very term denotes abundance. — fln>eu/*ar/x5j, spiritual) a thing pe culiar to the New Testament. — sv rote, svovpavtoig, in heavenly places) The term spiritual is hereby explained. Often in this epistle he mentions the heavenlies : ver. 20, ch. ii. 6, iii. 10, vi. 12. The glorious abode of the heavenly inhabitants. — lv Xpi<tr&, in Christ) To this is to be referred the following verse, according as — in Him. Here now he somewhat slightly touches upon the three persons of the Godhead, who are concerned in our salva tion. The Heavenlies belong to the Father [the First Person] : he expressly names Christ Himself [the Second Person] : the Holy Spirit [the Third Person] produces spiritual blessings. Paul treats of all in succession subsequently. [Certainly the apostle had before his eyes, in this passage, the ivhole career of Christ, from His birth to His ascension. He contemplates His birth in this verse, then His circumcision, wherefore at ver. 5, and not till then, the name, Jesus, given to Him at His circumcision, is expressed ; at ver. 6,1 the baptism of the beloved Son is pointed to by implication ; which, at ver. 7, the bloody suffering of death follows, and finally His resurrection and ascension, at ver. 20, etc.— Y. g.]
4. Ka&ug s^sX'e^aro was, according as He has chosen us) The blessing corresponds to the [prior] election, and follows upon it and makes it manifest. — sv Aura), in Him) iii. 11. These things presuppose the eternity of the Son of God ; for the Son, before the world was made, was not merely the future, but even then the present object of the Father's love ; John xvii. 24, 5 ; otherwise the Father would not have loved Him in [or for] Himself [per se], but likewise through another [per alium : God would have loved in connection with the Church, not in Him self purely]. — irpb, before) John xvii. 24. — eJvai, to be) i.e. rov Jvai, that we should be. — ay/'ous, holy) positively. — a/^w/^ou^, without blame) without evil and fault [ch. v. 27].
4, 5. 'Ev ayacr»5 irpoopfaas ^«£j having predestinated us in love) Many construe these words with the preceding, holy and without blame before Him in love. The terms, / love, love, loved, are very prevalent in this epistle both ways, so that either the love of God to us, or ours to Him, may be denoted ; but it is most consistent
1 " Accepted in the Beloved." As the Voice at His baptism said, « This is my beloved Son,' in whom, etc.— ED.