the introduction, as well as many of the contents, of this magnificent Epistle. We note the following lessons as here suggested:— I. THE APOSTLESHIP OF PAUL HAD BEEN RECEIVED DIRECTLY ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:1-2

Address and salutation. The great verity of which the Epistle to the Ephesians treats is the Church of Christ . It has its place along with other everlasting verities in the twelfth chapter of the Hebrews. It exists in no visible community as it exists in the mind of God. This letter is addressed to the Ephesian Church; but there is nothing peculiarly Ephesian about it. There are no Ephesian errors which are combated. There are no salutations sent to particular members of the Church of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:1-2

The highest things in the world. "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." The words set before us three of the greatest things in human life. I. THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE WORLD . "Can apostle of Jesus Christ." 1. He was a messenger of the greatest Person . How great was his Master! Messengers of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:2

Grace unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. As in most of Paul's Epistles, "grace" is virtually the first word and the last ( Ephesians 6:24 ), equivalent to free, undeserved mercy in all its manifold forms and manifestations. This Epistle is so full of the subject, that it has been called "The Epistle of Grace." The apostle dwells more fully on it than even in the Epistle to the Romans, and with a more jubilant sense of its richness and sufficiency. Peace is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every blessing of the Spirit, in heavenly places in Christ. Here we have (1) the Author of our blessings; (2) their nature and sphere; (3) the Medium through whom we have them. 1. The Author is "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus called God his God and his Father ( John 20:17 ) in virtue of the state of subjection to him in which, as the Son of man, he had voluntarily placed himself. In... read more

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