Eph 1:5, 5:1 | JFB | STEP | 5. predestinated —more special in respect to the end and precise means, than "chosen" or elected. We are "chosen" out of the rest of the world; "predestinated" to all things that secure the inheritance for us ( ). " Foreordained. " by Jesus — Greek, " through Jesus." to himself —the Father ( ). ALFORD explains, "adoption . . . into Himself," that is, so that we should be partakers of the divine nature ( ). LACHMANN reads, "unto Him. " The context favors the explanation of CALVIN : God has regard to Himself and the glory of His grace ( ) as His ultimate end. He had one only-begotten Son, and He was pleased for His own glory, to choose out of a lost world many to become His adopted sons. Translate, " unto Himself." the good pleasure of his will —So the Greek ( ). We cannot go beyond "the good pleasure of His will" in searching into the causes of our salvation, or of any of His works ( ). ( .) Why needest thou philosophize about an imaginary world of optimism? Thy concern is to take heed that thou be not bad. There was nothing in us which deserved His love ( ) [BENGEL ].

Ephesians 1:5

5. predestinated—more special in respect to the end and precise means, than "chosen" or elected. We are "chosen" out of the rest of the world; "predestinated" to all things that secure the inheritance for us (Eph 1:11; Ro 8:29). "Foreordained."

by Jesus—Greek, "through Jesus."

to himself—the Father (Col 1:20). ALFORD explains, "adoption . . . into Himself," that is, so that we should be partakers of the divine nature (2Pe 1:4). LACHMANN reads, "unto Him." The context favors the explanation of CALVIN: God has regard to Himself and the glory of His grace (Eph 1:6, 12, 14) as His ultimate end. He had one only-begotten Son, and He was pleased for His own glory, to choose out of a lost world many to become His adopted sons. Translate, "unto Himself."

the good pleasure of his will—So the Greek (Mt 11:26; Lu 10:21). We cannot go beyond "the good pleasure of His will" in searching into the causes of our salvation, or of any of His works (Eph 1:9). (Job 33:13.) Why needest thou philosophize about an imaginary world of optimism? Thy concern is to take heed that thou be not bad. There was nothing in us which deserved His love (Eph 1:1, 9, 11) [BENGEL].

Ephesians 5:1

1. therefore—seeing that "God in Christ forgave you" (Eph 4:32).

followers—Greek, "imitators" of God, in respect to "love" (Eph 5:2): God's essential character (1Jo 4:16).

as dear children—Greek, "as children beloved"; to which Eph 5:2 refers, "As Christ also loved us" (1Jo 4:19). "We are sons of men, when we do ill; sons of God, when we do well" [AUGUSTINE, on Psalm 52]; (compare Mt 5:44, 45, 48). Sonship infers an absolute necessity of imitation, it being vain to assume the title of son without any similitude of the Father [PEARSON].