1 For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, for you Gentiles:
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VERS. 1.-- *For this cause,* etc. It having been shown that through Christ peace and reconciliation were made, here he sets down through whom they themselves were built together, because God revealed that salvation pertained to the Gentiles, and sent him to preach to them, and makes him suffer for them, that they may be the more pleasing to God.
2 If yet you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me towards you:
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VERS. 2.-- *If yet you have heard.* That is, if you have understood the grace, that is, the apostleship dispensed by God, who knows why he chose me for this office? Or the apostleship, through which we weigh out diverse things to diverse men. By this he wishes them to know that by the judgment of God he was sent by Christ to preach to the Gentiles the mystery of the grace of God.
3 How that, according to revelation, the mystery has been made known to me, as I have written above in a few words:
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VERS. 3.-- *As I wrote above,* etc. Namely, in that place *he is our peace.* For there he touched in a brief discourse upon the sum of the mysteries revealed to him, not so much bringing forth the whole that he knew, as showing it from a little.
4 As you reading, may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ,
5 Which in other generations was not known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit:
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VERS. 5.-- *And to the prophets.* The earlier prophets indeed foreknew this of old concerning the Gentiles, that they were to be called, and to be partakers of the gift of God, but this lay hid, that without the law salvation would be theirs through faith in Christ.
6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body: and copartners of his promise in Christ Jesus, by the gospel
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VERS. 6.-- *Through the Gospel,* etc. Through preaching the gift of God was made known, which God gives to the Gentiles according to the working of his power: by which he raised up Christ, in whom all are saved without the works of the law.
7 Of which I am made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God, which is given to me according to the operation of his power.
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VERS. 7.-- *A minister.* For it is not mine but God's, and so no thanks are to be rendered to me, but to God.
8 To me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ:
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VERS. 8.-- *Unsearchable.* By nature, namely, but through the grace and revelation of the Holy Spirit they are searchable to the faithful.
9 And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God who created all things:
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VERS. 9.-- *Hidden from ages.* In the world are hidden the rational causes of all things which come to be naturally, as Levi was hidden in the loins of Abraham, when he was tithed. But in God are hidden the causes of those things which come to be through grace, or of those which, for the signifying of this, come to be miraculously and not naturally, which were done by the ministering angels. *In God.* For God has hidden in himself the causes of certain deeds, which he did not insert into created things, and he fulfils them, not by that work of providence by which he established natures that they might be, but by that by which he administers them as he shall have willed, which, as he willed, he founded. There also is the grace through which sinners are made safe. For not through a nature depraved by vice, but through the grace of God is man restored.
10 That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places through the church,
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VERS. 10.-- *That it may be made known.* It was given to me to preach the gospel and to enlighten. See how great this is, because through this something accrued to the angels, who learned many secrets in these things. *In the heavenly places.* Because there the Church was first, whither after the resurrection this Church also is to be gathered, that we may be equal to the angels of God.
11 According to the eternal purpose which he made in Christ Jesus our Lord:
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VERS. 11.-- *According to the predefinition.* For the wisdom which in its own nature is simple is, according to those things which are done in the world, which God predefined, that is, preordained, manifold, since it is varied in manifold ways. And lest the doctors of the sacred page should seem to contradict one another in the aforesaid opinions, what has been said can be determined thus: that to those who are of greater dignity, and by whose ministry those things were announced, they were known in part, as, for instance, to those familiars and messengers; but to those who are of lesser dignity, they were unknown.
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
13 Wherefore I pray you not to faint at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
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VERS. 14.-- *For this cause.* I entreat you, and I beseech God, that grace may work together with you. And this is what he adds: *For this cause.* In which he shows that they have the free choice of their own will. But lest they think that this suffices, he adds: *I bow my knees to the Father.* So much only is had in the Greek; but what has been added in the Latin codices: *of our Lord Jesus Christ,* fits well, in that he was praying that we might obtain by the merit of him to whom he is Father properly and naturally, and not by adoption.
15 Of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named:
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VERS. 15.-- *Fatherhood,* etc. Neither angel, nor man is truly a father as God is, who is the father of all by creation, and of the faithful by re-creation, whom he adopted as sons. Or *is named,* that is, is nameable. For from him who is the father of all, both the angels in heaven and men on earth received that they should call others fathers. And note that Christ, the only-begotten of God by nature, signifies by the benefit of adoption that he is a father, saying, *Son, thy sins are forgiven thee*. In like manner also the Holy Spirit, through whom the just are adopted as sons. But a man is called father either by nature, or by the authority of example, or by reason of benefit.
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened by his Spirit with might unto the inward man:
17 That Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts: that, being rooted and founded in charity,
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VERS. 17.-- *In charity.* I pray also that [you may be] *rooted,* that is, firmly planted, from the likeness of a tree, which the more it is fixed in the earth, the more it grows, and yields a richer fruit.
18 You may be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
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VERS. 18.-- *With all the saints.* This is the communion of the heavenly commonwealth. These seek not their own, but the things which are Christ's, that is, they pursue not private advantages, but take counsel in the communion where the salvation of all is. *What is the breadth.* Of charity, which ought to be extended even to enemies, and to work well with cheerfulness, because he who gives sadly loses what he gives. There is need, therefore, of the breadth of charity, lest whatever good thou dost should perish. But because, iniquity abounding, the charity of many grows cold, there is need also of length. *And sublimity.* Of charity. This is that the heart be directed upward, that God be awaited as the reward. For if thou workest well even toward enemies, and givest cheerfully, thou hast breadth; and if in these things unto the end thou perseverest, thou hast length. But if thou do all these things not for the sake of the heavenly reward, it has not height: and so now there will be neither breadth nor length. For to have height is to think God, to love God, and freely to love him the helper, him the crowner, at last to account him the reward, to expect from him no other than himself. If thou lovest, love freely. If thou truly lovest, let him whom thou lovest be himself the reward. *And depth.* Of charity, that is, that you may be able to understand the hidden judgment of God; why he gives to this man, but not indeed to that. For from the depth of the judgments of God, which we cannot search out and contemplate, proceeds all that we can. What I can, I see; whence I can, I do not see; except that I know it is from God. But why he should give to that man, and not give to this, is far from me, it is an abyss and a depth. Now therefore charity itself is exercised in good works for the succouring of others, and is extended even to enemies; and this is breadth. Now with longanimity it bears adversities, and perseveres in that which it has truly held; and this is length. But all this it does for the obtaining of the eternal country, which is promised to it on high; and this is height. But that charity arises out of the hidden, and this is depth.
19 To know also the charity of Christ, which surpasseth all knowledge: that you may be filled unto all the fulness of God.
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VERS. 19.-- *That you may be filled.* Because then nothing is lacking to the Christian, when he thus knows the Father and the Son. Otherwise the profession of the deity is not entire, because faith is neither entire in the Father alone, nor perfect in the Son alone. *Unto all the fullness of God.* Not that they be (full God) as certain erring men have wished, but that they be perfectly filled with God; or thus: that by confession and thanksgiving honour be reserved to the Son as to the Father, and that all things which are from God the Father be believed to have been made and restored through the Son, that there may be a full profession of the divinity in believers.
20 Now to him who is able to do all things more abundantly than we desire or understand, according to the power that worketh in us:
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VERS. 20.-- *He is able to do all things,* etc. In this are certain things which otherwise no one would ask or understand, as that God should die as man for men, and other things of this kind.
21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, unto all generations, world without end. Amen.