Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1:1

To the saints] Gr. Tec. to all the saints.

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God, &c.] See 2 Corinthians 1:3. 1 Pet. 1. 3.

blessings] Gr. benedictions.

heavenly places] Or, things. Heavenly blessings are opposed to earthly, upon which the Old Testament most runneth; now spirituall blessings in Christ are called heavenly, either because God the Father gave us them from his high Throne above; or because the Saints have these gifts bestowed on them which belong properly to the citizens of heaven; or because by virtue of these gifts, even whilest we are upon earth, our conversation is in heaven, Philippians 3:20.

Ephesians 1:4

chosen] According as God by his election framed a new body out of mankind in opposition to the first, whose head was Adam, in whom they did all sinne and die, and ordained Christ to be their head, that in him all might be gathered and made partakers by him of his grace, life and glory; so also hath he accomplished this counsell of his in time, dispensing all his graces unto his Church by Christ in his sacred communion. See Chap. 3. 11. 2 Tim. 1. 9. Election or choyce here is taken for the eternall decree of election which is of certain men in time drawn out of the common lump of corrupt mankind. See John 15:16. Romans 8:29. 1 Thess. 2. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 2.

in him] Or, by. That is, in Christ as our head; or, by Christ as our Mediatour.

foundation of the world] Gr. casting, or laying. viz. of the foundation of the world.

that we should be holy] God did not choose us because we were, or otherwise would have been holy; but to the end that we should be holy, being clothed with Christs righteousnesse through faith, which though it be not here expressed, yet it is necessarily implyed. For there can be no holinesse, nor love without true faith, sith by faith it is that our hearts are purified, Acts 15:9.

and without blame before him] NOt onely before men, as hypocrites may for a while, but in sinceritie, as in Gods presence. See Genesis 17:1. Luke 1:6. And this holinesse and unblameablenesse is true and unfained in this life, and here begun by the power of Gods Spirit; but it shall not be perfected in all parts and degrees till the life to come, 1 Corinthians 13:10. Ephesians 5:27. Philippians 3:12. Yet even this unperfect holinesse and unblameablenesse of ours in this present life is acceptable to God in Christ, and received as perfect, he forgiving us our failings, through faith in Christ, Colossians 2:10. Hebrews 13:21. 1 Peter 2:5.

in love] This some do understand of the love wherewith God loved us, construing it with the word chosen; yet it may be fitly joyned with the words holy and without blame, and understood of our love towards God and our neighbour, wherein this holinesse doth chiefly manifest it self, 1 Corinthians 13:1. Galatians 5:6.

Ephesians 1:5

the adoption of children] Of this adoption whereby we are made children of God, and coheirs with Christ, we have here indeed the beginning and expectation, John 1. 12. Romans 8:15. but the full fruition of this adoption and inheritance we shall not enjoy it till hereafter, Romans 8:23. Galatians 4:5. Hebrews 9:15. 1 John 3. 2.

to himself] Or, into himself. To his glory, or for his own sake.

according to the good pleasure of his will] Not for any desert or worth of our own, but onely out of his own free undeserved grace and favour, Romanes 9. 11, 12, 15, 16. and 11. 6. and 2 Timothy 1:9.

Ephesians 1:6

To the praise of the glory of his grace] That is, to the praise of his glorious grace, that as his bountifull goodnesse deserveth all praise, so also it should be set forth and published.

hath made us accepted in the beloved] Gr. hath ingraciated us in the beloved.

Ephesians 1:7

grace] Gr. Tec. bounty, or, goodnesse.

Ephesians 1:8

in all wisdome and prudence] In perfect and sound wisdome. Wisdome and prudence so differ, that wisdome principally respects contemplation, and prudence, action. Wisdome is a vertue of the minde, whereby we know coelestiall mysteries; prudence, whereby we wisely order the affairs of our life, and regulate our Christian conversation. By all wisdome here, as in Colos. 16. either all kinde of wisdome is understood, or all saving wisdome.

Ephesians 1:9

according to his good pleasure] Not onely the election, but also the vocation of the adopted sonnes of God, proceedeth from meer grace.

Ephesians 1:10

in the dispensation] Gr. Tec. according to the dispensation. That is, in the time prefixed by his providence, the dispenser of times, and of order in all things, for the accomplishment of the promises concerning the Messiah. The Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifieth such a dispensation, as house-keepers use in the governing of their house and family, ordering and disposing their provisions, and every thing else in a fit time, and a convenient manner. Thus also hath God ordained and setled in his house, that is, in his Church, even from the beginning of the world, certain times, in which, and manner, according to which, and persons, by whom all things are to be performed.

fulnesse of times] See Galatians 4:4.

gather together in one] The word in the Originall 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifieth, to reduce into one capitall summe, or, bring under one head.

both which are in heaven, &c.] Hereby some understand the faithfull, whereof some are already in heaven, others are yet upon the earth. Others understand this place, not of the blessed souls in heaven, and beleeving men upon earth gathered by Christ under one head, and into one bodie; but of the Angels in heaven, which by Christ are reconciled to men, and both gathered together under one Head, which before-time had beene divided and rent asunder by reason of the sinnes of men. Hebrews 12:22-23. Revelation 19:10.

heaven] Gr. the heavens.

in him] The faithfull are said to be gathered together in Christ, because they are joyned together with him, through faith, and become as it were one man.

Ephesians 1:11

In whom also we have obtained, &c.] Gr. Tec. In whom we are called, being.

all things] All things are attributed to the grace of God, without exception, and yet for all that we are not stocks, for he giveth us grace both to will, and to do those things that are good. Philippians 2:13.

counsell of his own will] He saith not simply, according to his will, but, according to the counsell of his will; to teach us, that God, as an intelligent and most wise Agent, doth all things upon most just and prudent grounds, known to himself, and hath alwayes a reason for his will, though to us his will must stand for the supreme reason; stat pro ratione voluntas.

Ephesians 1:12

who first trusted in Christ] Or, hoped. Either he speaketh this of the Jews, who were called to the faith of Christ before the Gentiles, or he speaketh it of the Apostles, who were simply the first-fruits of all beleevers, and brought both Jews and Gentiles to the Christian faith.

Ephesians 1:13

sealed with that holy Spirit of promise] Or, the holy Spirit. The manner of speech is taken from men, who for better assurance and confirmation of any promises, are won to give sealed Bills, Bonds, or Letters; and that for the most part, with imprinting or stamping their own Arms or Cognizance upon them. Now the promises of the pardon of our sins, of our adoption and everlasting inheritance are made unto us in the Gospell, and applyed to us by faith; and the sealing of the Spirit, that is added thereunto, is our regeneration, and the renewing of Gods image within us, which is, as it were, printed upon our souls, when we beleeve in Christ, to assure us more and more of the accomplishment of those his promises. 2 Corinthians 1:22. Chap. 4. 30.

Ephesians 1:14

untill] Or, for.

purchased] Or, purchase.

Ephesians 1:17

in the knowledge] Or, for the acknowledgement.

Ephesians 1:19

exceeding greatnesse of his power] The greatnesse of Gods power is as much manifested in the raising of our souls from the death of sin to the life of grace, as in the raising dead bodies from the grave: and the very phrase sheweth, that the work of the holy Ghost in breeding faith in us, is more then a morall swasion, to which we may yeeld, or not; for such a swasion cannot be said to be the working of Gods mightie power, like to that whereby he raised Christ from the dead.

of his mighty power] Gr. of the might of his power.

Ephesians 1:20

and set him at his own right hand] See Romans 8:34.

Ephesians 1:21

principalitie] Or, rule.

every name that is named] Above every thing whatsoever it be, or above all persons, be they of never such power or excellency. Honourable and famous men are called men of name, and the Name of the Lord is often taken in Scripture for the Lord himself. (Philippians 2:9.) The Apostles meaning is, that Christ, even as man, is exalted, not onely above all States and Potentates upon earth, but also all Angels and Archangels in heaven.

Ephesians 1:22

And hath put all things under his feet] See Psalme 8. 6. 1 Corinthians 15:25.

head over all things to the Church] Christ is said to be the Head of the Church in three respects, especially. First, in that he is above the Church, and ruleth it, as the head guideth the body. Secondly, because he conveyeth life into it, as the head doth to the members. Thirdly, because he provideth for it, as the Head doth for the members, and participates in the same nature with it, as the head doth with the members.

Ephesians 1:23

the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all] The love of Christ is so great to the Church, that though he doth fully satisfie all with all things, yet he esteemeth himself but as a maimed and imperfect head, unlesse he have the Church joyned to him as his body.