Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Ephesians 2:4-9
CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTESEphesians 2:4. But God, who is rich in mercy.—“Unto all that call upon Him” (Romans 10:12). “He hath shut up all into disobedience, that He might have mercy upon all” (Romans 11:32). For His great love wherewith He loved us.—“A combination only used when the notion of the verb is to be extended” (Winer).Ephesians 2:5. Even when we were dead in sins.—The phrase which closes Ephesians 2:3, difficult as it is, must receive an interpretation in harmony with this... read more
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Ephesians 2:9
Not of works; any works whatever, and not only works of the ceremonial law: for if they only were excluded, the opposition between God and man, grace and works, were not right, which yet we find so often elsewhere; {see Romans 11:6} men might not be saved by works of the ceremonial law, and yet still be saved by works, and of themselves. Lest any man should boast; glory in their own works or worth, as men are apt to do when they think they have any thing of their own which contributes to their... read more