Bible Commentaries

The theme of this letter is pre-eminently of the Church as the medium for the accomplishment of the divine purpose. Those addressed are described as "saints," and as "the faithful in Christ Jesus." These the apostle greets in the words, "Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Grace is the river flowing from the heart of God. Peace is the consciousness of the trusting soul.

The letter itself begins with a great benediction in which the apostle speaks as a member of the Church, declaring the blessedness of God and the blessedness of the Church through God. In dealing with the subject of the Church, he first writes of its origin. It is predestined to be holy and without blemish," and that to the praise of the glory of the divine grace. The method of His predestination is threefold: redemption (verse Ephesians 1:7), revelation (verses Ephesians 1:8-12), realization (verses Ephesians 1:13-14).

This doctrine of grace creates in the heart of the apostle desires for the saints which are constantly expressed in prayer. He prays that they may have "a spirit of wisdom and revelation," and this by having "the eyes of their heart enlightened."

All this in order that they may know, first, the vocation, and, second, the power. The vocation of the Church is here described as the "riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." God has an inheritance in His people, and it is that of the Church as a medium through which His grace is to be manifested. The apostle prays, moreover, that they may know "the exceeding greatness of His power." This he described as "the working of the strength of His might," and gave as supreme illustration the resurrection and ascension of our Lord.