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20 f. As St Paul touches on ‘the working of the might of GOD'S strength’ in the exaltation of Christ as the sure ground of Christian confidence, he seems himself to be overpowered by the wonders which it involves, and follows its consequences through the orders of the heavenly hierarchy and successive stages in the accomplishment of GOD'S counsel, that he may indicate the unimaginable dignity of which humanity is found capable in its Head.

20. h}n ejnhvrg. ejn tw'/ cristw'/ ] which He hath wrought (or wrought ) in the Christ. The title—the Christ—emphasises the relation in which the Lord stood to His people in the agelong counsel of GOD.

The Divine work for the Messiah is summed up in the two facts that GOD (1) raised Him from the dead, and (2) set Him at His right hand in sovereign power. This was the first apostolic message: Acts 2:32 ff.;5:30 ff.

The exaltation of Christ was the sign and pledge of the triumph of the Christian. Comp. 1 Pet. 1:21; 2 Cor. 4:14; Rom. 8:11.
ejgeivra" ] This is the uniform teaching of the apostles: Acts 3:15; 4:10;5:30; 10:40; 13:37; 1 Thess. 1:10; 1 Cor. 6:14; 15:15; 2 Cor. 4:14; Gal. 1:1; Rom. 4:24; 8:11; 10:9; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 1:21. The words of the Lord in John 10:18 indicate the complementary aspect of the truth which is not further developed. ‘To take life again’ is different from ‘to rise.’ Comp. Eph. 2:5. See Additional Note [p. 189 ff.].
kaqivsa" ] Ps. 110:1. Comp. Heb. 1:13 note.
21.
uJperavnw pavsh" ajrc ....] Comp. Eph. 3:10 and Additional Note.
For
uJperavnw comp. Eph. 4:10; Heb. 9:5. V.L. gives super omne initium. panto;" ojnovmato" ] A name describes a dignity more personal and essential than an office. The name is designed to express what he who bears it is and not simply what he holds. Comp. Phil. 2:9.
ouj movnon ...] For the implied contrast between ‘this age’ and ‘the age to come,’ see cc. Eph. 2:2; 6:12. The apostle looks forward to ‘coming ages,’ springing one out of the other eij" pavsa" ta;" genea;" tou' aijw'no" tw'n aijwvnwn Eph. 3:21 note.

For ‘the coming age’ see Heb. 6:5 (2:5 oijkoumevnhn th;n mevllousan ). It occupies a far less prominent place in the apostolic teaching than might have been expected. All is summed up in the parousiva , which however is not mentioned in this Epistle. Primasius dimly feels that the contrast between the two ages is not in succession of time but in character: in futuro hoc est in caelesti quod nobis futurum est, non Deo nec sibi.
3. The work of God for men in Christ,—overcoming personal disqualifications

(1:22-2:10).

22. And He put all things in subjection under His feet; and He gave Him to be Head over all things to the Church 23 which is His body, the fulness of Him Who reaches His fulness through all things in all; ii. 1 and you He quickened when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins 2 wherein aforetime ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; 3 among whom we also all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the will (lit. wills ) of the flesh and of the mind (lit. thoughts ), and were children by nature of wrath, even as the rest of men:— 4 but GOD being rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us , 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses quickened us together with the Christ ( by grace have ye been saved ), 6 and raised us up with Him and made us to sit with Him in the heavenly order in Christ Jesus; 7 that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus: 8 for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: 9 it is the gift of


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