John Calvin Complete Commentary - Ephesians 1:8 - 1:8

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

John Calvin Complete Commentary - Ephesians 1:8 - 1:8


(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

8.In all wisdom. He now comes to the formal cause, the preaching of the gospel, by which the goodness of God overflows upon us. (113) It is through faith that we receive Christ, by whom we come to God, and by whom we enjoy the privilege of adoption. Paul gives to the gospel the magnificent appellations of wisdom and prudence, for the purpose of leading the Ephesians to despise all contrary doctrines. The false apostles insinuated themselves, under the pretense of imparting views more elevated than the elementary instructions which Paul conveyed. And the devil, in order to undermine our faith, labors, as far as he can, to disparage the gospel. Paul, on the other hand, builds up the authority of the gospel, that believers may rest upon it with unshaken confidence. All wisdom means — full or perfect wisdom.



(113) ἧς ἐπερίσσευσεν — “ ἧς for ἧ, (by a common Grecism, in which the relative is attracted by the antecedent,) if, at least, we take ἐπερίσσευσεν, with many modern expositors, in a neuter sense, ‘ which he hath renewed his abundant goodness to us;’ but if, with the ancient and some modern ones, in an active sense, ‘ make to abound,’ (as in 2Co_4:15,) the ἧς will be for ἥν, meaning, ‘ he has bountifully bestowed upon us.'“ — Bloomfield.