Bible Commentaries
Ephesians 1

Verse 1

apostle . App-189 .

Jesus Christ . The texts read Christ Jesus ( App-98 ).

will . App-102 .

God . App-98 .

saints . See Acts 9:13 . 1 Corinthians 1:2 .

at . App-104 .

Ephesus . See Introductory Notes.

faithful . App-150 .

in . Same as at, above.

Christ Jesus . As above.

Verse 2

Grace . App-184 . Occurs twelve times in Eph.

from . App-104 .

Father . App-98 .

Lord . App-98 .

Verse 3

Blessed, &c . Compare 2 Corinthians 1:3 . 1 Peter 1:3 . Always applied to God.

Lord . App-98 .

hath = having. Note the use and importance of aorist participles throughout this section.

with . App-104 .

all = every.

spiritual . See 1 Corinthians 12:1 .

blessings = blessing (singular) Greek. eulogia. See Romans 15:29 .

heavenly places = the heavenlies, i.e. heavenly spheres. Greek. epouranios. Compare Ephesians 1:20 ; Ephesians 2:6 ; Ephesians 3:10 ; Ephesians 6:12 .

Christ . App-98 .

Verse 4

According = Even.

hath chosen = chose out. Greek. eklegomai. Compare Acts 1:2 .

before . App-104 .

foundation . App-146 .

world . App-129 . Compare 2 Timothy 1:9 .

without blame . Greek. amomos. Here; Ephesians 5:27 . Colossians 1:22 .Hebrews 9:14 . 1 Peter 1:19 . Jude 1:24 .Revelation 14:5 .

before Him = in His sight. See 2 Corinthians 2:17 .

love . App-135 . Some insert "in love" after "predestinated us" in Ephesians 1:5 .

Verse 5

predestinated = foreordained. Greek. proorizo. See Acts 4:28 . Romans 8:29 .

unto, to . Greek. eis . App-104 .

adoption of children. Greek. huiothesia. See Romans 8:15 . Compare App-108 .

according to . Greek. kata. App-104 .

good pleasure . Greek. eudokia. See Romans 10:1 .

Verse 6

praise . See Romans 2:29 .

glory . Greek. doxa. See p. 1511.

wherein . The texts read which.

made . . . accepted = literally en-graced. App-184 . Compare Luke 1:28 .

Beloved . App-135 . Compare Matthew 3:17 , Matthew 17:5 ; &c. and see App-99 .

Verse 7

we have . Compare Romans 5:1 .

redemption = the redemption. See Romans 3:24 ; Romans 5:1 .

through . Greek. dia. App-104 .Ephesians 1:1 .

His blood. The price of the redemption. Compare Acts 20:28 . 1Co 6:20 . 1 Peter 1:18 , 1 Peter 1:19 ; &c.

sins = transgressions. App-128 .

riches, &c. Compare Ephesians 1:18 ; Ephesians 2:7 ; Ephesians 3:8 , Ephesians 3:16 . Romans 9:23 .Colossians 1:27 .

Verse 8

hath. Omit.

toward . Greek. eis . App-104 .

prudence . Greek. phronesis. Only here and Luke 1:17 .

Verse 9

Having made known . Greek. gnorizo. As in Ephesians 3:3 .Philippians 1:1 , Philippians 1:22 (wot). Compare App-132 .

unto = to.

mystery . See App-193 .

hath . Omit.

purposed . Greek. protithemi. See Romans 1:13 .

Verse 10

That in . Greek. eis . App-104 .

dispensation . Greek. oikonomia. See 1 Corinthians 9:17 .

fulness . Greek. pleroma . First occurance: Matthew 9:16 .

He might gather together in one = to sum up (literally: "head up"). Greek. anakephalaioomai. See Romans 13:9 . The verb in this place being in Mid. voice is reflexive, implying "for Himself" (compare verses: Ephesians 1:5 , Ephesians 1:9 ).

both . Omit.

in . The texts read epi , as below.

heaven = the heavens (plural) See Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

on . Greek. epi . App-104 .

earth . App-129 .

even . Omit.

Verse 11

have . Omit.

obtained an inheritance . Greek. kleroomai. Only here.

being = having been.

purpose . Greek. prothesis. See Romans 8:28 .

worketh . Greek. energeo. See 1 Corinthians 12:6 .

after . Greek. kata. App-104 .

counsel . App-102 .

Verse 12

That = To the end that. Greek. eis. App-104 .

first trusted = have before hoped. Greek. proelpizo. Only here. The "we" being the saved members of the Pentecostal church closed by the judgment pronouncement of Acts 28:25 , Acts 28:28 (see Longer Note, p. 1694).

Verse 13

In Whom, &c . The Ellipsis ( App-6 ) should be supplied from the subject of Ephesians 1:11 . In (Greek. en) Whom ye were made an inheritance also; or, allotted as God's own inheritance.

after, &c . = having heard. See Ephesians 1:5 .

word of truth . The Word always the instrument of the new begetting. Compare John 17:17 . Jam 1:18 . 1 Peter 1:23 .

word . App-121 .

truth = the truth.

gospel . App-140 .

salvation . Only occurance of the word in Eph.

in Whom, &c . = in (Greek. en) Whom ye also on believing were sealed.

believed . App-150 .

sealed . Compare Ephesians 4:30 . Matthew 27:66 . John 3:33 . 2 Corinthians 1:22 .Revelation 7:3 ; &c. A seal affixed implies possession, or security, as well as being a distinctive mark.

with . No preposition. Dative case.

that = the (Emph.)

holy Spirit . Although both articles occur (see App-101 .), yet it is clear from the "earnest, a pledge " (Ephesians 1:14 ) that it is the gift, not the Giver.

promise = the promise. See John 16:13 , and compare Acts 1:4 , which latter refers to the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise in John 16:13 .

Verse 14

Which . . . possession . In parenthesis.

the earnest = a pledge. See 2 Corinthians 1:22 . The gift of the new nature (spirit) is a pledge of God's future gifts in th e same kind, thus differing from any ordinary pledge. Compare 1 Peter 1:4 .

inheritance . Greek. kleronomia. See Acts 20:32 . Compare our inheritance here, and His inheritance, Ephesians 1:18 .

until = unto. Greek. eis. App-104 .

purchased possession . Greek. peripoiesis. Here; 1 Thessalonians 5:9 . 2 Thessalonians 2:14 . Heb 10:39 . 1 Peter 2:9 . Compare Acts 20:28 .

Verse 15

Wherefore = on account of this. Greek. dia ( App-104 .Ephesians 1:2; Ephesians 1:2 ) touto.

after I = having.

your = among (Greek. kata . App-104 .) you.

faith . App-150 .

the Lord Jesus . i.e. Jesus ( App-98 .) as Lord ( App-98 . A). See Romans 10:9 .

love . App-135 .

Verse 16

give thanks . Greek. eucharisteo. First occurance: Matthew 15:36 . With its noun and adjective occuring fifty-five times (thirty-eight in Paul's Epp.) See App-10 .

making mention, &c . See Romans 1:9 . In a papyrus of second century A.D. the mention of assurance of intercession for a sister in the same words is found in a letter from a soldier.

prayers . App-134 .

Verse 17

That = In order that. Greek. hina .

Father of glory . Compare 1 Corinthians 2:8 .

Father . See App-98 .

unto = to.

the spirit = a spirit. App-101 .

revelation . App-106 .

knowledge . App-132 .

Verse 18

understanding = mind. Compare Matthew 22:37 ; &c. Greek. dianoia, but the texts read kardia, heart.

being = having been.

that . Greek. eis . See Ephesians 1:12 .

know . App-132 .

the hope of His calling . i.e. to the sonship, Ephesians 1:4-5 ; our acceptance as sons in the "Beloved" (Son). Compare Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:5-7 .

His inheritance in the saints . Compare Ephesians 2:7 . Titus 2:14 ; &c. Israel will be God's inheritance ("peculiar treasure", Exodus 19:5 ) on earth. The church which is His body will be His inheritance in heaven. In Titus 2:14 the Greek periousion (peculiar treasure) is used by the Septuagint for segullah, Exodus 19:5 .Deuteronomy 7:6 ; Deuteronomy 14:2 ; Deuteronomy 26:18 . Compare Malachi 3:17 . A cognate word is used in Psalms 135:4 .

Verse 19

exceeding = surpassing. See 2 Corinthians 3:10 ; 2 Corinthians 9:14 .

greatness . Greek. megethos. Only here.

power . App-172 .

believe . App-150 .

according to . . . all in all . Parenthetic (Figure of speech Parembole. App-6 ), the main argument being continued in Ephesians 2:1 , which should read, "Even you", &c.

according to . Same as Ephesians 1:5 .

working . App-172 . Occurs: Ephesians 3:7 ; Ephesians 4:16 . Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:21 . Co Ephesians 1:1 , Eph 1:29 ; Ephesians 2:12 . 2Th 2:9 , 2 Thessalonians 2:11 .

His mighty power . Literally the strength ( App-172 .) of His might ( App-172 .)

Verse 20

wrought . Greek. energeo , as in Ephesians 1:11 .

when He raised = having raised. App-178 .

from the dead . App-139 .

set = sat. Compare Mark 16:19 .

Verse 21

Far above . Greek. huperano. Here; Ephesians 4:10 . Hebrews 9:5

all = every. principality. Greek. arche . See Romans 8:38 , and App-172 .

power . App-172 .

might = power. Greek. dunamis, Ephesians 1:19 .

dominion . Greek. kuriotes. Here, Col 1:16 . 2 Peter 2:10 . Jude 1:8 .

world . App-129 .

also, &c . = the coming one also.

Verse 22

hath . Omit.

put, &c. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:27 .

under . App-104 .

the . Omit.

over . App-104 .

church . App-186 . Here, the "church" of the Mystery. In these verses: note the sevenfold ( App-10 ) Headship of the Lord, above (1) all principality, (2) power, (3) might, (4) dominion, (5) every name, (6) all things, (7) the church.

Verse 23

His body Compare Ephesians 3:5 , Ephesians 3:6 .

fulness . See Ephesians 1:10 . His members "fill up" the body of Christ, and the body of Christ fills up and completes "the dispensation of the fulness of the times". The apostle adopts the term used by the Gnostics, pleroma (Colossians 2:9 , Colossians 2:10 ). See note on Ephesians 2:2 (prince).

filleth all in all . He fills up all the members with all spiritual gifts and graces.