Description of the EPHESIANS. Christian armour. A. D. 64. A. M. 4068. 15 And your feet shod with the || wherewith ye shall be able to quench A. M. 4068. preparation of the gospel of peace; all the fiery darts of the wicked. A. D. 64. ness and sincerity of intention, which produces right- tions; of the wicked-Te rovnps, the wicked one, eousness, or a holy and equitable conduct, as its Satan, called so by way of eminence, because in proper fruit." Thus our Lord is described, Isa. xi. 5; him the most consummate skill and cunning are and as a man girded is always ready for action, and joined. Anciently they used small firebrands, in a soldier, who is girded with the military belt, is fit- || the form of darts and arrows, which they kindled ted either for marching or fighting; so this seems and shot among their enemies. These were called intended to intimate an obedient heart, a ready will. || bɛλŋ пεñνрwpeva, tela ignita, fiery darts. And in Our Lord adds to the loins girded, the lights burn-battle they were received by the soldiers on their ing, Luke xii. 35; showing that watching and ready shields, which were covered with brass or iron, in obedience are inseparable companions. And having || order to extinguish them, or prevent their effect. on the breast-plate of righteousness—Imputed and|| Or, as Dr. Goodwin and many others suppose, the implanted, justification and sanctification, or pardon apostle may refer to an ancient custom, still prevailand holiness. See on Rom. iv. 5, 8; vi. 6-22; 1 Cor. ing among some barbarous nations, to dip their ari. 30. In the breast is the seat of conscience, which rows in the blood or gall of asps and vipers, or other is guarded by righteousness imputed to us in our poisonous preparations, which fire the blood of those justification, implanted in us in our regeneration, who are wounded with them, occasion exquisite pain, and practised by us in consequent obedience to the and make the least wound mortal. And some Greek divine will. In the parallel place, 1 Thess. v. 8, this writers tell us, that it was usual for soldiers to have piece of spiritual armour is called the breast-plate shields made of raw hides, which immediately of faith and love; justification being received by quenched them. It is also certain that some arfaith, and love being the source of all our holiness. rows were discharged with so great a velocity, that Perhaps the apostle, in this passage, alluded to Isa. they fired in their passage. See Doddridge. lix. 17, where the Messiah is said to have put on Verse 17. And take the helmet of salvation-That righteousness as a breast-plate; that is, by the holi- is, the hope of salvation, as it is expressed in the paness of his conduct, and his consciousness thereof, he rallel passage, 1 Thess. v. 8. The helmet was for the defended himself from being moved by the calumnies defence of the head, a part which it concerned them and reproaches of the wicked. No armour for the back || most carefully to defend, because one stroke there is mentioned; we are always to face our enemies. might easily have proved fatal. Thus it concerns Verse 15. And your feet shod with the prepara- the Christian to defend his mind, courage, and fortition of the gospel of peace-Let peace with God, and, tude against all temptations to dejection and deconsequent thereon, peace of conscience and tran-spondency, by a lively hope of eternal life, felicity, quillity of mind, in all circumstances and situations, and glory, built on the promises of God, which en(for which ample provision is made in the gospel,)|| sure that salvation to those disciples of Christ, whose arm you with confidence and resolution to proceed || faith continues to the end to work by love. Armed forward in all the ways of duty, however rough and difficult, through which you are called to pass, and|| enable you to receive with resignation and patience all the dispensations of that wise and gracious Providence, which is always watching over you for good, and is engaged to support you under your trials, to sanctify them to you, and in due time to deliver you out of them. In this way, and in no other, will you be enabled to pass through all difficulties unhurt, surmount all oppositions which obstruct your progress, to endure to the end, and finish your course with joy. Verse 16. Above all-ЕRI паσi, upon, or over all, these and the other parts of your armour, as a sort of universal covering; taking the shield of faith-Continually exercise a strong and lively faith in the truths and promises of the gospel, and in the person and offices, the merits and grace of the Lord Jesus, in whom all these truths and promises are, yea and amen, 2 Cor. i. 20. Wherewith-If you keep it in | lively exercise; ye shall be able to quench-To repel and render without effect; all the fiery darts-The furious temptations, the violent and sudden injec with this helmet, the hope of the joy set before him, Christ endured the cross and despised the shame. Hence this hope is termed (Heb. vi. 19) an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast, entering into that within the veil. Hitherto our armour has been only defensive: but we are to attack Satan, as well as to secure ourselves. The apostle therefore adds, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of GodHere the apostle calls the word of God the sword of the Spirit, because it was given by inspiration of the Spirit; and because the doctrines, promises, and precepts of it, are the most effectual means of putting our spiritual enemies to flight. Of this efficacy of the word of God, we have an illustrious example in our Lord's temptations in the wilderness, who put the devil to flight by quotations from the Scriptures of the Old Testament. And if we would repel his attacks with success, we must not only take the forementioned shield in one hand, but this sword of the Spirit in the other; for whoever fights with the powers of darkness, will need both. He that is covered with armour from head to foot, and neglects this, will be foiled after all. The Ephesians are exhorted to pray A. D. 64. CHAPTER VI. i for themselves and the apostle. A. D. 64. A. M. 4068. d the sword of the Spirit, which is the || given unto me, that I may open A. M. 4068. my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, word of God: 18 ⚫ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 h And for me, that utterance may be 20 For which I am an ambassador 'in' bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 21 But that ye also may know my affairs, We may observe here, with Beza, that all the parts only mental prayer, or ejaculations, and think they of the complete armour of the ancients are elegantly || are in a high state of grace, and use a way of worship introduced in the apostle's account of the Chris- far superior to any other; but such only fancy themtian's complete armour. For there is, first, the mil- selves to be above what is really above them; it reitary belt, called by the Greeks (wrne, and by the quiring far more grace to be enabled to pour out a Latins balteus. This covered the two parts of the fervent and continued prayer, than to offer up menbreast-plate where they joined. The breast-plate was tal aspirations. If we would receive the petitions the second article of the complete armour, and con- we ask, let us use every sort. And supplicationsisted of two pieces; the one reaching from the Repeating and urging our prayer, as Christ did in neck to the navel, and the other hanging from thence the garden; and watching thereunto-Keeping our to the knees. The former was called wpag, the lat- minds awake to a sense of our want of the blessings ter Soua. Accordingly, in the parallel passage, 1 we ask, and of the excellence and necessity of them; Thess. v. 8, the breast-plate is said to consist of two and maintaining a lively expectation of receiving parts, faith and love. Next to the breast-plate were them, and also inwardly attending on God to know the greaves, which made the third article of the com- his will, and gain power to do it. With all perseplete armour. They were called by the Greeks verance-With unwearied importunity renewing Kvnμides, and by the Latins ocrece, and were made of our petitions till they be granted, Luke xviii. 1-5; gold, or silver, or brass, or iron, and were designed 2 Cor. xii. 8; notwithstanding apparent repulses, to defend the legs and feet against the strokes of || Matt. xv. 22-28. And supplication for all saints— stones or arrows. Thus Goliah had greaves of Wrestling in fervent, continued intercessions for brass upon his legs, 1 Sam. xvii. 6. The fourth ar- others, especially for the faithful, that they may do ticle of the complete armour was the helmet, which all the will of God, and be steadfast to the end. Perlikewise was made of metals of different sorts, and haps we receive few answers to prayer, because we was used to defend the head against the strokes of || do not intercede enough for others. swords, and missile weapons. Add, in the fifth place, the shield, and the whole body is completely covered.|| But, besides the defensive armour, just now described, offensive weapons were likewise necessary to render the soldier's armour complete; particularly the sword,|| to which, as we have seen, the apostle alludes, in speaking of the Christian armour. They had darts, || likewise, or javelins, referred to verse 16. This whole description, given by St. Paul, shows how great a thing it is to be a Christian: the want of any one of the particulars here mentioned makes his character incomplete. Though he have his loins girt with || truth, righteousness for a breast-plate, his feet shod with the peace of the gospel, the shield of faith, the helmet of hope, and the sword of the Spirit; yet one thing he wants after all. What is that? It follows in the next verse. Verses 19, 20. And for me also-See on Col. iv. 3; that utterance may be given unto me-Free liberty of expression, every inward and every outward hinderance being removed; that I may open my mouth boldly-May deliver the whole truth without any base fear, shame, or diffidence, considering how important it is to the glory of God, and the salvation of mankind, that it should be so delivered; to make known the mystery of the gospel—In the clearest and most effectual manner. For which I am an ambassador in bonds-The ambassadors of men usually appear in great pomp: in what a different state does the ambassador of Christ appear! The Greek, πрeoßev ev alvoet, is literally, I execute the office of an ambassador in a chain. See on Acts xxviii. 16. As the persons of ambassadors were always sacred, the apostle, in speaking thus, seems to refer to the outrage that was done to his Divine Master in this violation of his liberty. Verses 21, 22. That ye also-As well as others; Verse 18. Praying always-As if he had said, And join prayer to all these graces, for your defence against your spiritual enemies, and that at all times, and on every occasion, in the midst of all employ-may know my affairs-The things which have hapments, inwardly praying withoutceasing, 1 Thess. v. 7; with all prayer-Public and private, mental and vocal, ordinary and extraordinary, occasional and solemn. Some are careful with respect to one kind of prayer only, and negligent in others: some use pened to me, and what I am doing at present: or, the things which relate to me, as the expression, Tа Kar' Eμe, which occurs likewise Phil. i. 12, signifies. The apostle means that he wished the Ephesians, as well as the Philippians and Colossians, to || an apostolical benediction. 23 4 Peace be to the brethren, and A. M. 4068. love with faith, from God the Father A. D. 64. and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord 91 Pet. v. 14.- Tit. ii. 7.-9 Or, with incorruption. know what success he had had in preaching at Rome, in Christ, and his gospel, accompanied with every what opposition he had met with, what comfort he other grace; from God the Father-The original had enjoyed under his sufferings, what converts he source of all our blessings; and the Lord Jesus had made to Christ, and in what manner the evi- || Christ-Through whose mediation alone they are dences of the gospel affected the minds of the inhab- communicated to us. Grace-The unmerited favour itants of Rome. These, and such like things, he sent of God, and those influences of his Spirit, which are Tychicus to make known to them. the effect thereof; be with all them that love our Lord Jesus in sincerity-Ev aodapoia, literally, in incorruption: that is, without any mixture of corrupt affections, or without decay; who continue to love him till grace shall end in glory. b Verses 23, 24. Peace be to the brethren-That is, all prosperity in matters temporal and spiritual; and love-To God, one another, and all the saints, arising from God's love to you; with faith-In God, 334 || PREFACE ΤΟ THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. PHILIPPI was a considerable city on the eastern frontier of Macedonia, now part of European Turkey. It was anciently named Datos; but Philip, the father of Alexander the Great, having repaired, enlarged, and beautified it, called it “Philippi," after his own name. It stood to the north-west of Neapo lis, about seventy miles north-east of Thessalonica, and about one hundred and ninety west of the place where Constantinople now stands. Julius Cesar placed a colony here, which Augustus afterward enlarged, and hence the inhabitants were considered as freemen of Rome. It was rendered remarkable for the famous battle fought near it, between the Roman Emperor Augustus and Antony on one side, and Brutus and Cassius, the republican generals, on the other. But it is more remarkable among Christians for the Christian church which was early planted there, and for this excellent epistle, written to the members thereof about twelve years after, namely, during the latter part of the apostle's imprisonment at Rome, about the year 64 or 65, and sent by Epaphroditus. Of the first introduction of the gospel into Macedonia, an account has been given, Acts xvi. 9, &c. St. Paul, with his assistants, Silas and Timothy, after having preached the gospel in most of the countries of the Lesser Asia, were directed by the Holy Ghost to pass over into Europe, for the purpose of offering salvation to the Greeks, at that time the most celebrated people in the world for genius and learning. These messengers of God, therefore, loosing from Troas, landed at Neapolis; but making no stay there, they went directly forward to Philippi, where, it appears from Acts xvi. 18, they abode a considerable time, and were instrumental in converting many to the faith of Christ. It appears they met with no opposition in this place, till the apostle cast a spirit of divination out of a damsel. But that circumstance so enraged her masters, who made a considerable advantage of her "soothsaying," that they stirred up the inhabitants against Paul and Silas, whom, after they had laid many stripes on them, they threw into prison, the jailer making "their feet fast in the stocks." But the Lord, whose servants they were, soon released them by a signal miracle, as is recorded Acts xvi. 25; and the magistrates, finding that they were Romans, came and took them out of prison, and treated them civilly; desiring them, however, for the quiet of the city, to depart out of it: which they did, when they had seen and conversed with the new converts, and had comforted them. But though Paul and Silas for the present left Philippi, Luke and Timothy continued there some time longer, to carry on the work which had been so successfully begun. And this, it is probable, was one reason that induced the apostle to fix upon the latter as the most proper person to visit the Philippians in his absence, of whose affection for them, and concern for their interests, he takes particular notice, chap. ii. 19-22. That the apostle himself made the Philippians a second visit, appears from Acts xx. 6; though we are not informed of any particulars relating to it. And it is highly probable that he visited them often, as he passed to and from Greece. And, indeed, the peculiar affection and respect which they manifested to the apostle, entitled them to some distinguished regard: for while he preached in Thessalonica, they sent him money twice. And this, it seems, they did, both from the gratitude which they felt to him for being instrumental in bringing them out of the darkness of heathenism, and from the concern they had that the success of the gospel should not be hindered among their countrymen, by its preachers becoming burdensome to them. The same regard they showed to him, and for the same PREFACE TO THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. reason, while he preached the gospel in Corinth, 2 Cor. xi. 9. He also acknowledges (chap. iv. 18) to have received a present from them by the hands of Epaphroditus, when he was a prisoner at Rome. These, however, were not the only proofs which the Philippians gave of their love to the apostle, and the religion which they had received. Their behaviour in other respects was every way worthy of their profession. They maintained the doctrine of the gospel in its purity, and walked in the holy manner required by its precepts. Indeed, the excellent character of these Christians may be inferred from the manner in which this epistle is written. For, while most of his other letters contain reprehensions of some for their errors, and of others for their bad conduct, throughout the whole of this epistle to the Philippians no fault is found with any of them; unless the caution, (chap. ii. 3, 4,) to avoid strife and vain glory in the exercise of their spiritual gifts, can be called a reprehension. But his letter is employed almost wholly in commending and encouraging them, or in giving them exhortations to persevere and make advances in the good ways of the Lord. But though the apostle did not see it needful to censure or reprove the Philippian believers for any thing, he judged it necessary to pass a severe censure on some Judaizing teachers, who were endeavouring to introduce themselves among them, as they had done among the Christians in other places, making it, as it seems, their whole business to destroy the purity and peace of the churches. Of these corrupters of the gospel the apostle, out of his zeal for the truth, and his great love to his Philippian converts, speaks with more severity than in any of his other letters, being doubtless directed so to do by a particular impulse of the Spirit of God, who knew it necessary that this sharpness should be used for opening the eyes of the faithful, and making them sensible of the malignity of these false teachers, and of the pernicious tendency of their doctrine. 336 b |