Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3:1

I Paul] this discourse is interrupted untill vers. 14. and from that ought to be supplied in this manner I Paul bend my knees before God The prisoner] the Apostle writ this letler from Rome, whither he had been carried prisoner, Acts 27. 1. and 28. 10 Ephes. 6. 20. Of Iesus Christ] for him and for his service in the ministery of the Gospel amongst the Gentiles, for which I am persecuted by the Jews, and have by them been delivered to the Romanes.

Ephesians 3:2

If ye have] this is a kinde of affirmation, rather then a doubt, as Ephes. 4. 21. the meaning is, seeing it is cleer that you have heard of it.

Ephesians 3:3

The mysterie] namely, the sacred doctrine of the Gospell, incomprehensible to humane understanding; if it be not revealed to God, see Matthew 13:1. Ephes. 1. 9 Coloss. 2. 2. and 4. 3. 1 Tim. 3. 9. 16. others refer this mystery simply to the vocation of the Gentiles.

Ephesians 3:4

Whereby] as well in the substance of the things that are written, as in the manner and stile, which is altogether divine and spirituall.

Ephesians 3:5

Was not] namely, by a reall and present effect, nor by any singular declaration of the times and means, for otherwise the Prophets knew it in generall and had declared it Or he would say, That God, before the Gospell, never had used that indifferency of Nations in the communication of his grace Prophets] namely, of the new Testament, Acts 11. 27. and 15. 32 Rom 12:6. 1 Corinthians 12:10. By the Spirit] namely, by instructions and revelations of the holy Ghost.

Ephesians 3:6

Fellow heirs] in common with the beleevers of the Jewish nation, and with Christ himselfe, Romans 8:17. Galatians 3:29. His promise] namely of the goods promised to Abraham and all his spirituall off-spring in vertue, and for the love of Christ, who is the true foundation of it.

Ephesians 3:7

Effectuall working] that is to say, Unfolding in me his divine power, and accompanying my ministery therewith, as well in necessary gifts, as in a miraculous blessing and perpetuall assistance.

Ephesians 3:9

The fellowship] the Italian, the dispensation, how God will in these dayes reveal this secret councell of his, communicate the grace of it, and cause the effects of it to be felt Who created] he means the new and spirituall creation of the Church, see Isaiah 65:17. 2 Corinthians 5:17. Ephes. 2. 15. All things.] namely, the whole state, body, and parts of the Church.

Ephesians 3:10

Principalities] namely the good angels, see Romans 8:38. Ephes. 1. 21. Col. 1. 16. and 2. 15. 1 Peter 3:22. Might be known] that in the glorious renewing of the state of the world by Christ, not onely men, but even the Angels themselves, who desire to look into the very bottom of this mystery, 1 Peter 1:12. may have a new document of Gods wisdom, in an effect divers from what he had shewn at other times, the wayes and effects thereof varying, but alwayes for the better according to his will and pleasure.

Ephesians 3:11

In Christ] establishing in him all the causes and means of the accomplishment of it.

Ephesians 3:12

In whom] namely by vertue of the union which we have with him in the Spirit through faith Boldnesse] the Italian, the liberty; namely, that free accesse which is contrary to the terrours of conscience to Gods rejection.

Ephesians 3:13

Wherefore] seeing God through my ministery hath made you Gentiles, partakers of his grace in Christ, though I be therefore persecuted by the Jews, yet have you no cause to be discomforted thereby, but rather take it for a holy glory, that God will have me suffer for your salvation, and that in my sufferings the faithfulnesse of mine Apostleship is approved and confirmed.

Ephesians 3:14

For this cause] here the Apostle goeth on again with the discourse which hath been broken off from the first verse I bow] namely, in humble prayer:

Ephesians 3:15

Of whom] who being Christs father by nature, and by adoption father of the whole Church, which is as his family, and troop of his children, as well of those which are already glorified in heaven, as of those who are yet living in the world by faith, see Ephes. 1. 10.

Ephesians 3:16

The riches] namely, the glorious treasures of his spirituall gifts, which he powreth down upon those that are his. Or the abundance of his glorious grace and mercy, as Romans 9:23. Ephes. 1. 7. Philippians 4:19. Colossians 1:27. In the inner man] namely, in the gift of regeneration, and in the state of spirituall life, which is eternall, and not exposed to the senses, but known by God, and felt by the beleever in his soul, see Revelation 2:17.

Ephesians 3:17

May dwell] may perpetually be present in vertue, grace, and Spirit, by means of a continuall act of lively faith in him That ye being] namely, that ye having stamped and planted in your heart a firme, intimate, and invariable chity towards God and men, which is the proper and inseparable effect of a lively faith.

Ephesians 3:18

Comprehend] namely, to attain to everlasting life, and to the perfection of the knowledge, and fruition of that infinite mystery of which he had spoken, vers. 8. which were riches that were inscrutable in this life: Or to the accomplishment of the spirituall building of the Church, according to all the dimensions of it, whereupon he had said they were founded, Ephes.2. 20. and 3. 18. see Revel. 21. 16. What is the] a figurative description of the infinitenesse every way, by a similitude taken from the dimensions of the Temple, applied to the heavenly Jerusalem, founded in this world and finished in Heaven, as Revel. 21. 16.

Ephesians 3:19

Knowledge] namely, humane knowledge in this life That ye might] that ye may come to the height of knowledge, happinesse, and glory, when you shall be filled with Gods presence, and satisfied with the sight of his face, Psal. 16. 11. and 17. 15. and that he shall be all in all, 1 Corinthians 15:28.

Ephesians 3:21

By Christ] namely, the subject of whose glory is Christ and his benefits. Or as the Father manifesteth and communicateth himself in him alone: so let him be acknowledged and worshipped in him by all beleevers, Iohn 14. 13. 〈◊〉Cor. 4. 6. Philip. 2. 11. which is opposite to all vain glorifying of God out of Christ, as Infidels do.