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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 1:3-14

He begins with thanksgivings and praise, and enlarges with a great deal of fluency and copiousness of affection upon the exceedingly great and precious benefits which we enjoy by Jesus Christ. For the great privileges of our religion are very aptly recounted and enlarged upon in our praises to God. I. In general he blesses God for spiritual blessings, Eph. 1:3; where he styles him the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; for, as Mediator, the Father was his God; as God, and the second... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 1:1-14

1:1-14 This is a letter from Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of God, to God's consecrated people who live in Ephesus and who are faithful in Jesus Christ. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings which are only to be found in heaven, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we might be holy and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 1:5

Having predestinated us ,.... Predestination, taken in a large sense, includes both election and reprobation, and even reaches to all affairs and occurrences in the world; to the persons, lives, and circumstances of men; to all mercies, temporal or spiritual; and to all afflictions, whether in love or in wrath: and indeed providence, or the dispensations of providence, are no other than the execution of divine predestination; but here it is the same with election, and is concerned with 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

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 1:3-6

The electing and adopting love of God. As soon as the salutation of the saints is over, Paul proceeds to speak about the blessings he and they have received from God. One curious expression meets us and constitutes the key of the whole passage; it is "the heavenly places" ( ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις ) wherein the spiritual blessing is experienced. This cannot mean merely that out of the heavenly places the gracious Father pours his spiritual blessings upon selected souls; but, as a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:3-6

The redemptive predestination of God a reason for man's exultant gratitude. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 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: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:3-14

THANKSGIVING FOR THEIR DIVINE ORDINATION TO THE BLESSINGS OF GRACE . In this glorious anthem, in which the apostle, tracing all to the Divine Fountain, enumerates the glorious privileges of the Church, and blesses God for them, he first ( Ephesians 1:3 ) states summarily the ground of thanksgiving, expanding it with glowing fullness in Ephesians 1:4-14 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:3-14

The thanksgiving. The condition of believers is fitted to excite the profoundest emotions of gratitude and praise in all who know them. Grounds of this thankfulness are— I. STATED SUMMARILY . ( Ephesians 1:3 .) (For outline discourse on this text, see Exposition.) II. STATED IN DETAIL . ( Ephesians 1:4-14 .) The chief elements of blessing are: 1. Holiness and blamelessness in love, secured by God's eternal election ( Ephesians 1:4 ). 2. Adoption, secured in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:4-6

God's idea of humanity. We commonly regard our lives from a human standpoint, which we cannot well leave even in thought. But, if it were possible, it would be most interesting to see how God looks upon them. Now, it is one of the objects of revelation to help us to do this—to lead us to see ourselves as God sees us. Next to the vision of God himself, such a picture of humanity as it appears in the eyes of God is of the greatest importance. The manifestation of our present condition in the... read more

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