ephesians-4:7-12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 4:12

For the perfecting of the saints , The chosen ones, whom God has sanctified or set apart for himself in eternal election: the ministry of the word is designed for the completing the number of these in the effectual calling; and for the perfecting of the whole body of the church, by gathering in all that belong to it, and of every particular saint, who is regenerated and sanctified by the Spirit of God: for the best of saints are imperfect; for though there is a perfection in them, as that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:7

Unto every one of us is given grace - Grace may here signify a particular office; as if the apostle had said: Though we are all equal in the respects already mentioned, yet we have all different offices and situations to fill up in the Church and in the world; and we receive a free gift from Christ, according to the nature of the office, that we may be able to discharge it according to his own mind. So the free gift, which we receive from Christ, is according to the office or function which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:8

Wherefore he saith - The reference seems to be to Psalm 68:18 , which, however it may speak of the removal of the tabernacle, appears to have been intended to point out the glorious ascension of Christ after his resurrection from the dead. The expositions of various commentators have made the place extremely difficult. I shall not trouble my reader with them; they may be seen in Rosenmuller. When he ascended up on high - The whole of this verse, as it stands in the psalm, seems to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:9

But that he also descended - The meaning of the apostle appears to be this: The person who ascended is the Messiah, and his ascension plainly intimates his descension; that is, his incarnation, humiliation, death, and resurrection. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:10

He that descended - And he who descended so low is the same who has ascended so high. He came to the lower parts of the earth - the very deepest abasement; having emptied himself; taken upon him; the form of a servant, and humbled himself unto death, even the death of the cross; now he is ascended far above all heavens - higher than all height; he has a name above every name. Here his descending into the lower parts of the earth is put in opposition to his ascending far above all heavens.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:11

He gave some, apostles - He established several offices in his Church; furnished these with the proper officers; and, to qualify them for their work, gave them the proper gifts. For a full illustration of this verse, the reader is requested to refer to the notes on 1 Corinthians 12:6-10 ; (note), 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 ; (note); and to the concluding observations at the end of that chapter. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:12

For the perfecting of the saints - For the complete instruction, purification, and union of all who have believed in Christ Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles. For the meaning of καταρτισμος , perfecting, see the note on 2 Corinthians 13:9 . For the work of the ministry - All these various officers, and the gifts and graces conferred upon them, were judged necessary, by the great Head of the Church, for its full instruction in the important doctrines of Christianity. The same officers and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:7

Verse 7 7.But to every one. He now describes the manner in which God establishes and preserves among us a mutual relation. No member of the body of Christ is endowed with such perfection as to be able, without the assistance of others, to supply his own necessities. A certain proportion is allotted to each; and it is only by communicating with each other, that all enjoy what is sufficient for maintaining their respective places in the body. The diversity of gifts is discussed in another... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:8

Verse 8 8.Therefore he saith. To serve the purpose of his argument, Paul has departed not a little from the true meaning of this quotation. Wicked men charge him with having made an unfair use of Scripture. The Jews go still farther, and, for the sake of giving to their accusations a greater air of plausibility, maliciously pervert the natural meaning of this passage. What is said of God, is applied by them to David or to the people. “David, or the people,” they say, “ascended on high, when, in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:9

Verse 9 9.Now that he ascended. Here again the slanderers exclaim, that Paul’s reasoning is trifling and childish. “Why does he attempt to make those words apply to a real ascension of Christ, which were figuratively spoken about a manifestation of the Divine glory? Who does not know that the word ascend is metaphorical? The conclusion, that he also descended first, has therefore no weight.” I answer, Paul does not here reason in the manner of a logician, as to what necessarily follows, or may... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 4:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:9

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