PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Commentary on the Epistle to the Ephesians
Hodge, Charles, 1797–1878 · 114,389 words · 342 reading sections
CHAP. V. VER. 33. 3538
mystery ; nevertheless, do you also love your wives.’ That is, although there is something in the relation between Christ and the church which infinitely tran- scends the conjugal relation, nevertheless there is suffi- cient analogy between the cases, to render it obligatory on husbands to love their wives as Christ lo…
265 wordsSECTION 302354 EPHESIANS,
ties, are, on the part of the husband, that form of love which leads him to cherish and protect his wife as being himself, and on the part of the woman, that sense of his superiority out of which trust and obe- dience involuntarily flow.…
45 wordsSECTION 303SECTION I.—Vs. 1-9.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother, (which is the first command- ment with promise,) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and . admonition of the…
167 wordsSECTION 304ANALYSIS.
Children should obey their parents. This obedience should be in the Lord, determined and regulated by a regard to Christ, v. 1. The ground of the obligation is—1l. It is itself right. 2. It is enforced by an ex- press command in the decalogue, to which a special promise is annexed, vs. 1-3. Parents should do nothing t…
220 wordsSECTION 305CHAP. VI. VER. 2. 3857
in the Lord. It should be religious ; arising out of the conviction that such obedience is the will of the Lord. This makes it a higher service than if rendered from fear or from mere natural affection. It secures its being prompt, cordial and universal. That Κύριος here refers to Christ is plain from the whole context…
285 wordsSECTION 306358 EPHESIANS,
it is the first commandment in the decalogue which has a specific promise attached ; for the promise connected with the second commandment does not relate to the observance of that particular precept, but to keeping God’s covenant. Or it may mean that it is the first commandment of the second table of the law, and has …
295 wordsSECTION 307CHAP. VI. VER. 4. 359
by long life and prosperity? The answer is, that this, like all other such promises, is a revelation of a general purpose of God, and makes known what will be the usual course of his providence. That some obedient children are unfortunate and short lived, is no more inconsistent with this promise, than that some dilige…
284 wordsSECTION 308360 EPHESIANS,
term, and is correctly rendered admonition. It is the act of reminding one of his faults or duties. Children are not to be allowed to grow up without care or con- trol. They are to be instructed, disciplined, and ad- monished, so that they be brought to knowledge, self- control, and obedience. This whole process of edu…
288 wordsSECTION 309CHAP. VI. VER. 5. 361
God in Christ, the teacher and ruler, on whose authority every thing is to be believed and in obedience to whose will every thing is to be done, that the ends of educa- tion can possibly be attained. It is infinite folly in men to assume to be wiser than God, or to attempt to accomplish an end by other means than those…
294 wordsSECTION 310362 EPHESIANS,
ently be an autocrat in the State, or a master of slaves. In this view the scriptural doctrine on this subject, dif- fers on the one hand, from the doctrine that slave-hold- ing is in itself sinful, on the ground that one man cannot lawfully possess or exercise the rights and au- thority over his fellow-men, which are …
294 wordsSECTION 311CHAP. VI. VER. 5. 363
And 2. The confounding slave-laws with slavery, which is as unreasonable as to confound despotism as a form of civil government, with the laws of any particular despotic state. Those laws may be good or bad. Their being bad, as they too often are, does not prove either in the case of despotism or slavery that the insti…
277 wordsSECTION 312364 EPHESIANS,
φόβου καὶ τρόμου, with fear and trembling, i. 6. with conscientious solicitude. That nothing servile is in- tended by these terms is plain from the context, and from a comparison with other passages in which the same expression is used. It is not the fear of man, but the reverential fear of God of which the apostle spe…
567 wordsSECTION 313366 EPHESIANS,
καὶ οὐκ ἀνθρώποις, doing service, to the Lord and not to men. This, as the Scriptures teach, is not peculiar to the obedience of the slave to his master, but applies to all other cases in which obedience is required from one man to another. It applies to children in relation to their parents, wives to husbands, people …
582 wordsSECTION 314368 EPHESIANS,
have their duties; you masters have your peculiar ob- ligations.’ The duty of masters is expressed by the comprehensive words, τὰ αὐτὰ ποιεῖτε πρὸς αὐτούς, do the same things towards them. This does not refer ex- clusively to per’ εὐνοίας in the preceding clause, as though the sense were, ‘As slaves are to obey with ki…
280 wordsSECTION 315CHAP. VI. VER. 9. 369
strictly just, but τὴν ἰσότητα. What is that? Literally, it is equality. This is not only its signification, but its meaning. Slaves are to be treated by their masters on the principles of equality. Not that they are to be equal with their masters in authority, or station, or cir- cumstances; but they are to be treated…
301 wordsSECTION 316370 EPHESIANS,
have a master in heaven to whom they are responsible for their treatment of their slaves. The common text has here the reading καὶ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν ὁ Kipios—your master. Lackman, Riickert, Harless, Meyer and others adopt the reading αὐτῶν καὶ ὑμῶν, of them and of you, i. e. your common master as in heaven. . It is thus that…
206 wordsSECTION 317SECTION II.—Vs. 10-24.
10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power 11. of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may 12. be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this 18. worl…
81 wordsSECTION 318CHAP. VI. 3871
to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and 15. having on the breast-plate of righteousness; and your feet shod 16. with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench …
242 wordsSECTION 319ANALYSIS.
Directions in reference to the spiritual conflict. As such a conflict is inevitable, the believer should— 1. Muster strength for the struggle. 2. He should seek that strength from Christ. 8, Since his enemies are not human but superhuman, Satan and all the powers of darkness, the believer needs not only more than human…
81 wordsSECTION 320372 EPHESIANS,
1. In the knowledge and reception of the truth. 2. In the righteousness of Christ. 3. In the alacrity which flows from the peace of the Gospel. 4. In the con- sciousness of salvation. 5. In faith. 6. In the word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit. To obtain strength to use this armour aright, and to secure victo…
198 wordsSECTION 321COMMENTARY.
V.10. Though the redemption purchased by Christ, as described in this epistle, is so complete and so free, yet between the beginning and the consummation of the work there is a protracted conflict. This is not a figure of speech. It is something real and arduous. Salvation, however gratuitous, is not to be obtained…
55 wordsSECTION 322CHAP. VI. VER. 10. 373
without great effort. The Christian conflict is not only real, it is difficult and dangerous. It is one in which true believers are often grievously wounded; and mul- titudes of reputed believers entirely succumb. It is one also in which great mistakes are often committed and serious loss incurred from ignorance of its…
285 wordsSECTION 323814 EPHESIANS,
the inevitable conflict, and to seek that strength from the right source. We are to be strong in the Lord. As a branch separated from the vine, or as a limb severed from the body, so is a Christian separated from Christ. He, therefore, who rushes into this conflict without thinking of Christ, without putting his trust …
296 wordsSECTION 324CITAP. VI. VER. 11. 3875
done, the following portion of the chapter teaches. The armour of God, means that armour which God has provided and which he gives. We are thus taught from the outset, that as the strength which we need is not from ourselves, so neither are the means of offence or defence. Nor are they means of man’s devising. This is …
273 wordsSECTION 325376 EPHESIANS,
eally, than is here given prophetically, of the means substituted by carnal wisdom for the armour of God. Calling on saints and angels, humility in the sense of self-degradation, or submitting our will to human au- thority, neglecting the body, or ascetic observances, abstaining from things lawful, uncommanded rites an…
579 wordsSECTION 326378 EPHESIANS,
Our conflict is not with man, but against princi- palities, against powers, against the rulers of the dark- ness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The signification of the terms here used, the context, and the analogy of Scripture, render it certain that the reference is to evil spirits. They …
280 wordsSECTION 327CHAP. VI. VER. 12. 379
doctrine, the world as distinguished from the true peo- ple of God. The word σκότος is used elsewhere, the abstract for the concrete, for those in darkness, i. e. for those who belong to, or constitute the kingdom of darkness, Luke 22,53; Col. 1,13. Our conflict, there- fore, is with the potentates who are rulers of th…
266 wordsSECTION 328380 EPHESIANS,
for heavenly things ;” heaven is the prize for which we contend. There are two objections to this inter- pretation, which are generally considered decisive, although the sense is good and appropriate. The one is, that ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίους always in this Epistle means heaven ; and the other is that ἐν does not mean for. …
570 wordsSECTION 329382 EPHESIANS,
Kai ἅπαντα κατεργασάμενοι στῆναι, and having done all to stand. This is understood by many to refer to the preparation for conflict. Having made every preparation, stand ready for the assault. But that idea is included in the former part of the verse. Others take κατεργάζεσθαι in the sense of debellare, vincere ; havin…
275 wordsSECTION 330CHAP. VI. VER. 14. 3883
any one imagine that he is prepared to withstand the assaults of the powers of darkness, if his mind is stored with his own theories or with the speculations of other men. Nothing but the truth of God clearly understood and cordially embraced will enable him to keep his feet for a moment, before these celestial potenta…
279 wordsSECTION 331984 EPHESIANS,
put on as a breast-plate. It is an infinitely perfect righteousness, consisting in the obedience and suffer- ings of the Son of God, which satisfies all the demands of the divine law and justice; and which is a sure defence against all assaults whether from within or from without. As in no case in this connection does …
585 wordsSECTION 332386 EPHESIANS,
as the Son of God and the Saviour of men. It is the faith which is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen ; which at once appre- hends or discerns, and receives the things of the Spirit. It overcomes the world, as is proved by so many ex- amples: in the twelfth chapter of the Epistle to t…
565 wordsSECTION 333388 EPHESIANS,
and joy, is the fact that he is saved. He is one of the redeemed, translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. If still under condemnation, if still estranged from God, a foreigner and alien, without God and without Christ, he could have no courage to enter into this conflict. It is be- c…
590 wordsSECTION 334390 EPHESIANS,
has no resources of strength in himself, and can suc- ceed only as aided from above, the apostle urges the duty of prayer. The believer is—1. To avail himself of all kinds of prayer. 2. He is to pray on every suit- able occasion. 38. He is to pray in the Spirit. 4. He is to be alert and persevering in the discharge of …
284 wordsSECTION 335CHAP. VI. VER. 18. 391
Paul would have the Christian warrior use, are not merely those of the closet and of stated seasons, but also those habitual and occasional aspirations, and out- goings of the heart after God, which a constant sense of his nearness and a constant sense of our necessity must produce. Not only must all kinds of prayer b…
268 wordsSECTION 336392 EPHESIANS,
vigilant, not allowing themselves to become weary or negligent. “Ev πάσῃ προςκαρτερήσει καὶ δεήσει περὶ πάντων τῶν ἁγίων, with all perseverance and supplica- tion for all saints. ‘ Perseverance and supplication” amounts to persevering or importunate supplication. In Rom. 12, 12, the expression is, τῇ mposevyf προς- καρ…
279 wordsSECTION 337CHAP. VI. VER. 19. 393
freedom and boldness with which he ought to preach: ἵνα μοι δοθῇ λόγος ἐν ἀνοίξει τοῦ στόματος μου ἐν παῤ- ῥησίᾳ, γνωρίσαι, κτλ. Our translators have para- phrased this clause thus, that utterance may be gwen me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known, &e. The literal translation is, that utterance may be given …
279 wordsSECTION 338394 EPHESIANS,
of the clauses. Παῤῥησία (πᾶν ῥῆσις), the speaking out all, freespokenness. Here the dative with ἐν may be taken adverbially, freely, boldly ; keeping nothing back, but making an open, undisguised declaration of the Gospel. This includes, however, the idea of frank- ness and boldness of spirit, of which this unrestrain…
562 wordsSECTION 339396 EPHESIANS,
reference, “my beloved brother and faithful servant ;” and that in so many other places Paul speaks of those who attended him and in various forms served him. The words ἐν κυρίῳ, according to this view, belong equally to both words. He was a brother as well as a servant in the Lord, i. e. a Christian brother and ser- v…
288 wordsSECTION 340CHAP. VI. VER. 24. 397
therly love. These blessings are sought ἀπὸ Θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ Κυρίου ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, from God the Fa- ther and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Father and Son are united as objects of worship and the source of spir- itual and saving blessing. He from whom Paul sought these blessings, is he to whom those who need them must look…
273 wordsSECTION 341398 EPHESIANS, CHAP. VI. VER. 24.
object of love. In1 Cor. 16, 22, Paul says, “If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” These passages, though so dissimilar, both teach that love to Christ is the indispensable con- dition of salvation. There must be an adequate reason for this. Want of love for Christ must deserve fina…
184 wordsSECTION 342THE END.
y sta ὃν ay i Roe ey ΠΟ b PRAY Hah ry 4 iA "ἢ 4 Ἰ ip δ gear Aner aie Rt yp νῚ ae i Tee ξύκοι a deny ΡῈ ΤῸΝ ae Ν“ » 2 yp ν y hil, ἀμ. Lg i fet ἘΝ 4 epi shied etal orale > s ἂν x ἯΨΕ Φ τ wate is 4 “he ee δῆς λυ ye “% aa p Ὑ ! Nu nae " oy as ᾿ Γ΄ ἈΝᾺ τὸ a r ᾿ ' Lig ; ey ἊΎ a5 Ἶ ᾿ ὶ y 4 ᾿ , ΚΙ ἂ ἡ 4 Ϊ Ὶ …
296 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.