The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 258

l,roni?M in t0 snpplemc-nt t.hc more disinte- through foith is cmmmmiontcd to nil his restc-d n}(ltin\ such nddition being spccinlly people. To be stron~ is our duty; to be UsC'ful in the cnse of slaves (as of children, weak is our sin. Strong trust, strong TC'I-S. 2, 8). For the slave iho hope of courage, strong cnrlumnce, stroug hopo. reward is future-it is at the Lord's coming strong love, may nll be hnd from him, if thnt he will hnve his reward. only our fellowship with him be maintnined Yer. 9.-And, ye masters, do the same in nnintcrrupterl vigour. things to them, forbearing thre&tening. Ver. 11.-Put on the entire armour of Act oorrcsponi!ingly toward your· slaves, CJod. Chained to a soldier, the apostle's ns if the eye of Christ were on you, which mind would go forth naturally to the sub- indeed it is ; if you are ever tempted to ject of armour and warfare. Put on armour, grind them down, or defraud, or scold for life is a battle-field; not a scene of soft unres..o0nably and make their life bitter, enjoyment and ease, but of hard conflict, remember that there is a M:1.St.er above you, with foes within and without; put on the into whose ears their cry mll come. If armour of God, provided by him for yolll' they are to do service to yon as to the Lord, protection nnd for aggression too, for it is Ton are to require service of them as if you good, well-adapted for your use,-God has ~ere the Lord. Therefore forbear threaten- thought of you, and has sent his armour ing; in:dnen<-e them by loTe more than by for you ; put on the whole armour of God, -fe~. Knowing that both their and your for each po.rt of yon needs to be protected, Iaster is in heaven; and there is no respect and you need suitable weapons for assailing of pe_""SODS vith him. Both of you stand in all your foC'.s. That ye may be able to stand the same relation to tl1e great Lord, who is against the wiles of the devil, Our chief in hea,cu and ornr all (comp. eh. i. 20, 21). enemy does not engnge us in open warforc, Your being higher in earthly Etation than but deals in wiles and stratogems, whioh they will not procure for you nny indul- need to bo watched against and prepared gence or consideration. You will be judged for with peculiar care. simply and solely according to your deeds'. Ver. 12.-Forwe wrestle not against flesh Your rtsponsibility to the Judge and your and blood. Our conflict is not with men, obligations to the Saviour alike bind you here denoted by "flesh and blood," which to just and merciful treatment. If such is usually o. symbol of wcalmess, therefore principles were applicable to the relations denoting that our opponents are not weak of enforced labour, they are certainly not mortals, but powers of o. far more formidable Jess so to the relations of labonr when free. order. lint against the principalities, against Vers. 10-20.-Tm! CJIBISTlill' WAR• the powers. The same words as in eh. i. 21 ; FARE. therefore the definite arLicle is prefixed, as Ver. 10.-Finally. The apostle has now denoting, ·bat we are already familiar with: reached hls !Mt passage, and by this word for though all of these, evil as welJ aa good, quickenB the attention of his readera and have been put under Christ the Head, they prepares them for a co1ID.Sel eminently have not b~n pnt under the members, but "ft"eigbty in itBelf, and gathering np the pith the evil among them are warring against and marrmr, as it were, of what goes before. these members with all the greater ferocity ~My brethrt::n," A. V.., is rejected byR.V. and that they cannot assail the Head. Against most modem commentators, for lack of ex- the world-rulem of this [ state of] darkness ternal eridence. W c note, however, that, (comp. eh. ii. 2). "World-rulers" denotes whereas in the preceding Terae3 he had dis- the extent of the dominion of these invisible tributed the Ephesians into gronps, giving an foes-the term is applied only to the rulers appropriate counsel to each, be now brings of the most widely extended tracts; there them again together, and has a concluding is no part of the globe to which their in- couns.el for them all. lie strong in the Lord, fluence does not extend, nnd where their and in the power of his might. Compare dark rule does not show itself (comp. LukCl with eh. iii. 16, where the heavenly provision iv. 6). "This darkness" expressively de- for obtaining strength is specified, and with notes the element and the results of their eh. iv. 30, where we are cautioned against a rule. Observe contra.et with Christ's servants, course that will fritter away that provision. who are children of light, equivalent to order, The r,er-recurring formula, "in the Lord," knowledge, purity, joy, pence, etc.; while the indicates the rdation to Christ in which element of the devil and his servo.nts is do.rk- aloue the strength can be experienced (comp. ness,equivalentto confusion, ignoranoe,orime, 2 Cor. xii. 9). The might i8 Christ's, but terror, strife, and all misery. Against the t,y f,.ith it Lecoroes our strength. As the spiritual holltl of wickednesa in the heavenly ,t--,,ru-<:ngine genders the dynamic forc.e, places. The natural .meaning, though which kltll and whet:ls cmnmunicate to the questioned by some, is,· either that these ktrt ma~hinery of the factory, so Christ is hosts of wickedness have their residence in !L~ ..-,urC(: of that •piritual slrrngth which heavenly places, or, that thr,sA place, are OH. Vl, 1-2.J.] THE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE EPEHSIANS. 259