Ephesians 2:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-10

Association with Christ. The concluding thought of the first chapter was the resurrection and exaltation of Christ. In order now to bring out how they were benefited thereby, he calls up to them their original condition . He shows them the pit out of which they have been dug, the rock out of which they have been hewn. In the first and second verses he has special reference to Gentile Christians, in the third verse he includes Jewish Christians in his description. I. GENTILE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-10

Gospel reformation great and gracious. "And you hath he quickened," etc. This passage, though its language is somewhat obscure, sets forth most manifestly the greatness and graciousness of gospel reformation . The gospel is a reformative system; it is revolutionary in its spirit and its aim. It uproots the noxious in life, and plants the wholesome. It pulls down the corrupt and builds up the holy. It burns up man's old moral heavens and creates new ones, "wherein dwelleth... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:4

But God, being rich in mercy. The preceding verses convey the idea of a rushing towards inevitable ruin—towards some frightful cataract, when all help from man is hopeless. Man's extremity becomes God's opportunity. The "but" is very emphatic, and wonderfully reverses the picture. The sovereignty of God is very apparent, on its gracious side. It interposes to rescue those who would otherwise plunge into irretrievable ruin. We have here the filling up of that Divine saying, "O Israel, thou... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:4

The true origin of salvation. It is interesting to observe the variety of terms here employed to describe the source of all the blessings of salvation. It is no longer a question of power, as it was in the first chapter ( Ephesians 1:19 , Ephesians 1:20 ), but of love, mercy, grace, and kindness. I. OUR SALVATION IS OF GOD 'S MERCY . "God who is rich in mercy." There is a distinction between mercy and love, for love is the foundation of mercy. God is called the "Father... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 2:4

But God, who is rich in mercy - On the use of the word “rich” by Paul, see the notes at Ephesians 1:7. It is a beautiful expression. “God is ‘rich’ in mercy;” overflowing, abundant. Mercy is the riches or the wealth of God. People are often rich in gold, and silver, and diamonds, and they pride themselves in these possessions; but God is “rich in mercy.” In that he abounds and he is so rich in it that he is wilting to impart it to others; so rich that he can make all blessed.For his great love... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ephesians 2:4-6

Ephesians 2:4-6. But God, who is rich in mercy That is, in compassion for us, amidst our sins and miseries, and in his free, gratuitous goodness and readiness to pardon the guilty, and save the lost: for his great love Of benevolence and bounty; wherewith he loved us When there was nothing in us but sin and misery to move him to do it. Love in God was the cause why he resolved to show mercy to certain descriptions of persons, namely, to such as should obey the gospel call to repentance,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-10

2:1-3:21 GOD’S PLAN FOR THE CHURCHSinners saved by grace (2:1-10)In their natural state, all people are spiritually dead because of sin. Nothing they do can bring them back to life, because no matter how much good they try to do, they are still sinners. This is true of Jews and Gentiles alike. In body and mind they are under the control of Satan, and consequently are rebellious against God (2:1-3). Such rebels do not deserve God’s love, but God loves them nevertheless. God does for sinners what... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ephesians 2:4

God . App-98 . Who is = being. mercy . Compare Romans 9:23 . for = on account of. App-104 .Ephesians 2:2 . love, loved . App-135 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 2:4

But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved).Dead through our trespasses ... "This describes the existing state from which we were made alive with Christ."[15] The same thought is in Romans 5:10 where our being enemies was the existing state from which we were reconciled to God.By grace have ye been saved ... In this Paul referred to salvation from past sins... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ephesians 2:4

Ephesians 2:4. But God,— This connects the present verse admirably well with that immediatelypreceding,andmakesthepartsofthat incidental discourse cohere; which ending in this verse, St. Paul, in the beginning of Ephesians 2:5, takes up the thread of his general discourse again, as if nothing had come between. See on Ephesians 2:1. read more

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