PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Commentary on the Epistle to the Ephesians
Hodge, Charles, 1797–1878 · 114,389 words · 342 reading sections
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902 wordsSECTION 3BROADWAY. 1856.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, By ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. Joun F. Trow, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, 311 ἃ 319 Broadway, Cor. White Street, New York.…
49 wordsSECTION 4EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS.
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125 wordsSECTION 5~ INTRODUCTION.
§ 1. The City of Ephesus. Tue city of Ephesus, under the Romans, the capital of Proconsular Asia, was situated on a plain near the mouth of the river Cayster. It was originally a Greek colony, but be- came in no small degree orientalized by the influences which surrounded it. Being a free city, it enjoyed under the Ro…
581 wordsSECTION 6INTRODUCTION. Vil
magic, the place of concourse for people from all the surround- ing countries, Paul laboured for nearly three years. After remaining eighteen months in Corinth, at the con- clusion of his second missionary tour, he sailed thence to Eph- esus In company with Priscilla and Aquila. He left his companions there, but he hi…
748 wordsSECTION 7INTRODUCTION. 1x
churches in Macedonia and Greece, Paul, when he arrived at Miletus on his way to Jerusalem, sent for the elders of Ephe- sus, and addressed them in terms which show that they had an important church committed to their care. In this address the apostle predicted that false teachers would soon rise up among them, not spa…
796 wordsSECTION 8INTRODUCTION. Ba
of these reasons have no force. If the third proves any thing with regard to the date of the Epistle to Philemon, it proves the same respecting that to the Philippians, because in that also he expresses the hope of being soon at Philippi. These expressions only prove that the apostle had been led to postpone the execu-…
392 wordsSECTION 9ΧΙ INTRODUCTION.
be decisive. How came the epistle to be addressed to the Ephesians, if not designed for them? How came the whole ancient church to regard it as addressed to the church in Eph- esus, if such were not the fact? It isa fundamental principle in historical criticism toallow greater weight to historical testi- mony than to c…
390 wordsSECTION 10INTRODUCTION. xiil
Laodiceans, and that ye also read the epistle from Laodicea.” It cannot, however, be inferred that “the epistle from Laodi- cea” was an epistle which Paul wrote to Laodicea; much less that the epistle intended was the one addressed to the Ephe- sians. Paul may have written to the Laodiceans a letter which is no longer …
349 wordsSECTION 11X1V INTRODUCTION.
In passages in which the thought is the same and the expression is varied. 4. In others where the same topic is more fully handled in the one epistle than in the other. 5. In passages in which different topics follow each other in the same order. In the second place, although there are these striking points of resembl…
380 wordsSECTION 12INTRODUCTION. xV
§ VI. The Genuineness of the Epistle. 1. The epistle announces itself as written by Paul the Apostle. 2. There is nothing in its contents inconsistent with the assumption of his being its author. 3. All the incidental references which it contains to the office, character and circum- stances of the writer, agree with w…
760 wordsSECTION 13INTRODUCTION. xvii
allusions in the Epistle to the Colossians to those principles proved that it also is spurious; that would be only a dictum in the face of all evidence, and utterly subversive of all history. There is no portion of the New Testament the genuineness of which the church has from the beginning, with more cordial unanimity…
764 wordsSECTION 14INTRODUCTION. xix
some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the very pur- pose of building up the church, and through them as the chan- nels of the truth and grace of Christ, the church was to be brought to the end of its high calling. Ch. 4, 1-16. They should not, therefore, live as did the other Gentiles, who, being in a state…
653 wordsSECTION 15CHAPTER L
THE SALUTATION, VS. 1. 2.— THANKSGIVING FOR THE BLESSINGS OF RE- DEMPTION, vs. 3-14. —-PRAYER THAT THE EPHESIANS MIGHT INCREASE IN THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF THOSE BLESSINGS, vs. 15- 21.…
31 wordsSECTION 16THE SALUTATION.
1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2. grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.…
43 wordsSECTION 17COMMENTARY.
V.1. An apostle of Jesws Christ.—The word apostle is used in three senses in the New Testament. 1. In its primary sense of messenger, John 13, 16 (the mes- senger), he that is sent is not greater than he that sent him, Phil. 2, 25, your messenger. 2 Cor. 8, 23, mes- sengers of the churches. ᾿Απόστολοι ἐκκλησιῶν ; Tov- …
75 wordsSECTION 1822 EPHESIANS,
of missionaries, men sent by the church to preach the Gospel.—In this sense Paul and Barnabas are called apostles, Acts 14, 4.14; and probably Andronicus and Junias, Rom. 16, 7. 8. In the sense of plenipotentia- ries of Christ; men whom he personally selected and sent forth invested with full authority to teach and rul…
276 wordsSECTION 19CHAP. I. VER. 1. 93
prerogative of the prelates in their collective capacity, instead of claiming it for each individual bishop. Ata ϑελήματος Θεοῦ, by the will of God. There are two ideas included in this phrase. 1. That the apostleship was a gift, or grace from God, Rom. 1, 5. Eph. 3, 7. 8. 2. That the commission or authority of the ap…
261 wordsSECTION 2024 EPHESIANS,
equally to the two preceding clauses: τοῖς ἁγίοις---καὶ πιστοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ, ‘To the saints and faithful who are in Christ Jesus.” Those whom he calls sadnts he also calls faithful ; Ergo, says Calvin, nemo fidelis, nisi qui etiam sanctus: et nemo rursum sanctus, nisi qui fidelis. Vo one ἐδ a believer who is not holy ; a…
444 wordsSECTION 21SECTION II.—Vs. 3-14.
8. Blessed de the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ' who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly 4. places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him be- fore the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and 5. without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adop…
139 wordsSECTION 2226 EPHESIANS,
according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in 10. himself; that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in 11. heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated accord- ing to…
147 wordsSECTION 23ANALYSIS.
The apostle blesses God for the spiritual gifts be- stowed upon his people, v. 8. Of these the first in order and the source of all the others, is election, τ. 4. This election is, Ist. Of individuals. 2d. In Christ; 3d. It is from eternity. 4th. It is to holiness, and to the dignity of sons of God. 5th. It is founded …
229 wordsSECTION 24COMMENTARY.
V. 8. Εὐλογητὸς ὁ Θεός, Blessed be God. The word εὐλογεῖν, like its English equivalent, to dless, signifies to praise, as when we bless God; to pray for blessings, as when we bless others; and to bestow blessings, as when God blesses us. Blessed be God who hath blessed us, is then the expression of thanksgiving and pra…
181 wordsSECTION 2528 EPHESIANS,
called upon to trust, and to whom we are to look as the source of all good, is not the absolute Jehovah, nor the God who stood in a special relation to the Israel- ites; but the God of redemption ; the God whom the Lord Jesus revealed, whose will he came to accom- plish, and who was his Father. It is this relationship …
283 wordsSECTION 26CHAP. I. VER. 4. 99
The meaning is that these blessings pertain to that heavenly state into which the believer is introduced. Here on earth he is, as the apostle says, in ch. 2, 6, ‘in heavenly places.’ He is a citizen of heaven, Phil. 3,10. The word heaven, in Scripture, is not confined in its application to the place or state of future …
278 wordsSECTION 2730 EPHESIANS,
and there. It is those who are the actual recipients of the blessings spoken of, viz. holiness, sonship, remission of sins, and eternal life. We are said to be chosen Him; an expression which is variously explained. Some refer the pronoun to God, ‘ chosen us in himself ;’ which is contrary not only to the context but …
288 wordsSECTION 28CHAP. I. VER. 4. 81
as revealed in Scripture, to bring his people to these exalted privileges through a Redeemer. It was in Christ as their head and representative they were chosen to holiness and eternal life, and therefore in virtue of what he was to do in their behalf. There is a federal union with Christ which is antecedent to all act…
289 wordsSECTION 2982 EPHESIANS,
God purposed to save men in Christ, He elected them in him to salvation. Again, this election is from eternity. He chose us πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, before the foundation of the world. Comp. 2 Thess. 2,13. Matt. 25, 84. As our idea of time arises from the perception of motion or consciousness of succession, the natural ex…
286 wordsSECTION 30CHAP. I. VER. 4. 33
that God chose us before the foundation of the world, is adapted to produce confidence ; the other aspect is no less adapted to produce humility. This election is to holiness. We are chosen εἶναι ἁγίους Kal ἀμώμους κατενώπιον αὑτοῦ, to be holy and without blame before him. These words admit of two interpretations. The…
286 wordsSECTION 3184 EPHESIANS,
but (a 7 ἁγία καὶ ἄμωμος) that it should be holy and without blemish.” ‘This certainly is descriptive of a degree of inward purity not attained by the church militant. Comp. Col. 1, 22. Secondly, it is urged that the whole context treats of the effect of the ἱλαστήριον or propitiatory sacrifice of Christ, and therefore…
294 wordsSECTION 32CHAP. I. VER. 5. 25
ἐν ἀγάπῃ with ἐξελέξατο, would give the sense, ‘ Hath chosen us in love ;’ but this the position of the words forbids. To connect them with προορίσας, which fol- lows, would give the sense, ‘In love having predes- tinated us.’ But this also is unnatural; and besides, the word predestinated has its limitation or explana…
264 wordsSECTION 3336 EPHESIANS,
Sometimes one and sometimes another of these ideas is the most prominent. In the present case it is the second and third. God having predestinated his people to the high dignity and glory of sons of God, elected them to holiness, without which that dignity could neither be possessed nor enjoyed. It is through Jesus Chr…
277 wordsSECTION 34CHAP. I. VER. 5. 37
gives a good sense, and is consistent with the force of the preposition. The ground of this predestination and of the elec- tion founded upon it, is expressed by the clause, κατὰ τὴν εὐδοκίαν τοῦ δελήματος αὑτοῦ, according to the good pleasure of his will. The word εὐδοκία means either benevolence, favour, as in Luke …
270 wordsSECTION 3538 EPHESIANS,
V. 6. The final end of election is the glory of God. He has predestinated us to sonship, εἰς ἔπαινον δόξης τῆς χάριτος αὑτοῦ, to the praise of the glory of his grace. That is, in order that in the exaltation and blessedness of his people, matter for celebrating his grace might be abundantly afforded. It is worthy of re…
286 wordsSECTION 36CHAP. I. VER. 6. 389
Lachmann, Riickert adopt the latter; Knapp, Scholz, Harless, De Wette the former. If the genitive be preferred, ἧς is for ἥν, and the phrase χάριν χαριτοῦν would be analogous to others of frequent occurrence, as κλῆσιν καλεῖν, ἀγάπην ἀγαπᾶν. This clause admits of two interpretations. The word yapitow, agreeably to the …
290 wordsSECTION 3740 EPHESIANS,
us,” and here the same idea is expressed by saying, ‘His grace wherein he favoured us, or which he has exercised towards us.’ 4. The whole context demands this interpretation. The apostle is speaking of the love or grace of God as manifested in our redemption. He has predestinated us to the adoption of sons to the prai…
280 wordsSECTION 38CHAP. I. VER. 7. 41
to be understood in its strict sense, viz. deliverance by ransom ; because this particular mode of redemption is always either expressed or implied. We are re- deemed neither by power, nor truth, but by blood ; that is, by the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus. <A sacrifice is a ransom, as to its effect. It delivers …
270 wordsSECTION 3942 EPHESIANS,
proof of the riches of his grace. The word πλοῦτος riches in such connections is a favorite one with the apostle, who speaks of the riches of glory, the riches of wisdom, and the exceeding riches of grace. It is the overflowing abundance of unmerited love, inexhaustible in God and freely accessible through Christ. Ther…
272 wordsSECTION 40CHAP. I. VER. 8. 43
and explanation. 1. They may be connected with the preceding verb and qualify the action of God therein expressed. God, in the exercise of wisdom and pru- dence, has abounded in grace towards us. 2. They may be connected with the following clause: ‘In all wisdom and prudence making known, &c.’ 3. They may be connected …
276 wordsSECTION 4144 EPHESIANS,
receive wisdom (ἐν) in connection with the knowledge of himself. The wisdom then which the apostle says God has communicated to us, is the divine wisdom in the Gos- pel, the mystery of redemption, which had been hid for ages in God, but which he has now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. See the…
281 wordsSECTION 42CHAP. I. VER. 9. 45
by the Spirit. The word φρόνησις is equally compre- hensive. It is not confined to strictly intellectual exercises, but expresses also those of the affections. In other words, when used in reference to spiritual things, it includes all that is meant by spiritual dis- cernment. It is the apprehension of the spiritual ex…
269 wordsSECTION 4346 EPHESIANS,
Rom. 16, 25. 1 Cor. 2, 7-10. Eph. 3, 9. Col. 1, 26. For the same reason any doctrine imperfectly revealed isa mystery. It remains ina measure secret. Thus in the fifth chapter of this epistle Paul calls the union of Christ and believers a great mystery ; and in 1 Tim. 3, 16 he calls the manifestation of God in the fles…
271 wordsSECTION 44CHAP. I. VER. 10. 47
kind intention or purpose (viz. of redemption) which he had purposed in himself.’ Instead of ὧν Aimself, many commentators read 7 him, referring to Christ. But this would introduce tautology into the passage. The apostle would then say: ‘ Which he purposed in Christ, to bring together in Christ.’ V.10. This verse is b…
267 wordsSECTION 4548 EPHESIANS,
truths which God had revealed to him. Many take the word in the latter sense here. The meaning would then be: ‘In reference to the administration of the fulness of times, i. e. the last times, or Messianic period; the times which yet remain.’ The former sense of the word however is much better suited to the context. Th…
285 wordsSECTION 46CHAP. I. VER. 10. 49
κεφαλαιόω means summatim aolligere, ἀνακεφαλαιόω, summatim recolligere. In the New Testament it means either: 1. To reduce to one sum, i. 6. to sum up, to recapitulate. Rom. 18, 9: ‘ All the commands are summed up in, or under, one precept.’ 2. To unite under one head; or, 3. To renew. Many of the Fa- thers adopt the l…
276 wordsSECTION 4750 EPHESIANS,
verse, material and rational, as being placed under Jesus Christ; as they speak especially of all orders of intelligent creatures being subject to him; as they teach the union of the long disjected members of the human family, the Jews and Gentiles, in one body in Christ, of which union this epistle says so much and in…
295 wordsSECTION 48CHAP. I. VER. 10. 51
to Christ; but this subjection will be either voluntary or coerced. The good will joyfully acknowledge his supremacy ; the evil he will restrain and confine, that they no longer trouble or pervert his people. 8. Others again understand the words under consideration, of all _ good angels and men. The inhabitants of heav…
287 wordsSECTION 4952 EPHESIANS,
some and coercing others, then of course we must un- derstand the passage as referring to all intelligent creatures. But if the union spoken of be a union with God, involving conformity to his image and the enjoy- ment of his favour, and effected by the redemption of Christ, then the terms here employed must be restric…
313 wordsSECTION 50CHAP. I. VER. 10. 53
speaks of that union which is effected by the redemp- tion of Christ ; and secondly, that the church alone is the subject of redemption. That the passage does speak of that union which is effected by redemption, may be argued—1. From the context. Paul, as we have seen, gives thanks first for _the election of God’s peo…
291 wordsSECTION 5154 EPHESIANS,
things in heaven.” From this passage it is plain that the union to be effected is a reconciliation, which im- plies previous alienation, and a reconciliation effected by the blood of the cross. It is, therefore, not a union of subjection merely to the same Lord, but it is one effected by the blood of Christ, and conseq…
265 wordsSECTION 52CHAP. I. VER. 11. 55
They are to be constituted an everlasting kingdom ; or, according to another symbol—a living temple, of which Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone. V.11. God having formed and revealed the pur- pose of gathering the redeemed as one body in Christ, it is in the execution of this purpose, the apostle says: ἐν ᾧ καὶ ἐκ…
278 wordsSECTION 5356 EPHESIANS,
passive, the above rendering may be justified either by the remark of Grotius: as the active form signifies to give a possession, the passive may signify to accept it ;* or by a reference to that usage of the passive voice illustrated in such passages as Rom. 3,2. Gal. 2, 7. With verbs, which in the active have the acc…
268 wordsSECTION 54CHAP. I. VER. 11. 57
also, belongs to the verb and not to tne pronoun im- plied in the form of the verb. The sense is not we also, i. 6. we as well as other; but, ‘we have also obtained an inheritance. We have not only been made par- takers of the knowledge of redemption, but are actually heirs of its blessings. There are two sentiments w…
277 wordsSECTION 5558 EPHESIANS,
Ist. That what occurs was foreseen and foreordained. The plan of God embraced and ordered the events here referred to. 2d. That the ground or reason of these occurrences is to be sought in God, in the determination of his will. This however is not a singular case. The bringing certain persons to the enjoyment of the in…
275 wordsSECTION 56CHAP. I. VER. 12. 59
its administration. The persons here spoken of are described as τοὺς προηλπικότας ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ, those who first hoped rn Christ. That is, who hoped in him of old, or before his advent; or, who hoped in him before others, mentioned in y. 18, had heard of him. In either case it designates not the first converts to Christ…
284 wordsSECTION 5760 EPHESIANS,
attained, or, it has happened unto us to be to the praise of his glory.’ This however not only unnaturally dis- severs contiguous clauses, but assigns to ἐκληρώθημεν a weakened sense inconsistent with the Scripture usage of that and its cognate words. A second method con- nects the last clause of the 12th verse with th…
283 wordsSECTION 58CHAP. I. VER. 18. 61
clause is merely subordinate and explanatory, and does not express the main idea of the context. This con- struction also overlooks the obvious antithesis between the we of the 11th verse and the yow of this clause. 2. Others supply simply the verb ave. ‘In whom you also are.’ This is better, but it is liable to the la…
285 wordsSECTION 5962 EPHESIANS,
The clause that follows expresses the means by which the Gentile Christians were brought to be par- takers of this inheritance‘ In whom ye also have obtained an inheritance, ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας, τὸ εὐαγγ. τῆς σωτηρίας ὑμῶν, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. The latter of these …
292 wordsSECTION 60CHAP. I. VER. 138. 63
our version, by itself, ‘In whom, i. e. united to whom, after that ye believed, ye were sealed.’ This is to be preferred not only because the other construction is unusual (i. 6. it is rare that πιστεύειν is followed by ἐν), but because the words, ὧν whom, occur so frequently in the context in the same sense with that …
290 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition (1856). Text from OCR of an original Internet Archive scan; OCR may contain recognition errors.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.