Ephesians 1:4

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 1:3-10

A. Individual calling 1:3-2:10Paul began the body of his letter by revealing the spiritual blessings that God has planned for believers in His Son."The opening section of Ephesians (Ephesians 1:3 to Ephesians 2:10), which describes the new life God has given us in Christ, divides itself naturally into two halves, the first consisting of praise and the second of prayer. In the ’praise’ half Paul blesses God that he has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3-14), while... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 1:3-14

1. The purpose: glory 1:3-14In the Greek text Ephesians 1:3-14 are one sentence. The Holy Spirit carried Paul along in his thinking as he contemplated God’s provision so that he moved quickly from one blessing to the next. It is as though he was ecstatically opening a treasure chest, lifting its jewels with his hands, letting them cascade through his fingers, and marveling briefly at them as they caught his eye."Each section ends with a note of praise for God (Ephesians 1:6; Ephesians 1:11;... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 1:3-21

II. THE CHRISTIAN’S CALLING 1:3-3:21". . . the first three chapters are one long prayer, culminating in the great doxology at the end of chapter 3. There is in fact nothing like this in all Paul’s letters. This is the language of lyrical prayer, not the language of argument, and controversy, and rebuke." [Note: William Barclay, The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians, p. 76.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 1:4

The first blessing is election. God has sovereignly chosen some people for salvation (cf. Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:30; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Titus 1:1). Salvation is ultimately God’s doing, not man’s (Ephesians 2:8-9). Belief in divine election is probably the most fundamental tenet of Calvinistic theology. Someone who denies it is not a Calvinist. Salvation comes to the elect when they trust in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:13)."Now everybody finds the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 1:4-6

The selection of the Father 1:4-6The spiritual blessings that have come to us are the work of all three members of the Trinity. God Himself is the basis of these blessings. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:1-23

Thanksgiving for Blessings and Prayer for Wisdom1, 2. The salutation. I. In the Salutations to the Colossians and to Philemon, written at the same time, ’Timothy the brother’ is coupled with St. Paul. He is omitted here because of the general character of the letter. At Ephesus was omitted for the same reason (see Intro.). The Apostle takes the whole responsibility of instructing Christians at large respecting ’the whole counsel of God’ (Acts 20:27).2. This is the usual salutation in the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 1:1-23

[1.Introduction to the Epistle (Ephesians 1:1-23).(1) SALUTATION (Ephesians 1:1-2).(2) THANKSGIVING TO GOD FOR—(a)The election of the whole Church before the world began, by the predestinating love of the Father, to holiness, grace, and glory (Ephesians 1:3-6);(b)this election depending on Redemption, in virtue of unity with Christ as the Head of all created Being (Ephesians 1:7-10);(c)and being manifested doubly, in the calling and faith, first of the Jewish, then of the Gentile Christians... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 1:4

(4) According as (i.e., inasmuch as) he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.—Again it should be, He chose us for Himself. The eternal election of God is inseparably connected with the blessing of the Spirit. This passage stands alone in St. Paul’s Epistles in its use of this word “chosen” in connection with God’s eternal purpose, “before the foundation of the world”—a phrase only applied elsewhere to the eternal communion of the Son with the Father (John 17:24), and to the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Ephesians 1:1-23

Ephesians 1:7 Forgiveness of sins lies at the very heart of the Christian religion. That title of our Lord which appeals most to the heart of mankind is the title which is His as Saviour. It is proclaimed in that fact which of all facts in history has most impressed itself upon the imagination of mankind, the Sacrifice of Christ. In the Apostles' Creed we say, 'I believe in the forgiveness of sins'. It is a petition in that prayer which is the model of all prayer the Lord's Prayer, we pray,... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Ephesians 1:3-19

Chapter 2THE ETERNAL PURPOSEEphesians 1:3-19WE enter this epistle through magnificent gateway. The introductory Act of Praise, extending from verse 3 to 14, {Ephesians 1:3-14} is one of the most sublime of inspired utterances, an overture worthy of the composition that it introduces. Its first sentence compels us to feel the insufficiency of our powers for its due rendering.The apostle surveys in this thanksgiving the entire course of the revelation of grace. Standing with the men of his day,... read more

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