Back to:
Galatians ⇐ ⇒ Philippians
.
For more great commentaries on Ephesians check:
Commentaries on the Epistles, Commentaries on the Whole New Testament
& Whole Bible Commentaries
.
.
Order of Contents 48+
Best 7
Commentaries 35
Early & Medieval 12
Chapters 12
Latin 1
.
The Best Commentaries on Ephesians
Reformer
Calvin, John – Sermons on Ephesians (d. 1564)
*** “Not the same as the exposition. The Sermons are priceless.” – Spurgeon
.
1600’s
Bayne, Paul – An Entire Commentary upon the Whole Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians in Nichol’s Series of Commentaries (d. 1617; Edinburgh: James Nichol, 1866) 420 pp. no ToC
** “Sibbes says of this work: ‘The greatest shall find matter to exercise themselves in; the meaner, matter of sweet comfort and holy instruction; and all confess that he hath brought some light to this Scripture.'” – Spurgeon
Dickson, David – ‘…Ephesians Analytically Expounded’ in An Exposition of All St. Paul’s Epistles… (London: Eglesfield, 1659), pp. 107-24
Dickson was a prominent Scottish covenanter.
*** – ‘Dickson is a writer after our own heart. For preachers he is a great ally. There is nothing brilliant or profound; but everything is clear and well arranged, and the unction runs down like the oil from Aaron’s head. In this volume the observations are brief.’
Note that the Banner of Truth reprint contains Dickson’s commentary on less books than the original.
Fergusson, James – ‘Exposition of the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians’ in A Brief Exposition of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians & the Thessalonians (1656-1674; London: Ward, 1841), pp. 119-278
Fergusson was a Scottish covenanter.
*** – ‘He who possesses this work is rich. The author handles his matter in the same manner as Hutcheson and Dickson, and he is of their class–a grand, gracious, savory divine.’
.
Intermediate
Hodge, Charles – Commentary on Ephesians (1860) Reformed, Princeton
*** “Most valuable. With no writer do we more fully agree.” – Spurgeon
Pattison, R.E. – A Commentary, Explanatory, Doctrinal & Practical on Ephesians (1859)
*** “A book to instruct intelligent, experienced believers. It is a model for a class-book, plain and yet profound.” – Spurgeon
.
Advanced
1800’s
Eadie, John – Commentary on Ephesians Reformed, Scottish
*** “This book is one of prodigious learning and research. The author seems to have read all, in every language, that has been written upon the Epistle. It s also a work of independent criticism, and casts much new light upon many passages.” – Spurgeon
“A very full exposition which deals with all the exegetical problems, pays careful attention to the development of Paul’s theme, and provides important digressions on the theological truths of the epistle.” “Expositions on several of Paul’s letters to the churches of the New Testament era followed [by Eadie], and it is significant that Dr. C.J. Ellicott considered them to be superior to anything in England up to that time.” – Cyril J. Barber
.
Commentaries on Ephesians
1500’s
Compilation
ed. Bray, Gerald – Reformation Commentary on Scripture: Galatians, Ephesians Buy
.
Individuals
Hemmingsen, Niels – Ephesians Faithfully Expounded, both for the Benefit of the learned & unlearned… (London: Thomas East, 1580) 234 pp. ToC Index
Hemmingsen (1513-1600) was a Lutheran.
** “A Danish divine of high repute in his own day. Some of his works were turned into English; but the translations, like the originals, are now left in undeserved oblivion.” – Spurgeon
Ridley was reformed.
** “John Bale wrote in 1543: ‘The Commentary which that virtuous learned man, Master Lancelot Ridley, made upon St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, for the true erudition of his Christian brethren, hath my Lord Bonner here also condemned for heresy. But what the cause is I cannot tell, unless it be for advancing the Gospel as the thing whereby we are made righteous.’ Our author is equally fierce against Anabaptists and Papists, but is not much of a commentator.” – Spurgeon
.
Devotional & Practical
1800’s
Brown, Charles – St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians: a Devotional Commentary Buy (1911) 181 pp.
Brown was a minister in the Free Church of Scotland.
Moule, H.C.G. – Grace & Godliness: Studies in the Epistle to the Ephesians in The Expositor’s Library (1895)
Moule was an evangelical Anglican.
“A devotional masterpiece which is full of comfort and exhortation.” – Cyril J. Barber
McGhee, Robert – Expository Lectures on the Epistle to the Ephesians (1861)
** “Lively, warmhearted, extemporaneous sermons, full of good teaching. The preacher aimed to edify the many, rather than to write a critical work for the few, and he has succeeded.” – Spurgeon
Beet, Joseph Agar – A Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistles to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians & to Philemon (1890) 425 pp.
“A practical exposition.” – Cyril J. Barber
.
1900’s
Baskerville, Charles G. – Side-Lights on the Epistle to the Ephesians Ref Buy (London: 1903) 107 pp.
“Outlines for devotional messages by an Anglican preacher.” – Cyril J. Barber
Harrison, Norman Baldwin – His Very Own: Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians (1930) 165 pp. ToC
“This devotional gem makes rewarding reading.” – Cyril J. Barber
Paxson, Ruth – The Wealth, Walk & Warfare of the Christian Pre Buy (1931)
“An excellent exposition with helpful application of Biblical truth.” – Cyril J. Barber
Gerstner, John – The Epistle to the Ephesians: a Study Manual (1958) 90 pp. ToC
“A helpful study manual.” – Cyril J. Barber
Summers, Ray – Ephesians: Pattern for Christian Living (Broadman Press, 1960) 155 pp. ToC
“An evangelical exposition.” – Cyril J. Barber
.
Intermediate
1800’s
Candlish, James – The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians, with Introduction & Notes in Hand-Books for Bible Classes, ed. Dods & Whyte (1895)
On Candlish:
“Theologian and FC [Free Church of Scotland] leader.. Candlish was the son of the great Disruption leader, R.S. Candlish… he was… elected Professor of Systematic Theology in the FC College, in 1872. Regarded in his day as one of Scotland’s most able theologians…
Until his appointment the Glasgow College had been a stronghold of conservativism but, along with A.B. Bruce, Candlish turned it into a center for the emerging liberal thought within the FC [which lasted until 1900]. He lent his energies to gaining acceptance for the new theological direction…
His own writings owe much to the Calvinistic theology in which he was reared, and include some outstanding exposition of the great evangelical themes. At the same time they are very sensitive to contemporary critical questions and candidly open up possible lines of reconstruction.” – DoSCH&T
Dale, R.W. – The Epistle to the Ephesians, its Doctrine & Ethics (1892)
Dale was an English congregationalist.
“Expository messages which abound in practical insight into, and meaningful applications of, the text.” – Cyril J. Barber
Findlay, George – The Epistle to the Ephesians in The Expositor’s Bible (1898) 460 pp.
“A handy, generally reliable treatment.” – Cyril J. Barber
Graham, William – Lectures on the Epistle to the Ephesians (1870) 465 pp.
** “Dr. Graham is an earnest opponent of the German Neologians and frequently writes with their negations before his eye. He is a commentator of considerable learning and much spirituality of mind.” – Spurgeon
Lathrop, Joseph – An Exposition of the Epistle to the Ephesians, in a Series of Discourses (1864) The memoir of the author was written by William Sprague.
** “These discourses are sure to be of the highest class. We have not been able to procure a copy.” – Spurgeon
Newland, Henry – A New Catena of St. Paul’s Epistles. Commentary on Ephesians, in which is Exhibited the Results of the Most Learned Theological Criticisms from the Age of the Early Fathers Down to the Present Time (Oxford: Parker, 1866) 455 pp. no ToC
** “Used discreetly, this Catena of patristic, medieval and modern Church interpreters, may be very helpful; without discretion it will mislead.” – Spurgeon
Pridham, Arthur – Notes & Reflections on Ephesians (London: Binns & Goodwin, 1854) 338 pp. no ToC
** “Style heavy, matter weighty.” – Spurgeon
Pulsford, John – Christ & his Seed; Central to All Things: being a Series of Expository Discourses on Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians Buy (1872)
** “Contains a great deal of deep thought, but is too mystical and often too cloudy to be of much service to those who wish to explain Scripture.” – Spurgeon
.
1900’s
Robinson, Armitage – St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians… with Exposition & Notes (1903) 330 pp.
“Really two commentaries in one. Part I contains the introduction, translation, and exposition with notes on critical problems. Part II provides one of the finest exegetical treatments to be found anywhere. The writer’s paraphrase of the Greek text is particularly valuable.” – Cyril J. Barber
Miller, Herbert Sumner – The Book of Ephesians with Outlines & Notes (1931) 250 pp.
“A well-outlined, nontechnical exposition based upon a careful exegesis.” – Cyril J. Barber
Bruce, F.F.
Bruce, F.F. – The Epistle to the Ephesians: a Verse-by-Verse Exposition (Revell, 1961) 145 pp. ToC
“Following a careful introduction to the epistle, Bruce deals with the contents under two main headings: The new community in the purpose of God, and the new community in the life of the believers. The exposition is clear and nontechnical.” – Cyril J. Barber
The Epistle to the Ephesians in The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon & to the Ephesians in New International Commentary on the New Testament (Eerdmans, 1984), pp. 227-416
This work is significantly different than the above work.
Foulkes, Francis – Ephesians: an Introduction & Commentary 2nd ed. in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (IVP Academic, 1963) 180 pp. ToC
“A perceptive interpretation which successfully combines sound scholarship with a clear understanding of the scope and import of the epistle.” – Cyril J. Barber
Hendriksen, William – Exposition of Ephesians in New Testament Commentary (Baker, 1967) 290 pp. ToC
“A well-written commentary which is both scholarly and practical—and of great value to preachers. Reformed.” – Cyril J. Barber
Kent, Homer – Ephesians: the Glory of the Church Buy (1971)
“An evangelical commentary which ably expounds the theme of this epistle and clearly defines the nature and function of the church.” – Cyril J. Barber
Vaughan, Curtis – Ephesians in Bible Study Commentary (1977; Zondervan, 1983) 133 pp. ToC
Stott, John – The Message of Ephesians: God’s New Society in The Bible Speaks Today (1979; Inter-Varsity Press, 1986) 300 pp. ToC
Clark, Gordon – Ephesians Buy (1985)
Lloyd-Jones – An Exposition of Ephesians, 8 vols. Buy (Baker, 1981)
Eph. 4:1-16: Christian Unity
Eph. 5:18-6:9: Life in the Spirit in Marriage, Home & Work
Eph. 6:10-13: The Christian Warfare
.
Advanced
1800’s
Turner, Samuel – The Epistle to the Ephesians in Greek & English, with an Analysis & Exegetical Commentary (1856)
** ” A learned work; good, but not very attractive.” – Spurgeon
Ellicott, Charles J. – St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, with a Critical & Grammatical Commentary (1864) 210 pp.
“A helpful critical work based on a new translation of the text.” – Cyril J. Barber
Miller, Herbert Sumner – Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians (1899) 390 pp.
.
1900’s
Westcott, Brooke F. – Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, the Greet Text with Notes & Addenda (1906) 286 pp. This was reprinted by Klock & Klock
Westcott was a slightly conservative, Anglican, liberal Bible scholar, known for the Westcott-Hort Greek Text.
“Exegetical studies by the late Bishop of Durham, England, deserving of the same attention given his other works.” – Cyril J. Barber
.
.
The Early Church on Ephesians
Compilations
Newland, Henry – A New Catena of St. Paul’s Epistles. Commentary on Ephesians, in which is Exhibited the Results of the Most Learned Theological Criticisms from the Age of the Early Fathers Down to the Present Time (Oxford: Parker, 1866) 455 pp. no ToC
** “Used discreetly, this Catena of patristic, medieval and modern Church interpreters, may be very helpful; without discretion it will mislead.” – Spurgeon
ed. Edwards, Mark – The Epistle to the Ephesians in Ancient Christian Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians (IVP Academic, 2007), pp. 107-216
.
Individual Fathers
Origen – The Commentaries of Origen & Jerome on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians trans. Ronald E. Heine in Oxford Early Christian Studies Pre Buy (Oxford University Press, 2002) 295 pp. ToC
Origen (c. 185 – c. 253)
Ambrosiaster – Commentary on Ephesians in Commentaries on Galatians-Philemon trans. Gerald Bray in Ancient Christian Texts Pre Buy (IVP Academic, 2009), pp. 35-63
Ambrosiaster (c. 366-384)
Chrysostom – Commentary on Ephesians ToC in Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians & Homilies on the Epistle to the Ephesians… in A Library of Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church (Oxford: John Henry Parker, 1840), pp. 98-381 HTML
Chrysostom (c. 347 – 407)
** ‘Enough of solid truth and brilliant utterance will be found here to justify this father’s title of ‘Golden Mouth’; but still all is not gold which fell from his lips, and to modern readers Chrysostom is not so instructive as he was to his own age [A.D. 349-407].’ – Spurgeon
Jerome – The Commentaries of Origen & Jerome on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians trans. Ronald E. Heine in Oxford Early Christian Studies Pre Buy (Oxford University Press, 2002) 295 pp. ToC
Jerome (c. 342–347 – 420)
Theodore of Mopsuestia
‘On Ephesians’ in Theodore of Mopsuestia: The Commentaries on the Minor Epistles of Paul trans. Rowan Greer in Writings from the Greco-Roman World Pre (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2010), pp. 171-290
Theodore (c. 350 – 428) was a bishop of Mopsuestia and is also known as Theodore of Antioch, from the place of his birth and presbyterate. He is the best known representative of the middle Antioch School of hermeneutics.
‘Selections from Theodore’s Commentaries on the Epistles to the Galatians, Ephesians & Colossians’ in The Early Church Fathers Pre (Routledge, 2009), pp. 118-25
Augustine – Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament by S. Augustine in A Library of Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church (Oxford: John Henry Parker, 1839), pp. 836-53 ToC
sermon 115, on Eph. 3:13
sermon 116, on Eph. 4:25
sermon 117, on Eph. 5:15
sermon 118, on Eph. 6:23
Augustine (354–430)
Theodoret of Cyrus – Commentary on the Letters of St. Paul, vol. 2: Galatians–Hebrews Ref (Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 2007)
Theodoret (c. 393 – c. 458/466) was an influential theologian of the School of Antioch, biblical commentator and bishop of Cyrus.
.
.
The Medieval Church on Ephesians
Compilation
Newland, Henry – A New Catena of St. Paul’s Epistles. Commentary on Ephesians, in which is Exhibited the Results of the Most Learned Theological Criticisms from the Age of the Early Fathers Down to the Present Time (Oxford: Parker, 1866) 455 pp. no ToC
** “Used discreetly, this Catena of patristic, medieval and modern Church interpreters, may be very helpful; without discretion it will mislead.” – Spurgeon
.
Individuals
Ishodad of Merv – On Ephesians at Patristic Bible Commentary
Ishodad (fl. 850) was a bishop of Hdatta during the Abbasid Caliphate (near current-day Mosul, Iraq) and prominent theologian of the Church of the East, best known for his commentaries on the Syriac Bible.
Aquinas, Thomas – Commentary on Ephesians
.
.
On Chapters in Ephesians
.
Ephesians 1
1600’s
Goodwin, Thomas – An Exposition of Ephesians 1 (d. 1680)
.
1800’s
Lightfoot, J.B. – Commentary on Eph. 1:1-14
Evans, James Harrington – ‘Commencement of a Commentary on the Epistle to the Ephesians [ch. 1, vv. 1-11]…’ in Memoir & Remains of James Harrington Evans (London: James Nisbet, 1852), pp. 632-66
On his work on Eph. 3: ** “Harrington Evans was a great teacher. A more sound, earnest, and instructive divine never lived. This book consists of notes of sermons preserved by a hearer. It is well worthy of study. His Memoir contains fragmentary remarks upon Ephesians 1.” – Spurgeon
.
.
Ephesians 2
Goodwin, Thomas – An Exposition of 2:1-11, 14-16 d. 1680
.
.
Ephesians 3
1600’s
Goodwin, Thomas – An Exposition of Ephesians 3:16-21 (d. 1680)
.
1800’s
Evans, James Harrington – Christian Solicitude, as Exemplified in Ephesians 3 (1856)
** “Harrington Evans was a great teacher. A more sound, earnest, and instructive divine never lived. This book consists of notes of sermons preserved by a hearer. It is well worthy of study. His Memoir contains fragmentary remarks upon Ephesians 1.” – Spurgeon
.
.
Ephesians 5
1500’s
Rollock, Robert – An Exposition of Part of the Fifth & Sixth Chapters of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians (d. 1598) ‘In a volume containing sundry fragments of expositions.’ – Spurgeon Here is his whole commentary on Ephesians in Latin.
** “This renowned Scotchman’s writings generally come to us as translations from the Latin, and have been made preternaturally dull in the process of interpretation; but this appears to have been written in English by himself. It is practical to a high degree, and goes into minute details of the married life, etc. it will not be much appreciated in these days, though Dr. McCrie styles Rollock’s works ‘succinct and judicious.'” – Spurgeon
.
1600’s
Gouge, William – Exposition of Eph. 5:22-33 in An Exposition on the whole Fifth Chapter of John’s Gospel, also Notes on other Choice Places of Scripture (London: 1630)
Gouge was an English puritan and Westminster divine.
Goodwin, Thomas – An Exposition of Ephesians 5:30-32 d. 1680
Manton, Thomas – Sermons upon Eph. 5:1-27 325 pp. in Works, vol. 19, p. 169 ff.
.
.
Ephesians 6
Gouge, William – Exposition of Eph. 6:4-5, 9-15 in An Exposition on the Whole Fifth Chapter of John’s Gospel, also Notes on other Choice Places of Scripture (London: 1630)
Gouge was an English puritan and Westminster divine.
Gurnall, William – The Christian in Complete Armour; A Treatise of the Saints’ War against the Devil on Eph. 6:10-20
“This exhaustive exposition by a Puritan writer ably treats the spiritual warfare of the saints and the equipment given them by God to assure the victory.” – Cyril J. Barber
.
.
Latin Commentary on Ephesians
Boyd, Robert – Commentary on the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians (London, 1652) Common Places Indices: Subject, Scripture
Boyd (1578-1627) was a Scottish covenanter.
“His posthumously published Latin commentary on Ephesians… is an enduring monument to his learning. The work, however, is far more than a commentary and includes discussions of virtually every important locus of a systematic theology… his intention in this was to derive the chief heads of Christian doctrine from Scripture, Ephesians being deliberately chosen for the purpose…” – James Kirk (Dict. of Scot. CH&T)
.
.
.
Related Pages