Ephesians 1:1-6 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:2

Grace be to you - See the note on Romans 1:7 . read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God - See the note on 2 Corinthians 1:3 , where the same form is used. With all spiritual blessings - With the pure doctrines of the Gospel, and the abundant gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, justifying, sanctifying, and building us up on our most holy faith. In heavenly places - Εν τοις επουρανιοις· In heavenly things, such as those mentioned above; they were not yet in heavenly places, but they had abundance of heavenly things to prepare them for heavenly... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:4

According as he hath chosen us in him - As he has decreed from the beginning of the world, and has kept in view from the commencement of the religious system of the Jews, (which the phrase sometimes means), to bring us Gentiles to the knowledge of this glorious state of salvation by Christ Jesus. The Jews considered themselves an elect or chosen people, and wished to monopolize the whole of the Divine love and beneficence. The apostle here shows that God had the Gentiles as much in the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:5

Having predestinated us - Προορισας . As the doctrine of eternal predestination has produced much controversy in the Christian world, it may be necessary to examine the meaning of the term, that those who do use it may employ it according to the sense it has in the oracles of God. The verb προοριζω , from προ , before, and ὁριζω , I define, finish, bound, or terminate, whence ὁρος , a boundary or limit, signifies to define beforehand, and circumscribe by certain bounds or limits;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:6

To the praise of the glory of his grace - Δοξης της χαριτος αὑτου· The glory of his grace, for χαρις ενδοξος , his glorious or illustrious grace, according to the Hebrew idiom. But the grace or mercy of God is peculiarly illustrated and glorified in the plan of redemption by Christ Jesus. By the giving of the Law, God's justice and holiness were rendered most glorious; by the giving of the Gospel, his grace and mercy are made equally conspicuous. Wherein he hath made us accepted in... read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 1 1.Paul, an apostle. As the same form of salutation, or at least very little varied, is found in all the Epistles, it would be superfluous to repeat here the observations which we have formerly made. He calls himself “an apostle of Jesus Christ;” for all to whom has been given the ministry of reconciliation are his ambassadors. The word Apostle, indeed, carries something more; for it is not every minister of the gospel, as we shall afterwards see, (Ephesians 4:11,) that can be called an... read more

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:4

Verse 4 4.According as he hath chosen us. The foundation and first cause, both of our calling and of all the benefits which we receive from God, is here declared to be his eternal election. If the reason is asked, why God has called us to enjoy the gospel, why he daily bestows upon us so many blessings, why he opens to us the gate of heaven, — the answer will be constantly found in this principle, that he hath chosen us before the foundation of the world. The very time when the election took... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:5

Verse 5 5.Who hath predestinated us. What follows is intended still further to heighten the commendation of divine grace. The reason why Paul inculcated so earnestly on the Ephesians the doctrines of free adoption through Christ, and of the eternal election which preceded it, has been already considered. But as the mercy of God is nowhere acknowledged in more elevated language, this passage will deserve our careful attention. Three causes of our salvation are here mentioned, and a fourth is... 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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:6

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

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:1

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