Ephesians 1:3-3:21 WEB

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Ephesians 1:1-23

Analysis and Annotations I. THE MASTERWORK OF GOD (1-3) 1. The Godhead at Work CHAPTER 1 1. The introduction (Ephesians 1:1-2 ) 2. The great doxology (Ephesians 1:3 ) 3. The work of the Father (Ephesians 1:4-6 ) 4. The work of the Son (Ephesians 1:7-12 ) 5. The work of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14 ) 6. The parenthetical prayer to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory (Ephesians 1:15-23 ) In the brief introductory words to this Epistle, Paul speaks of himself as an... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Ephesians 1:3

1:3 {2} Blessed [be] the God {3} and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, {4} who hath blessed us with {b} all spiritual blessings in {c} heavenly [places] in {5} Christ:(2) The first part of the epistle, in which he handles all the parts of our salvation, setting forth the example of the Ephesians. And he uses various exhortations, and begins after his manner with thanksgiving.(3) The efficient cause of our salvation is God, not considered generally, but as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.(4)... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:1-23

SALUTATION (vs.1-2) As an apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul writes this epistle as an authoritative communication from God. Indeed, his apostleship is "by the will of God." Nothing of his own or of any other person's activity is involved in this at all. God gave Paul this place: he must simply accept it and act for God in it. No other could possibly substitute for him here. The epistle is not addressed to the Ephesian assembly as such, but to the saints at Ephesus, for assembly order is not the... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Ephesians 1:1-23

THE BELIEVER ’S BLESSINGS IN CHURCH This is the first of what are called the “prison” epistles, because written by Paul while a prisoner at Rome, (Compare Ephesians 3:1 ; Ephesians 4:1 ; with Acts 28:0 ). The others are Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon. The apostle wrote these with the chain upon his wrist. This also (with Colossians) contains the profoundest truth God has been pleased to reveal to His people, even that of the church considered as the body of Christ, “the... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Ephesians 1:3-6

(3) ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Ephesians 1:3

Blessed by the God, who, through his Son Jesus Christ, made man, hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings and gifts; and by his grace, infused into our souls, has given us a title to a happy eternity in heaven. (Witham) --- In heavenly things; (in c'e6lestibus) i.e. all spiritual blessings from heaven, or for eternity. This is the object of all the blessings we receive from God; and we ought, according to the first intention of them, to refer them all to eternal or heavenly beatitude.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:3-8

3-8 Spiritual and heavenly blessings are the best blessings; with which we cannot be miserable, and without which we cannot but be so. This was from the choice of them in Christ, before the foundation of the world, that they should be made holy by separation from sin, being set apart to God, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, in consequence of their election in Christ. All who are chosen to happiness as the end, are chosen to holiness as the means. In love they were predestinated, or... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Ephesians 1:1-99

Ephesians 1 AFTER THE OPENING words of salutation the Apostle goes straight to the heart of his theme in the spirit of a worshipper. We have been blessed in such rich fashion by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that He blesses God in return and carries our hearts with him in doing so. The blessings that are ours are characterized by three things. They are spiritual, not material as were Israel’s blessings under the old covenant, in such matters as ample food and health and peace... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Ephesians 1:3-6

Doxology to God for the blessings of His love and grace: v. 3. Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; v. 4. according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love; v. 5. having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, v. 6. to the praise... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Ephesians 1:3-14

II. PART FIRSTTHE GLORY OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST1–3A. The ground and goal of the churchEphesians 1:3-231. Grateful praise of the decree of grace(Ephesians 1:3-14)3Blessed be the God and Father15 of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath [omit hath]16 blessed us with [ἐν, in] all spiritual blessings [blessing]17 in [the] heavenly places in 4Christ: According [even] as he hath chosen [he chose] us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him [;] in... read more