The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 111

Jesus," is perfectly e.pplice.ble to the eteme.l as good o. right to the good things of the forme.tion of the purpose; it is the con- covenant ;-I take the steps now to be speci- sie.ntly returning indice.tion of the element fied for enabling them actually to possess in which the whole scheme of gr11co had its these good things. On the one hand, the beginning, its progress, and ite end. apostle saw the believing Ephesians still Ver. 12.-In whom we have our boldness comparatively poor and needy; on the other and acoess. na.pfr110-la. literally mee.ne hand, he saw all spiritual stores provided for " boldness" or " freedom of speech," but is them : the question was how to get the one used here in a more:ample sense for want of into contact with the other. For this cause, restraint, ee.se of·feeliag, comfortable self- he says, I bow my knees 11llto the Father. possession, in onr access to God. Contrast An emphatic way of denoting prayer; but with Adam biding himself among the trees not incident.al, occasional prayer, inspired of the garden, and the lost calling on the by some passing feeling; the attitude "bow rnoun to.ins to fa.II on them, and the rocks to my knees" denotes deli"berate prayer (comp. cover them. 'l'he "we" in this verse in~ Dan. vi. 10), ma.king a business of it, eludes both Jews and Gentiles. The approaching God with reverence and holy ".access," or introduction (see eh. ii. 18), is fear, with all the solemnities suitable to the like that of the high priest into the holy of occasion of making o. specific and important holies-'-we have boldness to enter into the request. • In the A. V. it is "unto the Father holiest of all' (Heh. x. 19). In con.ftdenoe of our Lord Jesus Christ." The RV., some through the faith of him. ·The confidence of the oldest manuscripts, and most rece!lt of being welcomed and accepted wheu we commentators omit the latter words, which go into God's presence springs from onr are supposed to have been to.ken from eh. i. 3. fe.ith in him. We believe in him as the On internal grounds, the omission of the Propitiation, as our Peace, as the Reconciler, words seems to yield the beet sense, for in and we go before God with confidence. The eh. ii. 18 our having access to "the Father" clause, "through fe.ith in him," influences is spoken of, and when the apostle proceeded the whole verse. And, 11s _before, we have to show how he e.vailed himself of that o.t the beginning of the verse, "in whom" privilege, he is not likely to have used more -e.u expression denoting genel'll.lly our than that expression. Further, there is union with Christ, e.nd e.t the end, " through such a close connection between -rra.-repa and the fe.ith of him "-a specification of the -rra.-rp,a in ver. 15, that they are not likely instrument by which that union is fo1·med to have been fe.r separated e.e the apostle and by which it operates. used them. Ver. 13.-Wherefore I beg that ye faint not Ver. 15.-P'rom whom the whole family in at my tribulations for you. A very delicate heaven and on earth is named. So A.V., and touching request, that they would not but R.V. has "overy family," holding, be too much distressed by what be we.a doubtless, that the want of the article--rrao-a suffering for them (comp. Ep11phroditus, -rra.-rp,it, not-rr&o-a-i)-rra-rp,/i-requires this sense. Phil. ii. 26). Paul knew that the sympe.thy But o.e in Me.tt. ii. 3; Luke iv.13; Acts ii. 3ti: was eo strong that what we.a suffered by him vii. 22,e.nd eh.ii. 21; eo here,-rra<Ta.without the was endured sympatbetice.lly by them. Two article may denote the totality of the thing; expressions denote that the sufferings were 1raaa. 'ff'aTp,O. corresponding to 1rcicra oiKo5oµ~- great: •• My tribulations for you "-e. word And this seems moro in e.ccord with the expressing intense e.nd protracted suffering; scope of the passage, for here the apostle is "that ye faint not," or that ye do not lose not distributing into groups, but gathering heo.rt, o.s if the power of evil he.d got the into one. But whnt is tho precise import of upper he.nd. Which is your glory. 'l'hat is, the st11tement, nnd for what reason is it the cho.racler or capacity of the apostle of introduced? The npoetle recognizes nil Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, in which I saints, whether in hca\·en or on enrth, as suffer tribulation, is one of such e:s:nlted forming one family, and ne tbo wbolo family dignity as to reflect glo1·y on you. Take derives ite nnme from God, so God may Lo that view of my sufferings; I suffer becnuee expected and appealed to to make full and I hold so glorious an office, and the glory oorrespondiug provision for the wunts of its of that office is reflected on you. various sections. The implied nppcnl is not Vere. 14-21.-PRAYEB FOR TllEIR SPmI- to the fa.et that the family is Goll's family, TUAL li::NRIOHIIIENT. but to the fact, less important in itself bnt Yer. 14.-For this oause. The digression really including the other, that it is nac1cd being ended, the apostle takes up the thread after him. Among men, one would be hehl Lroken o.t ver. 1. Wo must seek the "co.use" emphatically bouud to tako nn interest in in eh. ii. Seeing thnt tho Gentiles have thuse who aro not only his reh1tious but now equal privileges with the Jews; seeing beer his very nnmo. Now, that part of that by faith iu Ch1iet Gentile Christians tho family which is housed in henveu is have beeu brought 11s near to God,and ho.ve gloriously providl'Cl for; tl1u npostlo pro-  108 THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. [OH, Ill, 1-21,