ACC ~ Ephesians 1 v15 - 18

OVERVIEW:

Paul’s compliment becomes the prelude to his advice. His prayers for the Ephesians are both a pattern for us (MARIUS VICTORINUS) and an expression of his piety (CHRYSOSTOM). The Father is Father of Christ as God and the God of Jesus as man (JEROME). God’s glory is shown in its effects (CHRYSOSTOM, HILARY OF POITIERS). His revelation has already become known to the Ephesians (JEROME), who are now further inspired with zeal by Paul’s prayer for them (AMBROSIASTER). The eyes of the heart, opened by faith (JEROME, EPHREM THE SYRIAN), add insight to revelation (MARIUS VICTORINUS) but not without moral responsibility (JEROME).

1:15 | Faith in the Lord Jesus

THE FAITHFUL LOVE ALL THE SAINTS. MARIUS VICTORINUS: He now moves on to specific exhortations for the Ephesians, and at the same time he warns them not to entertain contrary ideas. He first expresses himself generously: “having heard,” he says, “of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.” For this is the sum of things, this is virtue, this is the mystery, that there should be faith in Christ Jesus. This faith also encourages one to love all the saints, all who have faith in Christ and have been sanctified through him. Thus one who is faithful in Christ loves the saints. … “Therefore I also, having heard of your faith, love you.” EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.1.15.

1:16 | Remembering Them in His Prayers

PAUL REMEMBERS THE EPHESIANS IN HIS PRAYERS. MARIUS VICTORINUS: Every prayer that we offer up to God is made either in thanks for what we have received or in petition to receive something else. We are encouraged to pray both for ourselves and for those we love. So Paul says, “I make mention of you in my prayer.” “Therefore my chief prayer is first on my account, then on yours.” EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.1.16.

FAITH JOINED WITH LOVE IN PRAYER. CHRYSOSTOM: Consider how many people he had in mind, whom it was hard work even to remember. All these he has remembered in his prayers, giving thanks to God as though he himself were the chief beneficiary. … Everywhere he joins faith and love in a remarkable union. HOMILY ON EPHESIANS 3.1.15-19.

1:17a | The Father of Glory

WHY THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST? JEROME: It is this God of the incarnate man who is the Father of glory, wisdom and truth, who gives the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to those who believe in his Son so that they may become wise and contemplate the glory of the Lord with unveiled face. When this wisdom and revelation have made them wise and opened to them the mysteries that were hidden, it follows at once that they have “the eyes of their heart enlightened.” EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.1.15 SEQ.

AS FATHER OF GLORY, GOD IS KNOWN BY HIS EFFECTS. CHRYSOSTOM: Glory is the name among us which denotes that which is most magnificent. The “Father of glory” means “the one who has given you these most extraordinary gifts.” Through his subordinate effects his glory is revealed. Everywhere in Scripture this name is applied to God: glory. HOMILY ON EPHESIANS 3.1.15-19.

GOD AND FATHER. HILARY OF POITIERS: Where Jesus Christ is, there is God, and where there is glory, there is the Father. ON THE TRINITY 11.17.

1:17b | A Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation

FOR WHAT DOES PAUL PRAY? AMBROSIASTER: The hope of their faith lies in a heavenly reward. When they truly know what the fruit of believing is, they will become more eager in acts of worship. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.18.1.

1:18a | Enlightening the Eyes of the Heart

THE EYES OF THE HEART. JEROME: His phrase “eyes of the heart” clearly refers to those things we cannot understand without sense and intelligence. … Faith sees beyond what the physical eyes see. Physical eyes are in the heads of not only the wise but the unwise. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.1.15 SEQ.

THESE EYES HAVE BECOME OPENED AMONG THE GENTILES. EPHREM THE SYRIAN: The signs manifested to the external eyes of the Jews did them little good. But faith opened the eyes of the hearts of the Gentiles. HOMILY ON OUR LORD 32.

1:18b | The Hope to Which We Are Called

THAT YOU MAY KNOW BY INSIGHT AND REVELATION. MARIUS VICTORINUS: Let us understand that we arrive at the full mystery of God by two routes: We ourselves by rational insight may come to understand and discern something of the knowledge of divine things. But when there is a certain divine self-disclosure God himself reveals his divinity to us. Some may directly perceive by this revelation something remarkable, majestic and close to truth. … But when we receive wisdom we apprehend what is divine both through our own rational insight and through God’s own Spirit. When we come to know what is true in the way this text intends, both these ways of knowing correspond. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.1.17-18.

KNOWING THE HOPE OF RESURRECTION. JEROME: It is not without effort that we come to “know the hope of our calling and the riches of God’s inheritance in the saints.” This effort in fact comes in response to that renewing gift which God himself gives in the glorious resurrection of his own Son. This gift he gives not once but continually. … Every day Christ rises from the dead. Every day he is raised in the penitent. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.1.18 SEQ.