Eph 2:4-5 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 4. But God, who is rich in mercy . On the use of the word rich by Paul, . It is a beautiful expression. "God is rich in mercy;" overflowing, abundant. Mercy is the riches or the wealth of God. Men are often rich in gold, and silver, and they pride themselves in these possessions; but God is rich in mercy . In that he abounds; and he is so rich in it he is willing to impart it to others; so rich that he can make all blessed. For his great love . That is, his great love was the reason why he had compassion upon us. It is not that we had any claim, or deserved his favour; but it is, that God had for man original and eternal love, and that love led to the gift of a Saviour, and to the bestowment of salvation.

Ephesians 2:4-5

Verse 4. But God, who is rich in mercy. On the use of the word rich by Paul, Eph 1:7. It is a beautiful expression. "God is rich in mercy;" overflowing, abundant. Mercy is the riches or the wealth of God. Men are often rich in gold, and silver, and they pride themselves in these possessions; but God is rich in mercy. In that he abounds; and he is so rich in it he is willing to impart it to others; so rich that he can make all blessed.

For his great love. That is, his great love was the reason why he had compassion upon us. It is not that we had any claim, or deserved his favour; but it is, that God had for man original and eternal love, and that love led to the gift of a Saviour, and to the bestowment of salvation. Verse 5. Even when we were dead in sins. Eph 2:1. Comp. Rom 5:8. The construction here is-- "God, who is rich in mercy, on account of the great love which he bare unto us, even being dead in sin, hath quickened us," etc. It does not mean that he quickened us when we were dead in sin, but that he loved us then, and made provision for our salvation. It was love to the children of wrath; love to those who had no love to return to him; love to the alienated and the lost. That is true love--the sincerest and the purest benevolence--love, not like that of men, but such only as God bestows. Man loves his friend, his benefactor, his kindred --God loves his foes, and seeks to do them good.

Hath quickened us. Hath made us alive. Eph 2:1.

Together with Christ. In connexion with him; or in virtue of his being raised up from the grave. The meaning is, that there was such a connexion between Christ and those whom the Father had given to him, thai his resurrection from the grave involved their resurrection to spiritual life. It was like raising up the head and the members--the whole body together. Rom 6:5. Everywhere in the New Testament, the close connexion of the believer with Christ is affirmed. We are crucified with him. We die with him. We rise with him. We live with him. We reign with him. We are joint heirs with him. We share his sufferings on earth, (1Pet 4:13;) and we share his glory with him on his throne, Rev 3:21.

By grace ye are saved. Marg., by whose. Rom 3:24. Paul's mind was full of the subject of salvation by grace, and he throws it in here, even in an argument, as a point which he would never have them lose sight of. The subject before him was one eminently adapted to bring this truth to mind; and though, in the train of his arguments, he had no time now to dwell on it, yet he would not suffer any opportunity to pass without referring to it.

(a) "when we were dead" Rom 5:6,8,10 (*) "quickened us" "made us alive" (1) "by grace" "by whose" (b) "ye are saved" Rom 3:24