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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

To the saints-to the faithful — Fitly; for it is by faith that we become saints, Acts 15:9 .

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Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace be to you, and peace — These go fitly together; because we must seek our peace in the free grace and favour of God. The ark and mercy seat were never sundered.

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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Blessed be God — Gratiae cessat decursus, ubi gratiarum recursus. A thankful man shall abound with blessings.

With all spiritual blessings — εν παση ευλογια πνευματικη , wisdom, prudence, …,Ephesians 1:8; Ephesians 1:8 , a Benjamin’s portion, a goodly heritage; called here spiritual blessing in the singular. All, and yet but one blessing; to note that spiritual blessings are so knit together, that they all make up but one blessing; and where God gives one, he gives all.

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According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

He hath chosen us in him — Christ was mediator therefore from eternity, viz. by virtue of that human nature which he should assume.

That we should be holy — God elected us as well to the means as to the end. Note this against libertines. For as they Acts 27:31 could not come safe to land that left the ship; so neither can men come to heaven but by holiness. Cyrus was moved to restore the captivity by finding himself before appointed to this glorious service 170 years before he was born, Isaiah 44:28 . Should not we likewise be excited to good works by this that we were elected to them?

Without blame — Or blot, Ephesians 5:27 . Absque querela,Luke 1:6; Luke 1:6 .

Before him — i.e. In purity of heart, 2 Kings 20:3 .

In love — In sanctity of life.

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Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Having predestinated us — Interpreters have observed that this word that signifies to predestinate is but six times to be found in the New Testament (never in the Old), being referred but twice to things, Acts 4:28 ; 1 Corinthians 2:7 , four times to persons, Romans 8:29-30 Ephesians 1:5 ; Ephesians 1:11 , and never applied to reprobates, but to elect persons only. Howbeit divines under predestination do usually consider the decree both of election and reprobation. The doctrine hereof men should not adventure to teach till they have well learned and digested it. In the year 1586, Jacobus Andreas, the Lutheran, and Theodore Beza, conferred and disputed for eight days’ time at Montpelier: the issue of which conference was unhappy, for from that time forward the doctrine of predestination was much misused and exagitated. (Alsted. Chron.)

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To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

To the praise of the glory — This is the end whereunto it is destined; and hence it is called predestination. Note here, that all the causes of predestination are merely without us. The efficient, God; the material, Christ; the formal, the good pleasure of his will; the final, the praise of God’s glorious grace.

Wherein he hath made us accepted — Gr. εχαριτωσεν , He hath ingratiated us, he hath justified us, made us gracious in his beloved Son our Mediator, gratificavit. And although there be an inequality of expressions in duty, quoad nos, in us, yet there is a constancy of worth and intercession by Christ, propter nos, for us. Pareus rendereth these words thus, Nos sibi gratis effecit gratos, He hath freely made us well thought of.

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In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

In whom we have redemption — As captives ransomed at a price. What this price was, see1 Peter 1:19; 1 Peter 1:19 . Should not Christ therefore reap the travails of his soul? Isaiah 53:11-12

The forgiveness of our sins — This David counted his crown, and prized it above his imperial diadem,Psalms 103:3-4; Psalms 103:3-4 .

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Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

In all wisdom and prudence — That properly respecteth contemplation, this action. Socrates made no distinction between them. For, said he, who so knoweth good to practise it, and evil to avoid it, he is a man truly wise and prudent.

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