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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 2:13

Verse 13 13.But now in Christ Jesus. We must either supply the verb, now that ye have been received in Christ Jesus, or connect the word now with the conclusion of the verse, now through the blood of Christ, — which will be a still clearer exposition. In either case, the meaning is, that the Ephesians, who were far off from God and from salvation, had been reconciled to God through Christ, and made nigh by his blood; for the blood of Christ has taken away the enmity which existed between them... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 2:14

Verse 14 14.For he is our peace. He now includes Jews in the privilege of reconciliation, and shows that, through one Messiah, all are united to God. This consideration was fitted to repress the false confidence of the Jews, who, despising the grace of Christ, boasted that they were the holy people, and chosen inheritance, of God. If Christ is our peace, all who are out of him must be at variance with God. What a beautiful title is this which Christ possesses, — the peace between God and men!... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:11-13

Contrast between the past and the present. The Ephesians are here called to look back, to remember what they were; not, however, with the feeling of a man who has raised himself in the world , and whom such retrospect usually fills with pride, but with the feeling of those whom God has raised, a feeling that ought to produce the deepest humility and gratitude. I. THE PAST is presented under two aspects—one having respect chiefly to their outward condition, the other chiefly to... 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 2:12

That at that time ye were without Christ. Very comprehensive description, having no knowledge of Christ, no interest in him, no life or blessing from him. Being aliens (or, alienated ) from the commonwealth of Israel ; the πολιτεία , or citizenship condition, including a country, a constitution, a divinely appointed and divinely administered economy, rich in blessing. And strangers to the covenants of the promise. The promise of Christ, of which circumcision was the seal. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:12

The religious position of the heathen. The apostle does not speak of the distinguished place of the heathen as to art and science, culture, and worldly civilization in which they far surpassed Israel—but he describes the utter destitution of their religious life by contrast mainly with the privileged superiority of Judaism. The points of contrast are six in number. I. THEY WERE UNCIRCUMCISED —were "Gentiles in the flesh." Circumcision, according to the apostle, might mean very... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:12

Dark depths. Step by step descending into darker and darker depths, St. Paul describes the awful condition out of which heathens had been rescued when they became Christians. Regarded from a Jewish point of view, this condition is seen to consist in the loss of all the high privileges of Israel, and the salvation of the Gentiles appears as an adoption into the circle of those privileges. But larger things of more general import are covered by the description, so that it applies virtually... read more

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