SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:4
¶ Pero Dios, que es rico en misericordia, por su mucha caridad con que nos amó,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ephesians 2:4
Verse 4. But God, who is rich in mercy] As they were corrupt in their nature, and sinful in their practice, they could possess no merit, nor have any claim upon God; and it required much mercy to remove so much misery, and to pardon such transgressions. His great love] God's infinite love is the groundwork of our salvation; in reference to us that love assumes the form of mercy, and that mercy provides the saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. And therefore the apostle adds, ver. 5: By grace ye are saved - it is by God's free mercy in Christ that ye are brought into this state of salvation. See on ver. 8.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. But God, who is rich in mercy , &c.] Mercy is a perfection of the divine nature, and is essential to God; and may be considered with respect to the objects of it, either as general, extending to all men in a providential way; or as special, reaching only to some in a way of grace; for though mercy is his nature, yet the display and exertion of it towards any object, is the act of his will; and special mercy, with all the blessings and benefits of it, is only exhibited in Christ Jesus: and God is said to be “rich” in it, because he is free and liberal in dispensing it, and the effects of it; and that to a large number of persons, in great abundance and variety, by various ways, and in divers instances; as in the covenant of grace, in the mission of Christ, in redemption by him, in regeneration, in pardon of sin, and in eternal salvation; and yet it is inexhaustible and perpetual; and this sets forth the excellency and glory of it: for his great love wherewith he loved us ; the love of God to his chosen people is very great, if it be considered who it is that has loved them, God and not man; who is an infinite, unchangeable, and sovereign Being; and his love is like himself, for God is love; it has heights and depths, and lengths and breadths immeasurable; it admits of no variation nor alteration; and is altogether free, arising from himself, and not from any motives and conditions in men: and if the persons themselves are considered, who are the objects of it, men, sinful men, unworthy of the divine notice and regard; and that these are loved personally, particularly, and distinctly, and not others; nakedly, and not theirs, or for any thing in them, or done by them, and that notwithstanding their manifold sins and transgressions: to which may be added, that this love is represented as a past act; and indeed it is from everlasting, and is antecedent to their being quickened, and was when they were dead in trespasses and sins; and is the source and spring of the blessing next mentioned: so the divine love is often called in the Cabalistic writings of the Jews f19 , hbr hbha , “great love”.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - Sin is the death of the soul. A man dead in trespasses and sins has n desire for spiritual pleasures. When we look upon a corpse, it gives a awful feeling. A never-dying spirit is now fled, and has left nothin but the ruins of a man. But if we viewed things aright, we should be far more affected by the thought of a dead soul, a lost, fallen spirit A state of sin is a state of conformity to this world. Wicked men ar slaves to Satan. Satan is the author of that proud, carnal dispositio which there is in ungodly men; he rules in the hearts of men. From Scripture it is clear, that whether men have been most prone to sensua or to spiritual wickedness, all men, being naturally children of disobedience, are also by nature children of wrath. What reason have sinners, then, to seek earnestly for that grace which will make them of children of wrath, children of God and heirs of glory! God's eterna love or good-will toward his creatures, is the fountain whence all his mercies flow to us; and that love of God is great love, and that merc is rich mercy. And every converted sinner is a saved sinner; delivere from sin and wrath. The grace that saves is the free, undeserve goodness and favour of God; and he saves, not by the works of the law but through faith in Christ Jesus. Grace in the soul is a new life in the soul. A regenerated sinner becomes a living soul; he lives a lif of holiness, being born of God: he lives, being delivered from the guilt of sin, by pardoning and justifying grace. Sinners rol themselves in the dust; sanctified souls sit in heavenly places, ar raised above this world, by Christ's grace. The goodness of God in converting and saving sinners heretofore, encourages others i after-time, to hope in his grace and mercy. Our faith, our conversion and our eternal salvation, are not of works, lest any man should boast These things are not brought to pass by any thing done by us, therefor all boasting is shut out. All is the free gift of God, and the effec of being quickened by his power. It was his purpose, to which he prepared us, by blessing us with the knowledge of his will, and his Holy Spirit producing such a change in us, that we should glorify God by our good conversation, and perseverance in holiness. None can from Scripture abuse this doctrine, or accuse it of any tendency to evil All who do so, are without excuse.
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3588 δε 1161 θεος 2316 πλουσιος 4145 ων 5607 5752 εν 1722 ελεει 1656 δια 1223 την 3588 πολλην 4183 αγαπην 26 αυτου 846 ην 3739 ηγαπησεν 25 5656 ημας 2248
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. But God. Resuming ver. 1.
For His great love (dia). For the sake of, in order to satisfy His love. Quickened us together. Spiritually. Compare Col. ii. 13; Romans vi. 11-14; viii. 10, 11 "What God wrought in Christ He wrought, ipso facto, in all who are united with Him" (Ellicott).
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:4 {But God} (ho de qeos). Change in the structure of the sentence here, resuming verse #1 after the break. {Being rich in mercy} (plousios wn en eleei). More than eleemwn (being merciful). {Wherewith} (hen). Cognate accusative with egapesen (loved).
