The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:7-11
Christ's gifts to his Church. The grand object of the apostle in this section of his Epistle is to show the ample provision made by Christ for the welfare of his Church. The Church may sing as well as the individual, "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want." The particular object is to indicate that the gifts conferred by him on the members individually ( Ephesians 4:7-10 ), and especially the appointment of the several classes of office-bearers ( Ephesians 4:10 ), show the... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:7
Measured grace. I. CHRISTIANS ARE RECIPIENTS OF GRACE . 1. Without grace we can do nothing . All our attainments will be proportionate to the amount and kind of grace we receive. We cannot fulfill our vocation nor realize the grand unity of the Church by unaided human efforts. 2. But grace is vouchsafed to Christians . It is the peculiar privilege of the New Testament dispensation that it brings the energy of grace as well as the light of truth. II. ... read more