Eph. 2 Eph. 2:1–3 Paul setteth before the Ephesians their former corrupt heathen state, Eph. 2:4–7 and God’s rich mercy in their deliverance. Eph. 2:8–10 We are saved by grace, not of works, yet so as to be created in Christ unto good works. Eph.

And you hath he quickened; his verb quickened is not in the Greek, but the defect of it may be supplied from Eph. 1:19, thus: The greatness of his power to us-ward, and to you that were dead in trespasses and sins; the remaining part of that chapter being included in a parenthesis, which, though…

Wherein in time past ye walked; conversed in a continual course of life. They were alive to sin, when dead in sin; or by sin dead to spiritual good. According to the course of this world; either according to the age of the world that then was, or men then in the world, or according to the custom…

Among whom also we all; we apostles and believers of the Jews. Either Paul by a coenosis reckons himself among them, though not guilty with them; or rather, though he were not an idolater as the Ephesians, yet he had been a blasphemer, and a persecutor, 1 Tim.

Rich in mercy; abundant. Riches of mercy here, as riches of grace, Eph. 1:7, Ps. 51:1, Ps. 86:5. For his great love; the fountain from whence his mercies vouchsafed to us proceed; riches of mercy from great love: God shows mercy to us miserable creatures in time, because he loved us from eternity,…

Hath quickened us; hath raised us up from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, not only in our justification, in which God frees us from our obnoxiousness to eternal death, and gives us a right to eternal life, who before were dead in law, (though this may be included), but especially in…

And hath raised us up together; either this may be understood of a further degree of spiritual life in the progress of sanctification vouchsafed to believers in this world; or rather, of the resurrection of the body, which is said to be raised together with Christ, because it is to be raised by the…

That in the ages to come; in all succeeding generations while the world continues. He might show, &c. as in an instance or specimen, 1 Tim. 1:16; q.d. God’s kindness to us believers in this age, since Christ’s coming, is such an instance of the exceeding riches of his grace, as may be an…

For by grace, the free favour of God, as Eph. 2:5, are ye, even ye Ephesians, Gentiles, who had not such promises made to you as the Jews had, Eph. 2:12, saved, from first to last, from your calling, Eph. 2:5, to your glorification, Eph. 2:6. Objection.

Not of works; any works whatever, and not only works of the ceremonial law: for if they only were excluded, the opposition between God and man, grace and works, were not right, which yet we find so often elsewhere; (see Rom.

For we, we believers, both Jews and Gentiles, are his workmanship; not only as men, but especially as saints, which is the proper meaning here. The Israelitish people formerly were God’s work, Deut. 32:6, Isa. 43:21, Isa. 44:21; so are believers under the gospel, being new creatures, Gal. 6:15.

In the flesh; either: 1. Carnal, unregenerate, as Rom. 8:8–9. Or rather: 2. Uncircumcised in the flesh, as well as in heart, Ezek. 44:7; such as neither had the grace signified, nor the sign representing it.

That at that time ye were without Christ; i.e. without knowledge of him, or interest in him. This is the foundation of all other miseries, as Christ is the foundation of all saving good, and therefore the apostle begins with this.

But now in Christ Jesus; either in the kingdom of Christ, or gospel administration, Gal. 5:6; or, ye being in Christ, united to him by the Spirit and faith. Being in Christ, here, is opposed to being in the world, Eph. 1:12.

For he is our peace; i.e. Peace-maker, or Mediator of peace, both between God and man, and between Jew and Gentile. He is called our peace, as elsewhere our righteousness, redemption, salvation. God is said to reconcile us, 2 Cor. 5:19, but Christ only to be our peace. Who hath made both one; i.e.

Having abolished; abrogated, taken away the power of binding men. In his flesh; not the flesh of sacrificed beasts but his own flesh: before he mentioned his blood, and now his flesh, to imply the whole sacrifice of Christ, comprehending his flesh as well as blood.

And that he might reconcile both unto God; another end of Christ’s abolishing the ceremonial law, viz. that he might reconcile both Jew and Gentile (all the elect together) unto God: and in this respect especially he is our peace.

And came; partly in his own person, as to the Jews, and partly by his apostles, whom he appointed to preach the gospel to the Gentiles: so 2 Cor. 13:3. And preached peace to you which were afar off; far from the knowledge of the truth, from Christ, and salvation by him, as Eph. 3:13.

For through him, as our Mediator and Peace-maker, who hath reconciled us to God, we both have access, are admitted or introduced, by one Spirit unto the Father; by the Holy Ghost, who is our Guide to lead us to the Father, as Christ is the way by which we go to him, John 14:6.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners; such are they that may dwell in a city, but are not free of it. He means the same as Eph. 3:12, they were not now aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, &c.

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets; the foundation which the apostles and prophets laid by their preaching, viz. Christ, whom they held forth as the only Mediator between God and man, the only Saviour and head of the church: see 1 Cor. 3:11.

In whom; or upon whom, viz. Christ the foundation. All the building; whatsoever is built on Christ the foundation, and so all particular believers, as the several parts of the building. Fitly framed together; joined and united both to Christ the foundation by faith, and to each other by love.

An habitation of God; a temple where God may dwell. Not only the whole collection of believers is called the temple of God, but particular churches and particular saints are so called, because of God’s dwelling in them by his Spirit: see 1 Cor. 3:16–17, 1 Cor. 6:19.