Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin
John Calvin above all and through all Things, or above all and through all Men. Either meaning will apply sufficiently well, or rather, in both cases, the meaning will be the same. Although God by his power upholds, and maintains, and rules, all things, yet Paul is not now speaking of the universal, but of the spiritual government which belongs to the church. By the Spirit of sanctification, God spreads himself through all the members of the church, embraces all in his government, and dwells in all; but God is not inconsistent with himself, and therefore we cannot but be united to him into one body.
This spiritual unity is mentioned by our Lord. ``Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast, given me, that they may be one as we are.'' (John 17:11)
This is true indeed, in a general sense, not only of all men but of all creatures. ``In him we live, and move, and have our being.'' (Acts 17:28.) And again, ``Do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord?'' (Jeremiah 23:24.) But we must attend to the connection in which this passage stands. Paul is now illustrating the mutual relation of believers, which has nothing in common either with wicked men or with inferior animals. To this relation we must limit what is said about God's government and presence. It is for this reason, also, that the apostle uses the word Father, which applies only to the members of Christ.
Ephesians 4:7-10
Ephesians 4:7-10
7. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
7. Unicuique autem nostrum data est gratia; secundum mensuram donationis Christi.
8. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
8. Propterea dicit: Postquam ascendit in altum, captivam duxit captivitatem, et dedit dona hominibus. (Psalm 68:19.)
9. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
9. Illud autem Ascendit, quid est, nisi quod etiam descenderat prius in inferiores partes terrae?
10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
10. Qui descendit, ipse est etiam qui ascendit super omnes coelos, ut impleret omnia.
7. But to every one. He now describes the manner in which God establishes and preserves among us a mutual relation. No member of the body of Christ is endowed with such perfection as to be able, without the assistance of others, to supply his own necessities. A certain proportion is allotted to each; and