EPHESUS was one of the most celebrated of the cities of Asia Minor and the metropolis of the province in which it was situated. It occupies a prominent place among the cities which Paul visited in his travels. It was here that the great disturbance took place, which was excited by Demetrius and his fellow-craftsmen, as recorded Acts 19: Here, also, Paul wrote the First Epistle to the church at Corinth. From the expressions in this Epistle, implying that the writer was a prisoner, (4:1; 6:19, 20,) it seems evident that it was written at Rome; and it is supposed that the Epistle to the Colossians was written and sent at the same time. (Compare Eph. 6:21, and Col. 4:7.)

      4. Hath chosen us--that we should be holy; hath designed and intended us to be made holy.

      6. Of his grace; of his goodness and mercy.

      7. Through his blood; through his sufferings and death.

      9. The mystery of his will; the secret counsels of his will.

      10. The fulness of times; when the full time had arrived.--Gather [428] together in one, &c.; establish the kingdom of Christ, to which all things were to be subjected.

      12. First trusted; hoped before in Christ; that is, who looked forward to salvation in him.

      13. Spirit of promise; the Spirit which had been promised. (Acts 1:8.) The influences of the Holy Spirit upon the minds of Christians are often spoken of as the seal and evidence of their redemption.

      14. The earnest; the pledge and assurance.--Until the redemption, &c.; until the time shall come for the full enjoyment of the possession thus purchased for us.

      17. And revelation; that is, instruction in divine truth.

      18. The hope of his calling; the nature and value of the hope which the calling of the believer opens before him.

      1. Quickened; brought to life. This passage (1-10) is remarkable for the very strong and unequivocal language in which the efficient agency in respect to human salvation is ascribed to God alone.

      2. The prince of the power of the air; Satan. [429]

      5. Dead in sins; that is, utterly lost in sin,--without life or hope.

      6. In heavenly places; in the spiritual kingdom of Christ.

      8. And that not of yourselves; even the act of faith through which salvation is bestowed, is not of yourselves. Thus not only the favor, but even the willingness to receive the favor, is the gift of God.

      10. His workmanship; that is, in respect to the formation in us of the Christian spirit and temper.

      11. Called Uncircumcision. This was then a term of reproach.--By that, &c.; by the Jews.--Made by hands; that is, bodily circumcision,--so designated to distinguish it from a spiritual state of obedience and faith which is sometimes called circumcision, as in Col. 2:11.

      12. Strangers from the covenants; not included in the covenants.

      14. Both one; both Jew and Gentile one in him.

      15. The enmity; the ground of enmity; that is, of separation and of hostile feeling.--Contained in ordinances; in the Jewish ceremonial law.--One new man; one new community or body.

      17. You which were afar of; the Gentiles.--Them that were nigh; the Jews. [430]

      1. The prisoner. This Epistle is supposed to have been written when Paul was at Rome, confined with a chain. (Acts 28:16, 30.)

      2. The dispensation of the grace of God; the commission to make known the grace of God.--To you-ward; for your benefit.

      3. The mystery; the hidden truth that the kingdom of the Messiah was to be extended to the Gentiles, as stated particularly in v. 6.--As I wrote afore, referring perhaps to what he had said in 1:3-13.

      7. Whereof I was made a minister; that is, I was made the instrument of making known to the Gentiles these designs of God in respect to their salvation.

      9. The fellowship of the mystery; the hidden counsel and design of God.

      10. By the church; through the church; that is, by means of God's gracious dealings with the church.

      13. Ye faint not; be not distressed and disheartened.--For you; for you Gentiles; not particularly for the Ephesians.--Which is your glory, which is for your glory; that is, his trials and sufferings were designed to be the means of promoting their eternal good. [431]

      1. I therefore, &c. Here the apostle resumes what be had begun to say at the commencement of the last chapter.--The vocation; the calling.

      3. The unity of the Spirit; spiritual union and harmony.

      4. One body; meaning the church, that is, the community of believers.

      5. One Lord; one Savior.--One faith; one system of revealed truth.--One baptism; one Christian profession.

      8. Ps. 68:18.

      9. Into the lower parts of the earth; into the grave.

      11. The meaning is, that he has endued his ministers with a diversity of talents and qualifications. We are not probably to understand these expressions as referring to so many distinct and specific offices. The powers exercised by the leading members of the early church, were not well defined, and marked, and systematically arranged, as official duties generally are in modern times. They varied with circumstances and with the personal character of the individuals who exercised them; as is every where implied in the different allusions to this subject which occur. [432]

      12. The body of Christ; the church.

      14. The sleight; the skilfulness.

      16. From whom; by whose power.--According to, &c.; that is, each part performing its own special and proper function.

      22. The old man; the former evil character.

      25. We are members, &c.; we are bound together as members of one body.

      26. Be ye angry, &c.; never let the feeling of displeasure at sin or injustice become unholy anger.--Let not the sun, &c.; be always ready to pass over and forgive offences, instead of harboring lasting resentment.

      27. That is, never yield to any temptation to sin.

      29. Minister grace; be the means of promoting grace.

      30. Whereby ye are sealed; that is, which is the pledge and earnest of redemption. [433]

      4. Not convenient; not proper, not consistent with your Christian profession.

      5. Who is an idolater; worshipping money as his god.

      6. Vain words; vain and false excuses for such sins.

      8. Sometime darkness; some time in darkness.

      13. Are made manifest; their character is made manifest. The idea is that Christians should let their light--that is, their example of holiness and purity--shine; as this light would be the means of putting the wickedness of the heathen to shame.

      14. Expressions analogous to these are found in Isa. 26:19. 60:1-3. [434]

      23. Of the body; that is, of his body, the church. The application intended to be made of this is expressed in v. 25.

      32. This is a great mystery; that is, the love of Christ for the church, typified by that due from the husband to the wife; called a mystery, because it remained so long unrevealed. (Compare 1:9.)

      5. In singleness of your heart; in faithfulness and honesty.

      8. The same shall he receive of the Lord; that is, though his master might be unjust or oppressive, his fidelity should not ultimately lose its reward.

      9. Do the same things unto them; that is, be honest and upright in all your dealings with them.-- [435] Forbearing threatening; and of course forbearing coercion and violence.

      21. Tychicus. This messenger is also mentioned in the Epistle to the Colossians, (4:7,) and is supposed to have been intrusted with both Epistles at the same time. [436]

[AINT 428-436]