Ephesians 1:8 - Exposition

Which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence . This rendering of the R.V. is better than the A.V., "wherein he hath abounded," for ἧς before ἐπερίσσευσεν can hardly be put for the dative; it is genitive by attraction for the accusative. The wisdom and prudence refer to God; he has not made his grace abound to us in a random manner, but in a carefully regulated manner. This is more fully explained afterwards, in reference to God's concealment for a time of the universality of his grace, but manifestation of it now. Some have found a difference between σοφία and φρονήσις , the one being theoretical wisdom and the other practical, or the one intellectual and the other moral; but possibly they may be meant merely to intensify the idea—the height of wisdom is shown in God's way of making his grace abound toward us (comp. Romans 11:33 , "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!").