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Eph_4:7.[203] Δέ ] forms the transition from the summary πάντων , πάντων , πᾶσιν , Eph_4:6, to each individual among the Christians. No single one, however,—in order to adduce this also as motive to the preservation of the ἑνότης τοῦ πνεύματος ,—was overlooked in the endowing with grace; on every individual was it conferred, the grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ, so that each individual on his part can and ought to contribute to the preservation of that unity.
ἡ χάρις ] i.e. according to the context, the grace of God at work among the Christians, the communication of which is manifested in the diverse χαρίσματα ; hence our passage is in harmony with the representation given, Rom_12:6.
ἐδόθη ] by Christ.
κατὰ τὸ μέτρον κ . τ . λ .] τῆς δωρεᾶς is genitive subjecti (Rom_12:3; Rom_12:6; Eph_4:13). Hence: in the proportion in which the gift of Christ is meted out, according as Christ apportions to the one a larger, to the other a smaller measure of His gift (i.e. the gift of the divine χάρις ).
The δωρεὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ is the gift which Christ gives (2Co_9:15), not: which Christ has received (Oeder, in Wolf; see in opposition to this view, already Calvin), in opposition to which Eph_4:8, ἔδωκε δόματα τ . ἀνθρ ., is decisive.
[203] See on vv. 7–9, Hoelemann, Bibelstudien, II. p. 93 ff.