Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1:1

IN Christ] namely, that are ingrafted into his bodie by faith, and do live and subsist in their spirituall state by his onely power, and by the communion of his Spirit.

Ephesians 1:3

In heavenly] that is to say, by giving you not an earthly but heavenly inheritance, and that through Christ who hath taken the possession thereof for all his, and hath in heaven received the fulnesse of the spirit to powre it down from thence upon his whole Church, which is also with him in heaven already by faith, and shall effectually be there with him for ever, Ephes. 26. Philippians 3:20. Coloss. 3. 1, 2.

Ephesians 1:4

According as] according as God by his election from everlasting framed a new bodie of humane race (opposite to the first whereof Adam was head, in whom all men have sinned and are dead) and appointed Christ to be their Head, that in him it might be all gathered together, and by him made partaker of his grace, life, and glorie: so he bringeth this his decree to passe in his appointed time; bestowing all his favours upon his Church by Christ in his sacred Communion. See Ephes. 3. 11. 2 Timothy 1:9.

Ephesians 1:5

To himselfe] or by himselfe; namely, for his glorie, as Rom. 11 36.

Ephesians 1:6

Of the glorie] namely, of his glorious and admirable grace, by which he hath powerfully brought to an end the worke of mans: salvation. See Romans 9:23. 2 Corinthians 4:4. In the] namely, for the love, and in regard of Christ onely who hath all the fathers love, not onely as he is everlasting Son, but also as he is perfectly obedient, and just in his humane nature, and in his qualitie of Mediatour, Matthew 3:17. Iohn 3. 35. and 10. 17.

Ephesians 1:10

In the] namely, in the time prefixed by his providence (which is the dispencer of times, and of the whole order of things) for the fulfilling of his promises concerning the Messias, or in the conduct and government of his Church fitting for that time Both which are] this may be referred to blessed mens spirits which are already gathered up into heavenly glorie, and to believers yet living upon earth, as Luke 1:17. Ephes. 3. 15. Hebrews 12:23. Others do understand it of the holy Angels, with which the faithfull have communion in the same Head, namely, Christ, Colossians 2:10. and in the same glorie. See Matth. 22. 30. Hebrews 12:22.

Ephesians 1:11

In whom] by whose love and benefit, and by vertue of his redemption and intercession, which is the fundamentall cause of the believers vocation We have] namely, I and all other believers of the Jewish nation Obtained] we have been chosen and called from amongst the rest to be the proper part of Gods inheritance, Deuteronomy 32:9. Isai 53. 12.

Ephesians 1:12

We] namely, we Jewes, who have alwayes fixed our hopes upon the promised Messias, and have been the first that have believed in him after he hath been revealed.

Ephesians 1:13

Sealed] marked as it were with a character by God, by the gifts of regeneration, illumination, and the power of the Holy Ghost promised by Chrst to all believers, Luke 24:48-49. Acts 2:33. Galatians 3:14. or which is added to the promises of Gods grace in Christ, to confirme them and seal them in their hearts.

Ephesians 1:14

Untill the redemption] the Italian, unto the] this must be understood as following the word sealed, the meaning is, that this seal is given us, that by it we may be known at the last judgement, then to have part in the reall and perfect deliverance from all evils and enemies, Luke 21:28. Romans 8:20; Romans 8:22. wherein we have now right through Christ, and have had the first fruits thereof.

Ephesians 1:15

In the Lord] namely, in the communion of his bodie and Spirit.

Ephesians 1:17

The God] namely, the true everlasting God towards whom Christ exerciseth his Office of Mediatour, gaining unto him a peculiar people, whereof he is the Head. See Iohn 20. 17.

Ephesians 1:18

The hope] namely, the goods which we ought to hope for as a sequele of his calling, & to the participation of which he calleth us In the Saints] the Italian, in the holy places]namely, in Heaven, which is as the Sanctuarie of Gods glorie. See Heb. 9. 8. 12, 24. and 13. 11.

Ephesians 1:19

His power] in accomplishing his worke, and bringing us to the end of our hope.

Ephesians 1:20

In the heavenly] where his humane nature is resident in glorie, and where his whole person hath as it were the glorious Throne of his Kingdom, Matth. 5. 34.

Ephesians 1:21

All principalitie] not onely worldly but also Angelicall, the Angels being called by such names, Romans 8:38. Ephes. 6. 12. Colossians 1:16. Pet. 3. 22. Name] that is to say, dignitie or state, 1 Corinthians 15:24. Which is to come] namely, in Heaven, and in the state of heavenly life, which in regard of those that are living in this world is yet to come.

Ephesians 1:22

Over all] that is to say, hath made Him Head of the Church in a singular and eminent manner, above the domination which he hath over all other creatures, others expound it simply soveraigne.

Ephesians 1:23

The fulnesse] that is to say, the complete structure, and gathering of all the members, whereof Christ is the Head In all] namely, those that are of this number and bodie, as Iohn 6. 4, 5. and 12 32 Ephes. 4. 10.