61. of his confinement, and probably in the year It might, perhaps, be occasioned by intelligence, which the Apostle had received, concerning the Ephesians, from persons who had lately come out of Asia (d). It was sent to Ephesus by Tychicus. It is written with great animation, and has always been much admired, both for the importance of its matter and the elegance of its composition: Grotius says of it, Rerum sublimitatem adæquans verbis sublimioribus quam ulla unquam habuit lingua humana. III. THIS Epistle consists of six chapters, the first three of which are usually considered as doctrinal, and the other three as practical. St. Paul, after saluting the saints at Ephesus, expresses his gratitude to God for the blessings of the Gospel dispensation, and assures the Ephesians, that since he heard of their faith in Christ Jesus, and of their love to all Christians, he had not ceased to return thanks for them, and to pray that their minds might be still farther enlightened (e); he points out the excellence of the Gospel dispensation, and shews that redemption through Christ is to be ascribed solely to the grace of God (f); he declares the mystery, or hidden (d) C. 1. v. 15. (e) C. 1. (f) C. 2. hidden purpose of God, to be, that the Gentiles as well as the Jews should be partakers of the blessings of the Gospel, and that through the goodness of God he was appointed to be the Apostle of the Gentiles; he desires the Ephesians not to be dejected on account of his sufferings, and closes this part of the Epistle with an affectionate prayer and a sublime doxology (g). In the last three chapters, St. Paul gives the Ephesians many practical exhortations; and in particular, he recommends union, purity of manners, veracity, and meekness (h); he enjoins charity, and forbids every species of licentiousness; he enforces the duties of wives, of husbands (i), of children, of fathers, of servants, of masters; he recommends watchfulness and firmness in the Christian warfare, and concludes the Epistle with a general benediction (k). (g) C. 3, (h) C. 4. (i) C. 5. (k) C. 6. PART II. CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH. OF THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS, I. Date of this Epistle, and Occasion of its being written.-II. Its Contents. 1. PHILIPPI was a city of Macedonia, and a Roman colony, not far from the borders of Thrace. It was the first place at which St. Paul preached the Gospel upon the continent of Europe, in the year 51. He made many converts there, who soon afterwards gave strong proofs of their attachment to him (a). He was at Philippi a second time, but nothing which then occurred is recorded. The Philippian Christians, having heard of St. Paul's imprisonment at Rome, with their accustomed zeal, sent Epaphroditus to assure him (a) C. 4. v. 15. of of the continuance of their regard, and to offer him a supply of money. This Epistle was written in consequence of that act of kindness; and it is remarkable for its strong expressions of affection. As the Apostle tells the Philippians that he hoped to see them shortly (b), and there are plain intimations (c) in the Epistle of his having been some time at Rome, it is probable that it was written in the year 62, towards the end of his confinement. II. ST. PAUL, after a salutation in his own. name, and in that of Timothy, declares his thankfulness to God for having made the Philippians partake of the blessings of the Gospel, and prays for their farther improvement in knowledge and righteousness; he informs them that his confinement had contributed to the furtherance of the Gospel, and declares his readiness to die in its cause, or live for its promotion; he exhorts them with great warmth and earnestness, to live as it becometh the Gospel of Christ, being in nothing terrified by their adversaries (d); to live in harmony with each other, and to practise the virtue of humility after the example of Christ; he encourages them to work out their salvation, (b) C. 2. v. 24. (d) C. I. and of his confinement, and probably in the year 61. It might, perhaps, be occasioned by intelligence, which the Apostle had received, concerning the Ephesians, from persons who had lately come out of Asia (d). It was sent to Ephesus by Tychicus. It is written with great animation, and has always been much admired, both for the importance of its matter and the elegance of its composition: Grotius says of it, Rerum sublimitatem adæquans verbis sublimioribus quam ulla unquam habuit lingua humana. III. THIS Epistle consists of six chapters, the first three of which are usually considered as doctrinal, and the other three as practical. St. Paul, after saluting the saints at Ephesus, expresses his gratitude to God for the blessings of the Gospel dispensation, and assures the Ephesians, that since he heard of their faith in Christ Jesus, and of their love to all Christians, he had not ceased to return thanks for them, and to pray that their minds might be still farther enlightened (e); he points out the excellence of the Gospel dispensation, and shews that redemption through Christ is to be ascribed solely to the grace of God (f); he declares the mystery, or hidden (d) C. 1. v. 15. (e) C. 1. (f) C. 2. |