William Burkitt Notes and Observations - Ephesians 1:1 - 1:1

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William Burkitt Notes and Observations - Ephesians 1:1 - 1:1


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Observe here, 1. The penman of this epistle described by his name, Paul by his office, an apostle; by his commission to that office, the will of God; that is, by the command and appointment of God. It is matter of great consolation to the ministers of Christ , as well as great satisfaction to their people, that their calling is from God, and not from themselves; that they speak not in their own names but by commission received from Christ, whose ambassadors they are.

Observe, 2. The superscription of this epistle, the persons to whom it was directed and sent, To the saints at Ephesus; so they were all at Ephesus by visible profession, and many of them, no doubt, by real sanctification. All the members of the visible church are obliged to be saints, and the true and real Christian is a true and real saint.

He adds, And to the faithful in Christ Jesus; throughout all Asia. This pointed out their duty to them, to be not only holy in profession, but faithful in conversation; these two words, saints and faithful, conjoined, denote both their dignity and their duty; their dignity, in standing near to God, as his children; their duty, in being faithful to him as his servants.

Observe, lastly, He styles them saints and faithful in Christ Jesus; intimating, that all our grace and holiness must be holiness in Christ Jesus; that is acted and exercised by strength fetched from Christ Jesus, and that all our holiness must be accepted in Christ Jesus.